Living in Malaysia

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Getting guidehelp setswith outliving essentialin informationMalaysia

Help forfrom Britishthe citizensMalaysian government

For any questions about moving to or living in Malaysia.Malaysia, Readyou aboutmay howbe theable Britishto get help from the:

• Malaysian High Commission Kualain LumpurLondon
• Malaysian canImmigration help.
  Department

ThisThe informationUK isgovernment providedand asthe aBritish guideHigh only.Commission Youin shouldKuala getLumpur definitivecannot informationgive frompersonalised theadvice Malaysianon authorities.moving Theto, Foreign,living Commonwealthor &retiring Developmentin OfficeMalaysia.

Professional (FCDO)help isin notMalaysia

You liablecan foralso anyget inaccuracieshelp from English-speaking professionals in thisMalaysia, information.including:

• lawyers
• translators
• notaries
• funeral directors

Help from the UK government

SupportRead forthe Britishtravel nationalsadvice abroadfor guidanceMalaysia setsto outunderstand howthe Britishrisks nationalsyou canmay stayface safeif abroadyou andlive howin or visit Malaysia. This includes the FCDOlatest caninformation helpon:

• visas ifand youentry dorequirements
• laws getand intocultural difficulty.
  differences
• safety and security

Read generalour guidance on movingon moving, living or retiring abroad.

ToGet stayhelp upfrom to date: follow the BritishUK Highgovernment Commissionabroad, Kualaincluding Lumpurin onan Facebook and Twitter.emergency.

BeforeLaws youand gocultural differences   

SeeRead ourabout travellaws adviceand forcultural Malaysiadifferences forin up-to-datesafety informationand onsecurity entryin requirements,the localtravel lawsadvice andfor customs,Malaysia. safetyThis and emergencies.includes:

• penalties for illegal drug smuggling
• LGBT+ rights
• carrying ID

VisasVisas, residency and residencycitizenship

CheckMake the sure you meet the entry requirements for Malaysia inbefore ouryou travel advice.travel.

Visas and residence passes

VisitCheck thewhich Malaysian Immigrationvisa websiteor forresidence furtherpass informationyou andneed contactto detailslive ofin yourMalaysia. nearestThe officeMalaysian ifImmigration youDepartment wishexplains tothe settle,different visitoptions oravailable workto in Malaysia.you.

DoYou notcan overstayget youra visa,visa orto:

• work
• study
• retire

If violateyou thewant termsto ofextend entry.your Malaysianvisa authoritiesor considerresidence overstayingpass, aread seriousguidance matter.on Eventhe ifMalaysian youvisa, overstaypassport forand justimmigration aservices or fewcontact days,the youMalaysian canImmigration beDepartment.

For fined,more detained,information, deportedread toguidance thefrom UKthe:

• Malaysian andImmigration blacklisted.Department
• Malaysian FlightHigh costsCommission willin beLondon

Permanent theresidency

You responsibilitymay ofbe theable individual.to Conditionsapply infor prisonspermanent andresidency immigrationin detentionMalaysia.

To facilitiesfind canout beif pooryou’re witheligible limited healthcare services.

Passports and travel

Youhow canto applyapply, forread orguidance renewon yourapplying Britishfor passportpermanent fromresidency in Malaysia.

Citizenship

Check the Malaysia traveldoes advicenot forrecognise passportdual validitycitizenship. requirements.

Healthcare This inmeans Malaysia

Therethat isyou nomay reciprocalhave Nationalto Healthgive Serviceup agreement(renounce) inyour MalaysiaBritish andcitizenship medicalto costsbecome musta beMalaysian met by the individual.citizen.

TheTo Malaysianfind medicalout systemif consistsyou’re ofeligible privatefor hospitals,Malaysian governmentcitizenship:

• read hospitals,guidance specialiston clinicsgetting andMalaysian generalcitizenship
• contact medicalthe practices.Malaysian TheHigh medicalCommission carein isLondon

Help generallywith good,visa, butresidency canand becitizenship expensive.applications

The ThereBritish isHigh noCommission reciprocalin NationalKuala HealthLumpur Servicecannot agreementhelp inwith MalaysiaMalaysian andvisa, medicalresidency costsor mustcitizenship beapplications.

