Malaysia Travel Guide

• Malaysia is one of the most developed and stable countries in South East Asia.
• Ideally situated, with land borders with Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei (and cheap flights to other parts of Asia and Australasia) Malaysia is perfectly suited to fit into any travel itinerary and budget.
• The fusion of different cultures has provided some of the best food in the world. Even for you non-foodies out there, Malaysia will tantalise your taste buds.
• The melting pot of ethnicities means there is never a shortage of festivals to attend! From Hindu Deepavali (festival of lights) to Chinese New Year there is always a sense of anticipation and excitement!

As with Malaysian culture, Malaysian food is a blend of influences from Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Indian and Western palates. Each of the ethnic communities has its own specialities and street food is cheap and plentiful. Why not try a Nasi Goreng (Malaysian-style fried rice) or Rendang Daging (slow-cooked beef with lemongrass and coconut)?

Although Malaysia is a very multicultural society, it is a Muslim country and the Islamic festival of Ramadan takes place every year when Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours. During this time it may be more difficult to access the variety of food normally on offer.

Muslims also are not allowed to consume alcohol but restaurants and bars serve alcohol to the Indian, Chinese and Western communities. So getting a beer at the end of a long, hot day sightseeing will be easy.

Malaysia is hot and humid all year round, with humidity hovering at around 80% and temperatures ranging from 21ºC to 32 ºC across the country and seasons. Rainfall is the biggest variable in Malaysia's climate and ranges depending on the season and which part of the country you are in.

West Coast Peninsular: The wettest months are September to December and the driest are January and February.

East Coast Peninsular: The wettest months are September to December and the driest are June and July

Sabah and Sarawak: The Wettest months are November to February and the driest are April to July.

Due to the possibility of sudden downpours always have an umbrella or lightweight raincoat to hand! But don’t worry as outbursts are short and strong and very rarely last all day.

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Malaysia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Malaysia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Malaysian High Commission in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Malaysia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Make sure it is undamaged, with no pages missing.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

Malaysia does not recognise dual nationality. You can be refused entry if you’re found with a Malaysian passport and one of a different nationality. If you have dual nationality (not including Malaysian), enter and exit on the same passport.

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can visit Malaysia without a visa for tourism. You will normally be allowed to stay for 90 days on arrival.

If you want to stay for longer than 90 days or are not a tourist, you must apply for a visa from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission before you travel.

The Malaysian authorities do not tolerate illegal immigration. Do not overstay your visa or violate the terms of entry. Even if you overstay for just a few days, you can be:

• fined
• detained
• deported to the UK at your own cost
• banned  from returning to Malaysia

Detention facilities can be poor with limited healthcare. The British High Commission is unable to help you stay in Malaysia or issue any document to support your overstay.

Keep a copy of your passport and visa safe in case your passport is lost. It may take time to get a replacement visa. If you cannot show your original visa or entry stamp on exit, you may be treated as an overstayer.

Submitting an arrival card

You must submit an arrival card online to enter Malaysia. Do this before you travel – airlines may ask for it at check-in. If you are not passing through immigration, you do not need to complete an arrival card. See the Malaysian Immigration website for further information, including exemption details.

Entering East Malaysia

If you’re travelling between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (sometimes known as Malaysian Borneo and made up of the states of Sabah and Sarawak), you must carry your passport. You will pass through immigration control and must get entry and exit stamps.

Vaccine requirements

To enter Malaysia, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Malaysia guide.

Drug screening

The Malaysian authorities could ask you to take a urine test on arrival if they suspect drug use. If they find drugs in your system, they could detain or deport you and ban you from returning to Malaysia. You could face these penalties even if you took the drug outside Malaysia, including in a country where it is legal.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Malaysia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

If you are not sure if it is legal to bring items, including medications, declare them on entry.

Importing firearms

It’s illegal to import unlicensed firearms and ammunition into Malaysia. This includes spent ammunition and souvenirs from war museums. Do not take any weapons or replica weapons into Malaysia. You may be detained and charged if you do. If you’re convicted of dealing in illegal firearms, you can get a death sentence.

Taking money into or out of Malaysia

When you enter or exit Malaysia, you must declare cash in any currency or travellers cheques worth 10,000 US dollars or more. If you do not, customs officials could seize your money. You could get a fine of up to 3 million Malaysian ringgit and up to 5 years in prison.

Before you travel, you must get approval to take ringgit worth 10,000 US dollars or more into or out of Malaysia.  

See the Royal Malaysian Customs Department website for more information.

Being a country with an eclectic mix of people and cultures, Malaysians are generally tolerant of outsiders' customs. However, it can be a generally reserved and conservative place so please keep that in mind while travelling. The majority of Malaysians are practising Muslims and you should be mindful of respecting customs and traditions regarding the religion of Islam. 

Public displays of affection are frowned upon. Travellers should dress appropriately at all times, and take care to cover up their shoulders and knees, particularly when visiting mosques, temples, or other religious sites.

Women travellers especially should be mindful that Malaysian women tend to dress more conservatively than Western standards and keep that in mind while packing.

For complete and updated information regarding local laws and customs in Malaysia please refer to travel.state.gov

Safety

We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.