Entering & exiting Malaysia: FAQs and requirements to note [June 2022]

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Bookmark this: A quick guide to test & vaccination requirements, Visa on Arrival criteria, passport renewal, and more details if you are travelling to or from Malaysia.

Update: Effective 4 July 2022 (Monday), Malaysians entering Malaysia no longer need to fill in their Traveller's Pass details on the MySejahtera application. Read the full updates. 

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, or planning to travel out of Malaysia, HRO has put together a handy guide just for you.

Entering Malaysia

Q Who can enter Malaysia?

Effective 1 April 2022, in line with Malaysia's preparation for the endemic state, Malaysia has lifted its list of 18 high-risk countries for travel. Therefore, travellers from all countries and regions can now enter Malaysia.

Vaccination & COVID-19 tests

As of 1 May 2022, fully-vaccinated travellers entering Malaysia are no longer required to take pre-departure and on-arrival COVID-19 tests. In particular, this applies to the following groups of travellers:

• Travellers aged 13 years and above who have completed vaccination;
• Travellers with a history of COVID-19 infection within six to 60 days from the date of departure for Malaysia.
• Travellers aged 12 and below, regardless of vaccination status.

On the other hand, travellers who are not fully vaccinated are still required to:

1. Perform a pre-departure test two days prior to departing for Malaysia (RT-PCR or professional RTK-Ag);
2. Undergo a COVID-19 detection test within 24 hours upon arrival using antigenic RTK, under the supervision of private medical practitioners, either physically or virtually. 
3. Undergo compulsory quarantine for five days at their place of accommodation (including houses), and
4. Undergo RT-PCR on the fourth day, or professional RTK-Ag on the fifth day.

According to MySafeTravel, only tests that are taken at internationally or nationally accredited/recognised laboratories, clinics, or medical facilities recognised by the Ministry of Health in the country of origin will be accepted.

Q What are the accepted proofs of COVID-19 testing/pre-departure test certificates?

MySafeTravel's website also shared that travellers who have taken a COVID-19 PCR Test or COVID-19 antigen rapid test should receive either a digital test result certificate or an endorsed hardcopy result certificate. Travellers may then upload the test result into MySejahtera, as proof that you have done the pre-departure Test and that it is negative. Here's how to update your overseas vaccination details on the MySejahtera application.

Those who are unable to receive a digital certificate can request a hardcopy certificate from the clinic you visited. 

Note: All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, will have to fill in a pre-departure form in the MySejahtera application. Head over to our quick guide on how to fill up the pre-departure form on your MySejahtera application.

Q Who is exempted from the COVID-19 detection test?

Children under the age of six (according to the year of birth) are not required to undergo pre-departure testing and on-arrival testing.

Required documents & declarations

The following documents need to be presented at immigration:

•  A valid national passport or internationally recognised travel document
• A valid visa (for visa-required travellers);
• Boarding pass; and
• Traveller’s Card displayed in the MySejahtera application.

Apart from the above, travellers are to note the following:

• All foreign travellers must have a confirmed return ticket, unless they are a Malaysia PR, entry permit holder, or the holder of a long-term pass issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
• Effective 1 May, insurance is no longer a must-have for travel into Malaysia. 
• There is no need to submit further health declarations, travel, and accommodation details upon arrival in Malaysia, as all information is to be submitted in the MySejahtera application prior to departure for Malaysia.

Travellers obtaining a Visa on Arrival

As of 1 June 2022, Visa on Arrival (VOA) facilities have resumed for citizens of China and India who are travelling to Malaysia.

Travellers looking to apply for the VOA must meet the following criteria:

• Travel from a third country namely, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei with a valid visa from those countries.
• Priority will be given to groups or family tourists, business people, or investors.
• The VOA fee is RM200 per person.
• Duration of stay is 15 days for each entry, with no extension.
• Have a confirmed return ticket.
• Proof of financial ability to stay in Malaysia (US$500 cash or equivalent in Ringgit Malaysia and proof in cash, traveller cheque, credit card, debit card, or electronic money recognised by Bank Negara Malaysia).

Travellers can only apply for VOA at the following entry/exit points:

• By air
  • Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA/KLIA2)
  • Penang International Airport
  • Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru
  • Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah
  • Kuching International Airport, Sarawak
  • Langkawi International Airport, Kedah
  • Miri Airport, Sarawak
  • Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Selangor
• By land
  • Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar, Tanjung Kupang, Johor
  • Pos Kawalan Imigresen Sungai Tujoh, Sarawak
  • Kompleks Kastam, Kuarantin dan Keselamatan Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah
• By sea
  • Pos Kawalan Imigresen, Terminal Feri Antarabangsa, Labuan

Exiting Malaysia

For travellers exiting Malaysia, JIM notes that these individuals must meet the following conditions:

• Have a passport or document, with a validity period of six months or more.
• Have a valid Pass
  • A Pass is a type of endorsement in a passport or any recognised foreign travel document that shows that the holder has obtained permission or permit to be or reside in Malaysia. This pass must have a valid period at the time of travel.
• Have a boarding pass: Each visitor must submit a boarding pass as proof of that they are a passenger.
• The individual must not be listed as a person not allowed to leave Malaysia.
  • If listed, the individual must obtain a departure facility letter from the Security & Passport Division of the Malaysian Immigration Department, for those who have obtained leave from the relevant agency.

Malaysia passport renewal

Malaysians with passports that have expired, or are expiring (less than six months validity) are reminded of the new procedures effective 11 May 2022, as well as extended operating hours at immigration centres/counters.

1. Operating hours at all State passport issuing offices and selected branches in Peninsular Malaysia have been extended, per the following resolution:
   1. WP Putrajaya, WP Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka will operate until 10pm. However, for the states of Penang, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Perlis, the operating hours are until 6pm.
   2. All of JIM's Urban Transformation Centres (UTCs) throughout Peninsular Malaysia will operate until 10pm.
2. All passport offices in Peninsular Malaysia will operate on Saturdays from 8am to 12.30pm, starting 14 May 2022.
3. Malaysians who will perform Hajj can continue to any passport issuing office by bringing an offer letter from Tabung Haji and a special counter will be provided for this purpose.
4. The Online Appointment System (STO) for all passport issuing offices nationwide will be abolished from 11 May 2022. All appointment dates received through STO from that date onwards will no longer be applicable.
5. All PMA renewal arrangements throughout the country must be made through the online system, except for new PMA applications, senior citizens, the disabled, children under 13, pilgrims, students, and PMAs who have been damaged/lost.
6. Applicants with fingerprint problems can still proceed with the application until the payment process, and the applicant can go down directly to the selected collector's office for their fingerprint retrieval.
   1. Approval through this online system can be obtained within three working days through a notification sent to the applicant's e-mail, and the applicant can appear at the collector's office if not notified after that period. This online PMA renewal can be accessed here.
   2. The public is also invited to join the official telegram channel for PMA applications via this link.

Head over to our full updates on the branch operating hours in individual states/territories.

Image / Shutterstock

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