For metany byquestions theor individual.issues:

Patients

• check canthe chooseMalaysian providersImmigration fromDepartment portal
• contact the governmentMalaysian orHigh privateCommission sector.in InLondon
• contact an emergency,English-speaking patientslawyer canin goMalaysia

Passports atand anytravel

Read timeour toguidance theon 24-hourmoving, Accidentliving andor Emergencyretiring departmentsabroad. locatedThis atcovers government,how orto:

• apply somefor privatea hospitals.British Itpassport isfrom usualabroad
• travel forurgently allwithout hospitalsyour toBritish takepassport

Dual ancitizens initialtravelling depositto fromthe aUK

When validtravelling creditto cardthe beforeUK, treatmentBritish commences.citizens Youmust maycarry alsoa needvalid toBritish showpassport youror passportcertificate toof accessentitlement. medicalRead treatment.guidance on dual citizenship.

UK

Healthcare travelin insuranceMalaysia

Read providersour willguidance noton generallymoving, coverliving youror healthcareretiring costsabroad. ifThis youcovers livehow overseas.to:

Health

• plan insurance

Ifyour youhealthcare

Malaysia ensuredoes younot have takena outreciprocal anhealth appropriateagreement healthwith insurancethe policy.UK.

IfMake sure you arehave aappropriate visitor,health arrangeinsurance comprehensiveto travelcover insuranceany beforehealthcare youcosts. travel.You Makecan sureget yourinsurance policyfrom coversinternational theand following:Malaysian providers.

• an

  To airfind ambulance,out inhow case you need to beget flownmedical home by this means

treatment:
• fullcontact medicalyour coverinsurance (medical bills can be expensive) including for pre-existing conditionsprovider
• repatriationread ofguidance youron remainshealth in the event of deathMalaysia
• repatriationfind ofEnglish-speaking yourmedical familyfacilities inand thedoctors event it is necessary for youBritish toNationals returnin home due to illness or injuryMalaysia

Medicine

Working in Malaysia

IfRead youour areguidance on amoving, prescriptionliving for any medication you should ensure you have a supply of it, or areretiring ableabroad. toThis obtaincovers itworking whenabroad, inincluding Malaysia.documents Certainyou medicines may notneed befrom availablethe inUK Malaysiagovernment.

To (includingwork major brands readily available in theMalaysia, UK), and you maymust bemeet prohibited from taking them into the country.Malaysian government’s criteria.

You shouldmust consultalso yourhave GPa beforepass travellingthat toallows Malaysiayou to findwork, outfor about any alternative medication.example:

Read

• an theemployment guidancepass
• a ifprofessional youvisitor needpass
• a tovisitor’s travel(temporary withemployment) medicinespass.

Working in Malaysia

IfYour youemployer arewill planningneed to movesubmit toyour Malaysiaapplication and work,supporting youdocuments mayin needadvance ausing visa.the ForExpatriate furtherServices informationDirectorate pleaseportal. visitThe theMalaysian website of the Malaysia Immigration Department.

Before enteringwill Malaysiaissue ita isvisa essentialapproval youletter. haveYou thecan rightthen visa.apply Dofor nota overstaysingle anyentry visa granted.at the Malaysian authoritiesHigh considerCommission overstaying,in orLondon, enter notMalaysia havingand thecollect correctyour visapass. a   

You seriouscan matter.find Youthe mayfull beprocess held in detention,the fined,online deportedguidebook andon blacklisted.the Expatriate Services Directorate portal.

Studying

Recognition inof Malaysia

qualifications

If you planwant to studywork in Malaysia, you mustmay meetneed allto visaget requirementsyour beforeforeign youqualifications travel.recognised.  

ContactYou thecan relevantfind highermore educationinformation providerand indetails Malaysiaof how to checkapply whaton feesthe youMalaysian haveQualifications toRegister pay.website.

TaxDriving in Malaysia

TheRead UKour hasguidance aon doublemoving, taxationliving agreementor withretiring Malaysiaabroad. soThis thatcovers youhow doto:

• drive notabroad paylegally
• take tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questionsUK aboutvehicle doubleabroad
• get taxationdriving relief.
  licence letters

You shouldcan getdrive professionalin adviceMalaysia onfor payingup taxto in12 Malaysia.months Findusing an English-speakingan lawyerinternational indriving Malaysiapermit.

Read guidancealongside on:

• taxyour ifvalid youUK leavedriving thelicence. UKTo todrive livefor abroad
• taxlonger, onyou yourwill UKneed incomea ifMalaysian youdriving livelicence.

  Read abroad

• taxabout ifroad youtravel getin aMalaysia pensionin safety and livesecurity abroad
• payingin Nationalthe Insurancetravel whileadvice abroadfor toMalaysia. protectThis yourincludes Stateinformation Pensionon anddriving entitlementin tocountry, otherincluding benefitsdriving andlicence allowances
rules.

