Visa, Travel & COVID-19

Short Term Social Visit Pass

All Visitors, who enter the country via any Malaysian entry checkpoint, will be issued a Short-Term Social Visit Pass for any of the following reasons:

  1. Visiting relatives
  2. Tourism
  3. Journalism / Reporting
  4. Meeting / Conference
  5. Business / Trade Meetings
  6. Factory inspection
  7. Auditing company accounts
  8. Signing an agreement
  9. Attending a seminar / conference
  10. Goodwill missions by university students
  11. Sitting for examination(s) at a Higher Learning Institute
  12. Competing in sporting events
  13. Other activities as approved by the Director General of Immigration, Malaysia

Types of Visas

The Malaysian Government issues three (3) types of visa to foreign citizens (Single Entry Visa, Multiple Entry Visa & Transit Visa). https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/types-of-visas/

Single Entry Visa (priority)

This is issued to foreign citizens who enter Malaysia for social or business purposes. It is normally valid for a Single Entry and for a period not exceeding three (3) months from the date of issuance. https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/

Visa requirement by Country: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/visa-requirement-by-country/

Visa fee according to the Country: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/visa-fees/

eVISA

eVISA is a hassle-free online platform that simplifies the visa application process by issuing electronic visas to Foreign Nationals wishing to enter Malaysia.

Who Can Apply eVISA?

Foreign National from these countries are eligible to apply:

First Phase

China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Serbia, and Montenegro.

Where to Apply: https://malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my/evisa/evisa.jsp

The Malaysia eNTRI visa is available for Indian passport holders or holders of a passport of the People’s Republic of China.


PRE-ARRIVAL REQUIREMENTS

From August 1, 2022, all travelers are allowed to enter Malaysia regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status and do not require a pre-departure or on-arrival COVID-19 test. There are no quarantine orders related to COVID-19 enforced by the Malaysian Government upon arrival.

Travelers can download and activate the MySejahtera application before or after arrival to Malaysia to indicate their COVID-19 risk status while staying in Malaysia. The COVID-19 risk status in MySejahtera may be checked upon entering premises.

IMPORTANT

Following the update by Malaysia Ministry of Health, all travelers entering Malaysia are not required to complete the pre-departure form (pdf) for Travelers Card (TC) feature on MySejahtera app. This will take into effect from August 1, 2022.

To ease the entry process to Malaysia, travelers with valid travel documents can enter Malaysia by downloading and activating the MySejahtera contact tracing app and upload your foreign Vaccination Certificates on MySejahtera.

A smartphone is required to download and activate the MySejahtera app https://mysejahtera.malaysia.gov.my/register


STAY IN MALAYSIA

Travelers who develop COVID-19 symptoms while in Malaysia should get tested and if found to be positive, are subject to the current protocol for positive COVID-19 cases as below:

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must undergo isolation via a Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for seven (7) days. Individuals can be released from isolation on the 4th, 5th or 6th day when they are asymptomatic and the result of an RTK Ag test supervised by a registered medical practitioner is negative. Discharge on the 7th day does not require any COVID-19 detection test.

Travelers who are positive for COVID-19 are prohibited from entering any premises or carrying out activities in public places throughout the period under the HSO.

Masks

As of September 7, 2022, Malaysia has now scrapped its rule of wearing masks indoors. The Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, announced that effective immediately, the use of face masks would only be compulsory in hospitals, medical institutions and public transportation such as buses, trains, planes, taxis and e-hailing vehicles. 

However, masks are mandatory for people who are symptomatic and test positive for COVID-19. It is also recommended that those with symptoms such as fever, cough, flu, or high-risk individuals should still keep their masks on in public.

It is highly encouraged to practice wearing masks indoors in crowded places such as night markets, shopping malls, stadiums and places of worship. Premise owners, such as shopping malls, shops, or restaurants, may still enforce rules requiring visitors to mask up.

High-risk individuals such as the elderly, pregnant women, as well as those with chronic diseases or with low immunity, are also highly encouraged to wear face masks. Individuals doing activities with high-risk groups like the elderly and children are also advised to put on face masks.

Physical Distancing

No longer required but is encouraged when not wearing a mask.

MySejahtera Check-In and Vaccination Status

Entry to premises are allowed regardless of vaccination status except for those with “High Risk” status indicated in their MySejahtera status or under Home Surveillance Order.

Premise owners are required and have the right to check visitor’s risk status on MySejahtera.

