Living In Malaysia > Customs & Immigration

The information contained below is only a guide and you are urged to check the current immigration regulations with the Malaysian consulate in
your country or alternatively the Malaysian Immigration Department (www.imi.gov.my/index.html).

Passports

Each family member, regardless of age (even a baby), must have his or her own passport. Passports should be valid for a at least 6-months
beyond the date of your arrival in Malaysia.

Visas

All foreigners entering Malaysia require a visa. However, for EU, Canada, the United States, Japan and certain other Commonwealth and Asian
countries, there is no need to apply for a visa prior to your departure as the appropriate visa will be issued to you at the port of arrival in Malaysia.
 
For expatriates and their families coming to work in Malaysia, the following regulations will apply:

Employment Pass (Work Permit)

All foreigners working in Malaysia require an employment pass. They are valid for 1-3 years depending on the employee's designation and length
of contract. The employee also needs to be physically in Malaysia when the work permit application is being processed. This leads to a grey area
whereby the employee is actually working without a work permit. However, the immigration authorities realize this and so allow an expatriate to
work during the period in which the work permit is being applied for.

All Employment Pass holders will be issued with an Expatriate Identification Card. This card has two functions:

(a). it replaces the need to complete embarkation cards every time you leave and re-enter Malaysia

(b). it is a picture ID and substitutes for your passport when you are required to produce ID for any official
      dealings you have with the Malaysian authorities or other organizations e.g. banks or insurance companies.

Dependant Pass

This is for dependants of an Employment Pass holder, normally the spouse and children. Spouses with Dependant's Passes are not allowed to
work in Malaysia. Malaysia does recognize Common Law marriages and so will issue a Dependant's Pass to a Common Law spouse. However,
an attestation to the "marriage" from the appropriate embassy in Kuala Lumpur is required.

ID Cards

Malaysians are required to carry ID cards at all times. It is advisable that foreigners carry some form of identification also.

Customs

(a). Importing Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

As an expatriate coming to work in Malaysia or a returning resident you are allowed to import free of duty and tax a used household goods
and personal effects shipment if you satisfy the following requirements:
 
• You are in Malaysia at the time of import. You must submit a copy of your passport for customs clearance.
• Expatriates may need to supply a copy of their work permit or a letter from their Malaysian employer verifying their circumstances in Malaysia.
• Returning residents must have been resident outside of Malaysia for a minimum of 12 months.
 
(b). Restricted and Prohibited Items

The following items are banned from import. DO NOT even attempt to import them:
 
• Firearms, ammunition and other weaponry
• Pornographic literature
• Narcotics
• Communist literature
• Media deemed counter to local cultural values.
• Corals and turtle eggs are absolutely prohibited from export and import.
• Cloth bearing reproduction of any verses of the Koran.
• The following items are restricted. That is they can be imported but are either subject to duty and tax,
  examination by Customs or licensing:
• Alcohol and tobacco (for personal consumption only). These are dutiable. Videocassettes, video compact discs,
  DVDs and laser discs are all subject to viewing by the Censorship Board. Any material deemed unsuitable will be
  destroyed. A viewing charge of USD 2 per item will apply.

 

Customs Forms

UK Customs Form

Australian Customs Form

US Customs Form

The Insurance Form

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