Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry. All travelers require a return or onward ticket, and sufficient funds (at least US$500). Entry will be refused to foreign women who are six months pregnant or more. Dual nationality is not recognized in
Malaysia and those found holding two passports of different nationalities might be refused entry; it is advisable to enter Malaysia on the passport on which you exited your last country of departure. Passengers holding an APEC Business Travel Card do not need a visa provided the back of the card affirms that it is valid for
travel to Malaysia and a visit pass will be issued on arrival.
Americans: US citizens must have a valid passport. No visas are required for a stay of up to three months.
UK nationals: UK nationals require a passport, but do not require a visa, irrespective of the endorsement in the passport with regard to national status, providing the stay does not exceed three months.
Canadians: Canadians must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months (an extension of two months is available).
Australians: Australians must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to three months.
South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport, but do not require a visa for a stay of up to three months.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to two months.
New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals must hold a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to three months.
Health
Some tropical illnesses are prevalent in Malaysia and travelers should seek medical advice regarding any recommended vaccinations before traveling. Hepatitis A and B are common, as is dengue fever, which has no vaccination or immunization. There has been an increase in cases of dengue fever since January 2005. Malaria risks are isolated to the inland regions; the exception is
Sabah, where there is an all-year risk. Visitors should stick to bottled water and avoid uncooked meat, fish and vegetables, unpeeled fruit, ice and salads. A further health hazard in Malaysia is smoke haze and air pollution, particularly in
Kuala Lumpur, which has the worst air quality in
Asia with very high Benzene pollution levels. This could aggravate cardiac or respiratory problems. The hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and other cities are of a high standard. Medical insurance is recommended. Travelers older than one year coming from infected areas require a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Safety
Malaysia shares with the rest of
South East Asia a threat from terrorism, including places frequented by Westerners. The
US State Department updated its warning in November 2003 and stressed extra caution in the troubled eastern Malaysia state of Sabah, where the risk of kidnapping is high. Terrorists are believed to be planning to kidnap foreign tourists from the islands and coastal areas of Eastern Sabah and boats traveling to dive sites and between the islands are possible targets. Tourists wishing to visit the resorts and islands in the state should stick to larger resorts and exercise extreme caution. Visitors should be aware that street crime such as bag snatching, pick-pocketing and scams are a problem.