COVID-19 Positive (Test and Release)

By default, COVID-19 positive cases are required to quarantine for 7-days. However, under Test and Release, they will have an option to undergo a supervised RTK-Ag test on the 4th day. If tested negative, they may be released from quarantine.

Please continue to practice COVID-19 preventive measures while in Malaysia.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION

When Booking Your Flights

Please ensure your round-trip air tickets are purchased within a single PNR to ensure your luggage are checked in throughout to your final destination.

For those traveling to other countries out of Malaysia, please ensure that you are updated on your home countries’ or onward countries’ travel requirement guidelines to return home as the requirements differ from country to country.

Some airlines may have additional requirements; check your airlines COVID-19 requirements to ensure that you arrange for the necessary RT-PCR test before boarding your flights.

Useful Links

US Embassy of Malaysia – https://my.usembassy.gov/

COVID-19 Information – https://my.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Entry and Exit Requirements – https://my.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/#ee

Malaysia Safe Travel (MySafeTravel) – https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/malaysia

Additional information – https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/malaysia

Hospitals

Prince Court Medical Centre (less than 1km away from Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur) – https://princecourt.com/

Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur (less than 5km away from Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur) – https://www.gleneagles.com.my/kuala-lumpur#


COVID-19 FAQ

Entry and Exit Requirements

  • Are there COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens? No.

Effective August 1, 2022, non-Malaysians, including U.S. citizens, may enter Malaysia  without advance permission. Downloading and updating the MySejahtera app is not required before arrival, but travelers should plan to download and use the app to indicate their COVID-19 risk status while in Malaysia, as it may be checked when entering businesses or other premises.

Entry restrictions may change with little advance notice. Travelers are encouraged to monitor the websites and social media of the Malaysian Ministry of Health  and the Malaysian Immigration Department  and contact the Malaysian authorities directly with any questions.  Please note that the social media pages for these Malaysian agencies are often the first to be updated with the latest information on entry restrictions and quarantine requirements.

  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? No.

Quarantine Information

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.

Effective August 1, 2022, all on-arrival quarantine and testing requirements were eliminated. If you test positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Malaysia, you will be required to quarantine for 7 days , with early release possible if you test negative on the fourth day or later.

COVID-19 Testing

  • Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Malaysia? Yes, both types of tests are available.
  • If so, are test results reliably available within one calendar day? Yes.

Many testing providers can provide results within one calendar day for antigen tests. PCR test results are typically available within 72 hours, though some labs may offer quicker results.  Prior to scheduling your appointment, confirm with the testing provider when the results will be available.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Doctor On Call, provides a platform  to share information on COVID-19 in Malaysia, including options for purchasing self-test kits or booking a COVID-19 testing appointment online.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health maintains lists of private and public clinics able to offer COVID-19 testing on their website.

The MySejahtera mobile app also contains information about COVID-19 testing locations and will automatically show the testing sites closest to the user’s location.

U.S. Citizens must pay all COVID-19 testing fees.  There are a variety of public and private testing options and costs for foreigners can range from 100-500 RM ($20-115 USD).

The method of delivery of COVID-19 test results may vary by provider.  If you need the test results for international travel, including travel to the United States, inform your provider that you need an electronic or hard copy of the test results.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

  • Are vaccines available in Malaysia for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes.

Foreign nationals residing in Malaysia are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination through Malaysia’s national vaccination program.

Individuals in Malaysia can register for the COVID-19 vaccine in one of the following ways:

  • Which vaccines are available in Malaysia?

Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) granted conditional registration to the Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinovac, AstraZeneca, CanSino Biologic, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Malaysia has not yet approved vaccines for children less than five years of age. Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines  in the United States.

Local Resources

Information regarding COVID-19 in Malaysia can be found at the website of the Ministry of Health  (MOH), as well as Ministry of Health social media accounts listed below.  Malaysian authorities frequently share policy updates first on official social media accounts prior to publishing on official websites.

MOH Facebook 

MOH Twitter 

MOH Instagram 

COVID-19  Traveler Information page on travel.state.gov

CDC page on COVID-19 

Malaysia Country Information Page on travel.state.gov 

Malaysia Travel Advisory 


KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Center’s COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Guidelines

Please visit https://www.klccconventioncentre.com/the-centre/covid-19 for the venue’s most up to date COVID-19 standard operating procedures.

If you have further enquiries, please email [email protected].