How to Create and Properly Set Up Your Grab Merchant Account (2026 Guide)

In this guide

1. Create Your Account
2. Documents by Country
3. Country Comparison
4. Set Up Your Listing
5. Quick Tips
6. FAQ

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to:

• Create your Grab Merchant account step-by-step
• Properly configure your listing to boost visibility and performance
• Avoid the most common beginner mistakes

Step 1 – Create Your Grab Merchant Account

1.1 Choose your sign-up route

Grab gives you two ways in, and the right one depends on your setup:

• Single outletDownload the GrabMerchant app (Google Play / App Store), tap Sign up, and complete the application on your phone — the fastest path for one restaurant.
• Multiple outlets, or you want helpUse the web form at grab.com/{your-country}/merchant/food/ (for example grab.com/sg/merchant/). Some countries also offer in-person sign-up at a Grab partner or driver centre by appointment.

Either way, you start at the official portal: merchant.grab.com. Pick your country and begin.

1.2 What you’ll provide

The exact fields differ by country (see the next section), but every market asks for the same core set:

• Restaurant name and pickup address
• A valid ID or passport of the owner or authorised signatory
• A bank account for payouts
• Business registration documents, where your country requires them
• Photos of your storefront and menu items

1.3 Submit, verify, and activate

Once you submit, Grab reviews your documents. The flow is consistent across countries:

1. You apply (app or web).
2. Grab verifies your details and documents.
3. You receive an e-contract by email and sign it.
4. Grab sends an activation email, and your store goes live once you open it in the app.

How long does it take? It varies by country, from about 24 hours to roughly 7 working days. See the country comparison table below for the realistic window in your market, and always confirm the current timeline on Grab’s official merchant page for your country.

Required documents and eligibility, by country

This is where most guides stop short. The documents, the timeline, and even whether you can join as an individual change from country to country. Below is what each market required as of mid-2025 to mid-2026, per Grab’s official merchant pages. Grab changes these details without notice, so treat this as your preparation checklist and confirm the live requirements on Grab’s country page before you apply.

Thailand

Who can join: Thai individuals (sole proprietors) can register with just an ID card and a qualifying bank account — no company registration needed. Applicants must be at least 20 years old (18 to 20 is possible with a guardian’s consent letter and ID).

• IndividualCopy of Thai ID card; a bank account at Kasikorn, Krungthai, or Krungsri only (savings or current).
• CompanyRegistration certificate (within 6 months), VAT certificate (Por Por 20), shareholder list (BOJ.5, within 6 months), a committee member’s ID, and a company bank account at one of the three banks.
• Foreigner (sole prop)Valid passport, work permit, Foreign Business License, proof of residence, and a designated-bank account.

Timeline: about 3 to 5 working days after your documents pass. Cost at sign-up: Grab Thailand states zero activation fees. Common pitfalls: an unreadable ID photo, a missing house number in the address, or a phone or email already in Grab’s system. The three-bank restriction trips up many applicants — open a qualifying account before you start.

Singapore

Who can join: the standard flow is built around a business registered with ACRA (you’ll need your Unique Entity Number). Sole proprietorships qualify. Grab does not document a clear path for someone with no registered entity, so assume you need one.

• Entity name and UENEntered exactly as they appear in ACRA records (spaces and punctuation included).
• Contract signeeFull name and NRIC, plus a business email.
• GrabPay-only sole propsAn ACRA business profile, a bank statement, and an NRIC or passport. A Letter of Authorisation is needed if the signee is not in the ACRA profile.

Timeline: Grab’s form offers a 2-day online or 3-day walk-in sign-up. Cost at sign-up: no Grab activation fee stated; a physical food shop may need an SFA Food Shop Licence (a government cost, not Grab’s). Home-based and online-only food businesses are exempt under rules clarified on 1 January 2025. Common pitfalls: business details that don’t match ACRA exactly, an NRIC that doesn’t match the entity’s records, or more than one application per business.

Malaysia

Who can join: you need a business registered with SSM (Companies Commission of Malaysia). Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and companies are all accepted. A physical pickup location with a permanent signboard is required.

• SSM documentsForm D (sole prop or partnership) or Forms 9, 24, and 49 (company); IC or passport of the signing director.
• BankA bank statement header (company account, or a personal account matching the IC for a sole prop).
• Photos & brandBrand logo, a storefront photo showing a permanent signboard with your brand name, an in-store menu with prices, and interior photos. A unique Gmail address per outlet.
• If applicableBusiness license, halal certification, SST certification, alcohol license.

Timeline: Grab Malaysia indicates you can be live in about 7 working days, depending on how many locations you register. Cost at sign-up: the page does not state an activation fee but doesn’t explicitly confirm it’s free, so verify directly with Grab. Common pitfalls: a store name that doesn’t match your signboard, files not named the way Grab requests, a bank account name that doesn’t match your IC or business, or no permanent signboard. Halal certification is voluntary in Malaysia, not mandatory.