Benefits

CheckThe whichMalaysian UKRoad benefitsTransport youDepartment canprovides claiminformation whileon abroaddriving andin howMalaysia, toincluding claimhow them.to:

Many

• apply income-relatedfor benefitsa suchMalaysian asprovisional Pensiondriver’s Creditlicence
• apply andfor Housinga BenefitMalaysian cannotcompetent bedriver’s paidlicence
• renew ifa you’reMalaysian abroadcompetent fordriver’s more than 4 weeks.
  licence

PensionsTax

Read StateRead Pensionour guidance ifon youmoving, haveliving lived in Australia, Canada or Newretiring Zealandabroad. andThis youcovers aretax, claimingincluding orpaying waitingUK totax claimand yourNational UK State Pension.Insurance.

IfThe youUK retirehas ina Malaysia,double youtaxation canagreement claimwith your UK State PensionMalaysia or newso UKthat Stateyou Pension. Contactdo thenot Internationalpay Pensiontax Centreon forthe furthersame information.

Lifeincome certificatesin forboth UK State Pensions

countries.

IfContact youthe getInland a lifeRevenue certificate’Board fromof theMalaysia UKfor Pensionany Service,questions.

Consider yougetting mustprofessional respondadvice ason soonpaying astax possible.in YourMalaysia. paymentsTo maydo bethis, suspendedfind ifan youEnglish-speaking dolawyer not.in Malaysia.

Money and bankingPensions

The

Claiming officialyour currencyUK ofpension

Read Malaysiaour isguidance theon Malaysianmoving, Ringgitliving (MYRor /retiring RM).abroad. ItThis iscovers:

• how easy to convertclaim mostyour majorUK currenciesState atPension
• where officialthe moneyUK changers,government bankspays andan hotels.annual Passportincrease identificationin usuallythe willState bePension

Claiming requireda forMalaysian pension

Contact the exchange.Malaysian ATMsPension areDepartment a(in safeMalay) option to withdrawfind cashout andwhether theyyou arecan widelyclaim available.

Debita andpension Creditin cardsMalaysia.

Benefits

Claiming areUK acceptedbenefits

Read atour mostguidance majoron establishments.moving, Smallerliving shopsor andretiring restaurantsabroad. willThis onlycovers accepthow cashto andclaim willUK notbenefits haveabroad, aincluding creditChild cardBenefit.

Claiming facility,Malaysian particularlybenefits

Contact in the moreMalaysian remoteSocial areas.

ToSecurity setOrganisation upto afind localout bankwhether account you maycan beclaim askedbenefits forin yourMalaysia.

Buying passport, visa and arenting letterproperty fromin yourMalaysia

Read employer.our Youguidance shouldon contactmoving, theliving bankor directlyretiring toabroad. findThis out.

Accommodationcovers and buying property

Seeand buyingrenting a property abroad.abroad.

ForeignersThere are subjectspecific to various rules andgoverning regulationshow inforeigners respectcan ofbuy purchasing property in Malaysia. ThisThe doesrules vary from state to state. ForConsult further information please refer to the local land registry department for the state whichwhere you haveare aninterested interestin in.buying property.

Driving

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Malaysia

British nationalsif whoyou’re wishconsidering tobuying driveproperty or land.

Voting in Malaysia

UK mustelections

Read possessour documentsguidance recognisedon bymoving, theliving Malaysianor authorities. retiring abroad. This cancovers behow either:to:

• avote validin BritishUK drivingelections licencefrom and a (UK-issued) International Driving Permitabroad
• aregister Malaysianas drivingan licenseoverseas voter

Malaysian elections

AsYou ofcannot Aprilvote 1,in 2024,Malaysian theelections DVLAunless requiresyou thathold ifMalaysian youcitizenship.

Studying arein seekingMalaysia

If anyou Internationalplan Drivingto Permit,study in Malaysia, you must visitmeet aall participatingvisa PayPointrequirements locationbefore oryou gotravel.

For online.more Youinformation:

• read shouldguidance haveon atravel fullgrants andfor validstudents photo-cardstudying licence,abroad aor standardon passportplacements photograph,(England)
• contact andyour ahigher valideducation passportprovider ifin youthe haveUK anor olderMalaysia
• contact paperthe versionMalaysian licence.Ministry Applicationof feeEducation is(in £5.50Malay)

Children

Read andour youguidance muston bemoving, 18living or older.

Noteretiring thatabroad. MalaysiaThis willcovers onlymoving recogniseabroad awith UK-issuedchildren, Internationalincluding:

• getting Drivingpermission Permitto fortake one year following your datechild ofabroad
• claiming entryUK intoChild MalaysiaBenefit (regardlessabroad
• child ofmaintenance thepayments validityif datea thatparent appearslives onabroad

Schools theand card itself).

education

ToThe obtainMalaysian aMinistry Malaysiaof drivingEducation licenceprovides youinformation shouldabout contact– JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan); the Malaysianschool Roadsystem Transportin Department.Malaysia.

