Moving to Malaysia - How to Immigrate to Malaysia? (2024)

If you are looking to move to a place that offers a luxurious lifestyle at a low cost, Malaysia will be the perfect place for that. The low living costs and luxury are two of the main factors that attract expats to move to Malaysia. The country also continues to improve its global attractiveness to job seekers, so there is an increase in the number of expats moving to Malaysia to grow professionally.

Malaysia ranks above its neighboring countries in many life fields, including life quality making it one of the best countries to move to in Southeast Asia.

Do I Need to Obtain a Visa to Move to Malaysia?

If you plan on staying in Malaysia for a period longer than 90 days (three months), you need to obtain a long-stay visa. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to stay in Malaysia.

Malaysia offers different types of visas that you must apply for, depending on the reason why you want to move there (e.g., work, study, family reunification, etc.).

How Can I Move to Malaysia?

There are many ways you can move to Malaysia. For example, you can move there for work, join a family member or study. As such, you will need to get a Malaysian visa with reference, which is authorized by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

*Sometimes, the terms Malaysian visa and Malaysian pass are used interchangeably.

Moving to Malaysia to Work

If you want to move to Malaysia for work, you need to apply for and obtain a work visa (work permit). Malaysia issues different types of work permits that you can apply for depending on what type of work permit you are eligible for, such as:

• Employment Pass.
• Temporary Employment Pass.
• Professional Visit Pass.

If you are a holder of an employment pass, you can bring your family members (spouse, children under 21) to Malaysia with you. Holders of other types of work permits are not allowed to bring their dependents to Malaysia.

Moving to Malaysia for Family Reunification

If you are in Malaysia, working or studying, and want to bring your family members to Malaysia, you need to apply for a dependent pass.

With this type of visa, you can bring the following family members:

• Your spouse.
• Children under the age of 21.
• Dependent children.

Once your family members arrive in Malaysia, they must submit their passports to the Immigration Department of Malaysia to receive the Malaysia Dependent Pass sticker. They will be allowed to stay in Malaysia for the same period of time as your Malaysian visa but cannot work during this time.

Moving to Malaysia to Study

If you decide to move to Malaysia to pursue your studies, you need to apply for a Malaysian student visa (Approval Letter) at the Immigration Department. However, before starting the application process, you must already be accepted by a Malaysian educational institution.

After receiving your approval letter, you might be required to apply for an entry visa, depending on the country of your residence.

Once you arrive in Malaysia, you can register at your educational institution and get your Malaysia student pass and i-Kad.

Moving to Malaysia to Retire

Malaysia offers a retirement visa to anyone who wants to move to Malaysia for retirement. If you have sufficient financial funds and meet the conditions for retiring in Malaysia, you can apply for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, which is a retirement program.

Once your retirement visa is approved, you can come to Malaysia and collect your Conditional Approval Letter in person.

With a retirement visa, you can bring your spouse and children under 21 to Malaysia with you. This type of visa comes with many great benefits and is valid for a period of 10 years, and can be renewed. You are also allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Moving to Malaysia?

Here are the pros and cons of moving to Malaysia:

Also read: Healthcare system in Malaysia

How Can I Become a Permanent Resident of Malaysia?

To become eligible for permanent residency in Malaysia, you must meet a set of requirements, such as, you must have resided in the country for at least 10 years, you do not hold another nationality, and you are proficient in the Malay language.

Does Malaysia Allow Dual Citizenship?

Malaysia belongs to the group of countries that do not allow dual citizenship. According to the Malaysian government, a citizen cannot hold dual citizenship if they wish to live in Malaysia. Therefore if you want to become a citizen of Malaysia, you need to renounce your current nationality.

Can I Bring My Household Items to Malaysia?

If you are moving to reside permanently in Malaysia, you can bring your personal household items to Malaysia by sea, land, or air. However, you must be in Malaysia at the time your personal belongings are being imported to the country.

According to the Malaysian Customs Department, you need to declare all dutiable or prohibited goods in your possession. Some of the goods you import to Malaysia are exempted from customs duties and taxes. However, in order to import your household goods to Malaysia, you must meet a set of requirements, such as:

• You must be the owner of the imported goods.
• The imported goods must have been in your possession and used for a period less than three months before departure.
• The household must not be disposed of within 3 months of being imported to Malaysia.
• You must make Malaysia your new place of residence.

Personal belongings listed below are prohibited from entering Malaysian territory:

• Narcotics.
• Firearms, gas pistols, or other guns.
• Explosives.
• Indecent or obscene video cassettes, DVDs, films, books, magazines, etc.
• Meat and poultry.
• Liquor, wine, and tobacco (special permit required).
• Restricted pets.