Philippines

Who can join: registered corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors selling food and beverage for immediate consumption. In practice you need formal business and tax registration to sell food on the app.

• RegistrationA Certificate of Registration: BIR Form 2303, SEC, or DTI; Articles of Incorporation or Partnership, or a General Information Sheet (GIS).
• Tax & IDYour Tax Identification Number (TIN) and a valid photo ID of the authorised representative.
• BankProof of bank account.
• If applicableA DTI License to Operate (tobacco, vape, or alcohol); a Letter of Authorisation if the representative isn’t the owner listed in the AOI/GIS, or if the bank account owner differs.

Timeline: about 3 working days via the face-to-face Grab Partner Centre route (Greater Metro Manila only), or about 5 working days fully online. Cost at sign-up: no Grab activation fee stated. Common pitfalls: missing BIR or business-permit documents, a representative who doesn’t match the AOI/GIS without a Letter of Authorisation, or a bank account under a different name.

Indonesia

Who can join: explicitly open to everyone, from small home businesses (usaha rumahan) to large restaurants. The owner must be 18 or older with an active KTP. No company registration is required for individuals.

• KTP + selfieNational ID of the owner, plus a selfie holding the KTP with face and card clearly visible (foreigners may use a passport).
• BankA bank account in the owner’s name, matching the KTP (a corporate account requires SIUP/NIB).
• Store detailsName, full address, an accurate Google Maps pin, exterior and interior photos, a logo, and a menu list with prices and food photos.
• NPWP (tax ID)Officially optional for micro and individual businesses; the verification team may request it later.

Timeline: Grab states your account can be active from 24 hours, commonly 1 to 3 working days for verification. Cost at sign-up: free — Grab Indonesia is explicit, and warns against anyone charging a fee to “speed up” registration. Common pitfalls: a blurry, cropped, or dark KTP photo, a name mismatch between the KTP and the bank account, or an inaccurate GPS pin.

Vietnam

Who can join: individuals and business households (hộ kinh doanh) can register, alongside sole proprietorships and companies. A business registration license is required only if you operate as a sole proprietorship or company.

• ID & contactA colour copy of the owner or authorised representative’s ID card; email and phone.
• Business licenseA colour copy — only if you’re a sole proprietorship or company.
• PhotosStore cover photo (9:5), store avatar (1:1), and menu item photos (1:1).
• BankA bank account for payouts. A food-safety certificate isn’t in Grab’s official set but is sometimes requested later — confirm with Grab.

Timeline: about 1 to 3 working days via the app if your information is complete; other Grab Vietnam pages cite 3 to 5 or 5 to 7 days, so treat the shorter figure as the target. Cost at sign-up: a New Merchant Package fee of VND 1,200,000 (incl. VAT) applies to new GrabFood merchants in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi (from 1 September 2023); merchants outside those two cities are not charged. Common pitfalls: incomplete information, photos that don’t meet the required ratios, and a key constraint — you cannot change your store name or address within 60 days of activation, so finalise both before you go live.

Country comparison at a glance

What’s the same everywhere: you sign up through the GrabMerchant app (or a web form for multiple outlets), you always need a national ID and a bank account, you always sign an e-contract before going live, and store and menu photos are always mandatory. Sign-up itself is free in five of the six countries.

What changes by country: whether you need a registered business (required in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines; optional for individuals in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam), which tax document applies, whether there’s a sign-up fee (only Vietnam, and only in two cities), and small but blocking details like Thailand’s three-bank rule or Vietnam’s photo ratios.

All figures reflect Grab’s official merchant pages as of mid-2025 to mid-2026. Grab updates onboarding without notice — always confirm current requirements on Grab’s official merchant page for your country before applying.

Step 2 – Set Up Your Listing Correctly (for Visibility)

Setting up your profile the right way is essential if you want customers to find and order from you.

2.1 Use a keyword-rich business name

• Bad: “Mama’s Kitchen”
• Good: “Mama’s Thai BBQ & Fried Rice – Bangkok”

✓ Include your cuisine type and signature dish

2.2 Choose the right categories and tags

Select 1–3 food categories that match your menu. Add sub-tags if available.

2.3 Write a strong, SEO-friendly description

Include your best dishes, cooking style, and searchable keywords like “spicy,” “halal,” or “vegan.”

Example: “Authentic Thai street food – papaya salad, grilled chicken, mango sticky rice. Spicy, fresh, and made to order.”

2.4 Upload scroll-stopping photos

• Use high-quality, well-lit food images
• Avoid blurry or dark photos
• Show packaging if offering delivery sets

2.5 Set correct opening hours and delivery zone

Make sure your listed hours and coverage area are accurate to avoid losing visibility.

Step 3 – Quick Tips for a Strong Start

• 🎯 Offer a small promo during your first 7 days
• ⭐ Add a QR code in delivery bags to encourage reviews
• 📊 Track performance using the Grab Merchant Dashboard

Frequently asked questions