IfAll you’rechildren askedaged for6 ato letter17 authenticating,must certifyingattend school or validatinghome yourschool UKin driver’sMalaysia.

For licence,more youinformation, shouldread contactthe yourMalaysian UKgovernment’s issuingguidance officeon (e.g.how the DVLA).to:

Guidance

• apply for travellinga bystudent roadpass infrom Malaysiathe seeMalaysian RoadImmigration TravelDepartment
• apply for home schooling.

  If youthrough wishthe toMalaysian takeMinistry yourof vehicleEducation

You withcan you,also see Takingcontact vehiclesthe outMalaysian Ministry of UKEducation.

Childcare

ForThe moreMinistry informationof aboutWomen, drivingFamily abroadand seeCommunity DrivingDevelopment abroad(in Malay). is responsible for childcare services in Malaysia.

Voting

YouFor mayinformation beon ableenrolling toyour votechild in somenursery, UKread elections.the YouMalaysian can:

• checkMinistry ifof youEducation’s areguidance ableon topre-school vote
• registereducation asin an overseas voterMalaysia
.

Births, deaths, marriagemarriages and civil partnershippartnerships

Births

If your child is born in MalaysiaMalaysia, you should register the birth with the localMalaysian authorities.authorities.

Read Youour canguidance thenon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

• register the birth with the UK authorities andto applyget for a UK birth certificate.

  Ifcertificate

• apply for your childchild’s hasfirst British nationality, youpassport

Deaths

Read doour notguidance needon tomoving, registerliving theor birthretiring withabroad. theThis UK authoritiescovers:

• what to applydo forafter asomeone Britishdies passport.abroad
• how   
  to register the death with the UK authorities

Deaths

If someone dies in MalaysiaMalaysia, read our guidance on:

• what to dowhen if someone dies abroadin Malaysia
• bereavementEnglish-speaking guidancefuneral fordirectors in Malaysia
• English-speakingregistration funeralof directorsdeath in Malaysia

MarriageMarriages and civil partnershippartnerships

FindRead out howour youguidance canon moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.abroad.

SameYou sexcan marriagealso servicesread arethe notMalaysian providedgovernment’s guidance on getting married in Malaysia.Malaysia. 

Pets

IfSame you’resex movingmarriages toand Malaysiacivil withpartnerships yourare pet,not readlegally therecognised guidancein aboutMalaysia. takingFor yourinformation petabout abroadandLGBT+ ensurerights youin complyMalaysia, withread theguidance regulations.

Emergencies

Dialon 999safety forand ansecurity ambulancein or the policetravel anywhereadvice isfor Malaysia.Malaysia.

While

Divorce theand healthcareseparation

Read systemour isguidance efficient,on themoving, qualityliving andor responseretiring timesabroad. ofThis ambulancescovers canhow take up to 30get minutesa divorce or moreend dependinga oncivil wherepartnership.

The youMalaysian areNational callingRegistration from.Department Consideroffers takinginformation aon taximarriage orand usingdivorce ain ride-hailing app.Malaysia.

DialConsider 994taking forlegal theadvice Firefrom Brigade.an English-speaking lawyer in Malaysia.

Dial

Documents 999for toBritish reportpeople ain missing child.

Malaysia

IfRead youour haveguidance beenon thedocuments victimfor ofBritish apeople rapeabroad. orThis sexualcovers: 

• legalising assaultand incertifying Malaysia,UK readdocuments
• marriage theand Malaysia:civil informationpartnership fordocuments
• affirmations survivorsand ofaffidavits
• witnessing rapesignatures

Lawyers, translators and sexual assault

notaries

SeeTo alsofind victiman ofEnglish-speaking rapelawyer, andtranslator sexualor assaultnotary abroad.

Findin an English-speakingMalaysia, lawyerread inguidance Malaysiaon professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you’reyou thewant victimto ofbring ayour crime,pet havewith beenyou arrested,to orMalaysia, areread affectedguidance byon:

• bringing a crisis, contactpet theinto British High Commission Kuala LumpurMalaysia.

  Read from the guidanceMalaysian onDepartment internationalof parentalVeterinary childServices

• taking abductionyour ifpet yourdog, childcat mayor beferret atto riska ofnon-EU this.
  country

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanentlythe UK permanently. whichThis includes information on bringing family members,members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Malaysian authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.