How HRD Corp SBL-Khas claims work for AI and Agile training in 2026

What SBL-Khas is, in one paragraph

SBL-Khas, formally Skim Bantuan Latihan Khas, is the HRD Corp grant scheme that lets registered Malaysian employers draw against their accumulated HRDF levy to fund approved training. Unlike pure reimbursement schemes, SBL-Khas operates on a pre-approval model. You file the grant application, HRD Corp issues an approval letter (Surat Kelulusan), training is then delivered, and the employer claims the eligible cost against the levy account. The ceiling on what you can claim is set by the allowable cost matrix, which varies by training mode (Public, In-house, Online, Hybrid) and by category of expenditure.

For AI and Agile training in 2026, SBL-Khas is the workhorse scheme. Most corporate L&D budgets for technical upskilling flow through it, because the per participant ceilings are workable and the scheme accepts both single-employer in-house cohorts and public seat purchases.

Eligibility, levy balance, and timing

SBL-Khas eligibility is not generic. It is a layered check across the employer, the training, the trainer, and the timing. Get any layer wrong and the claim fails.

1. The employer must be HRD Corp registered

Registration is governed by the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001. Schedule 1 employers (covered industries with 10 or more Malaysian employees) pay a mandatory HRD levy of 1% of the monthly wages of each Malaysian employee. Schedule 2 employers (5 to 9 Malaysian employees in covered industries) pay 0.5%. If your organisation is not on either schedule, you cannot claim under SBL-Khas because there is no levy account to draw from. Registration happens via the e-TRiS portal at etris.hrdcorp.gov.my.

2. There must be a usable levy balance

SBL-Khas pays out of your own accumulated levy, not from a separate pool. Before applying, verify the balance in e-TRiS under Levy Statement. A common failure is committing to a high cost programme without checking that the running balance covers it. New levy contributions take roughly a month to reflect, so plan ahead of training dates.

3. The programme must be registered with HRD Corp

Each claimable programme has a unique HRD Corp programme code under a registered training provider's MyCoID. The course title alone is not enough. When you select a programme, request the programme code and the scheme it is approved under from the training provider, and confirm both appear in e-TRiS at application time.

4. The application must be filed BEFORE training begins

This is the single most violated rule. HRD Corp requires the SBL-Khas application to be submitted, and ideally approved, before the first day of training. Backdated applications are typically rejected. Build at least 10 to 14 working days of buffer between application submission and the training start date.

How to claim, step by step

The end to end SBL-Khas flow has seven steps. We have ordered them as they actually happen on the ground.

1. Verify levy balance via e-TRiSLog in to etris.hrdcorp.gov.my as the registered employer admin. Open Levy Statement and confirm the running balance covers your intended training spend with margin.
2. Select an HRD Corp registered programmeChoose a programme that matches the capability gap from your Training Needs Analysis. Request the programme code, the training provider's MyCoID, and the scheme it is registered under (SBL-Khas in this case).
3. Submit the grant application before training startsIn e-TRiS, create the SBL-Khas application. Attach the quotation, programme synopsis, schedule, participant list, and trainer profile. Submit at least 10 to 14 working days before training.
4. Receive the approval letter (Surat Kelulusan)HRD Corp issues an approval letter that confirms the approved cost ceiling and the grant ID. Do not begin training until this letter is in hand.
5. Conduct the trainingRun the cohort on the approved dates with the approved trainer. Capture daily attendance (signed sheets or digital register), photos where allowed, certificates of completion, and feedback forms.
6. Submit the claim within 6 monthsWithin 6 months of training completion, submit the claim in e-TRiS with the trainer invoice, employer payment proof, attendance records, programme report, and evidence of completion.
7. Reimbursement to the employerHRD Corp reviews the claim against the allowable cost matrix and disburses the approved amount to the employer's registered bank account. Disbursement timeframes vary, plan 4 to 8 weeks.

What the allowable cost matrix covers

The allowable cost matrix is the rate card HRD Corp uses to decide what they will pay for. Caps differ by training mode. The illustrative summary below reflects the structure of the public matrix. For exact current ceilings, refer to the HRD Corp portal at hrdcorp.gov.my because rates are reviewed periodically.

Common mistakes that kill SBL-Khas claims

How this applies to Agile Visa training

Agile Visa's founder Prashant Shinde is HRD Corp Accredited Trainer, full programme accreditation in progress. Once programme registration completes, eligible employers will be able to claim training under SBL-Khas, subject to HRD Corp approval and a sufficient levy balance. Until then, courses are quoted at full fee in MYR. Contact us to be notified when registration approves.

In the interim, we are happy to advise corporate L&D leads on structuring a 2026 training roadmap that anticipates SBL-Khas eligibility once our programmes are registered, and on the Training Needs Analysis work that should precede any grant application.

SBL-Khas FAQ

Last reviewed: 6 June 2026 by Prashant Shinde, Founder, ICAgile accredited and HRD Corp Accredited Trainer.