Can I Move to Malaysia With Pets?

You can move to Malaysia with pets (cats and dogs) if you meet the requirements set by the Malaysian government. There is not a set number of pets that you are allowed to bring per person, but the local authorities may have regulations on the number of dogs that you are allowed to keep in your household.

Before starting the procedure to import your pets to Malaysia, you must check if the breed of your pet is allowed to enter the Malaysian borders. As such, the breeds listed below are not allowed to enter Malaysia:

• Akita.
• Bull Mastiff.
• Doberman.
• American Bulldog.
• Dogo Argentino.
• Fila Brasileiro.
• German Shepard (Belgian Shepard and East European Shepard included)
• Japanese Tosa.
• Neapolitan Mastiff.
• Pit Bull Terrier / Pit Bull (all types of Pitbull).

Once you check that your pet is allowed to enter Malaysian territory, you must meet the following requirements:

• Your pets must be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccine must be valid when your pet arrives in Malaysia.
• Your pets must be identified by means of a microchip.
• Your pets must be older than 3 months.
• You must make sure that your pets are fit to travel (air, land, sea).
• Your pets must meet the Malaysia Import Regulations for the Importation of Dogs/Cats into the country.
• You must obtain a veterinary health certificate from the country of residence. The health certificate must have been authorized by a veterinarian.
• You must obtain an import permit from the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Service Department (MAQS) before your pets leave the country of residence.
• Additional vaccines for your pets include the following:
  • Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (DHLPP), and Bordetella for dogs.
  • Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP) for cats.

Most Popular Areas in Malaysia for Expats

Here are some of the most popular places for expats to move to in Malaysia:

• Kuala Lumpur.
• Penang.
• Langkawi.
• Malacca.
• Ipoh.

Kuala Lumpur

The capital city of Malaysia, is one of the most popular expat destinations in Asia. Kuala Lumpur is known for its beautiful landmarks and skyscrapers. Kuala Lumpur is ranked 35th in security, so you will not have to worry about violent crimes happening, although you should always be extra careful. The city is the financial and cultural heart of Malaysia and one of the least expensive major cities to live in Asia, but the most expensive city in Malaysia.

And although the city is multicultural, you should avoid wearing short skirts and singlets, so you should wear clothing that covers your shoulders and below your knee.

Penang

Characterized by many beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches, delicious food, and colonial architecture, Penang will make a great place for anyone wishing to move to Malaysia. Penang is one of the safest destinations for expats in Malaysia. This is why a huge number of retired expats choose to move to Penang for their retirement.

Due to the increasing number of tourists and expats moving to Penang, the state has become pretty expensive, especially when it comes to food. A single person would spend around €500 on groceries and necessities, without including rent.

Langkawi

Known as the Jewel of Kedah, the beautiful island has exceptional wildlife, with 200 different types of birds and many monkey species. It is the perfect place for people who love to be surrounded by nature and animals.

Since the island offers an extensive range of activities such as sailing, water sports, aerial activities, etc., you will see millions of tourists visiting the place every year. Langkawi is also one of the safest destinations in Malaysia for tourists, families, and solo travelers. This makes Langkawi a top tourist destination in Malaysia. In fact, many expats come to retire in Langkawi due to the low living costs and the relaxed lifestyle.

The island is not recommended for digital nomads as there might be problems with the internet.

Melaka

Melaka is located in the southern part of Malaysia. The city has a number of government and private hospitals and health clinics and is a very popular place for healthcare and medical tourism, so health should not be a problem if you decide to move here. You will receive the same health services as the residents of Melaka.

Melaka is more affordable than many other cities in Malaysia. You would spend around €1000 for rent and other necessities, although this depends mostly on your lifestyle and accommodation.

When in Melaka, you will enjoy the warm weather all year round and the beautiful Malayan culture. The locals are also very friendly and will make you feel welcome.

Ipoh

If you want to move to the northwestern part of Malaysia, you must go to Ipoh. Although is one of the less explored cities in the region, Ipoh is Malaysia’s charm for many tourists. Tourists from all over the world are attracted by street art, cave temples, delicious food, and colonial buildings. Ipoh is a very safe and small city, so you can get around by car, bus, bicycle, or other vehicles or simply walk around the city.

Compared to other cities, Ipoh is also very inexpensive. You can find accommodation for as cheap as €85 per month to €1000 per month, depending on the location of the apartment.