ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
U.S. citizens seeking entry as tourists or visitors must present a valid passport that will remain valid for six months past their period of intended stay to travel to Malaysia. Visas are not required for tourists staying fewer than 90 days. Upon arrival, immigration officials will place an entry stamp in your passport to specify the days you can visit. When arriving by air, travelers to Malaysia are electronically fingerprinted upon arrival and again on departure. Make sure that you have enough empty pages for entry and exit stamps in your passport to ensure your entry and exit. Travelers should be careful not to stay beyond the date permitted to avoid difficulties when departing the country.
For more updates and other information, please visit http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/malaysia.html.
Please note: Each traveler is fully responsible for bringing and acquiring travel documents (e-tickets, hotel and travel vouchers, etc.) necessary for their itinerary. Suppose you are not a citizen of the United States. In that case, your entry requirements may vary. Please get in touch with the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited and obtain the requirements for entry.
ARRIVAL INFORMATION
Please refer to the instructions given in your itinerary confirmation.
Country Information
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Population: 33,871,431 (2022 est.)
Location: South East Asia
Largest Cities: Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Ipoh
Religion: 61.3% of the population practice Islam, 19.8% practice Buddhism, 9.2% Christianity, 6.3% Hinduism and 1.3% practice Confucianism, Taoism, and other traditional Chinese religions. 0.7% declared no religion, and the remaining 1.4% practiced other religions
System of Government: Federal Parliamentary, Constitutional Monarchy, Elective Monarchy
Map of Malaysia
Time zone
Malaysia operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), plus 8 hours.
At 9:00 am anywhere in Malaysia, it is:
• 8:00 pm the previous day in New York – Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• 7:00 pm the previous day in Chicago and Houston – Central Standard Time (CST)
• 5:00 pm the previous day in Los Angeles and San Francisco – Pacific Standard Time (PST)
• 3:00 pm the previous day in Hawaii – Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HAST)
*Note: Add one hour to local time during Daylight Savings Time.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website is a good source of health information for travelers.
You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Sightseeing may require, at minimum, the ability to walk at a moderate pace for a mile or two and the balance and agility necessary to climb stairs, enter and exit buses and boats, and navigate uneven or cobble-stoned streets. Some sightseeing stops do not have elevators or wheelchair access. Bring medications in their original, clearly labeled containers. A signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea. If carrying syringes or needles, have a physician’s letter documenting their medical necessity. When on vacation, it is always wise to watch what you eat and drink and avoid drinking tap water while traveling. Most hotels will provide complimentary bottled water. You can purchase additional bottled water throughout your trip.
Malaysia’s unit of currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM) available in the following denominations: Banknotes: 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 RM; Coins: 50, 20, 10, 5, 1 sen, and 1 RM. You can exchange foreign currency at authorized agencies such as banks, exchange offices, and hotels. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted but expect to pay in cash at most family-owned restaurants and small shops. The exchange rate constantly fluctuates. The current exchange rate is approximately 1 USD = 3.8 MYR. For the most updated exchange rate, please check http://www.xe.com.
The standard electrical voltage in Malaysia is 240 volts and 50 Hertz. Bringing an adaptor is a good idea if you use electronics (i.e., cell phones, laptops, cameras, etc.) during your trip.
Many different cultures throughout the world influence Malaysian food. Malaysia’s style of cuisine is most commonly said to be a mixture of Chinese, Indian, and Thai. Still, due to its geographical location, it also carries influences from Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Arabian cuisines, making it unique and exotic. Malaysia’s staple foods are rice, noodles, bread, poultry, beef, pork, mutton, seafood, and vegetables.
Malay food is often savory, spicy, and aromatic, blending the rich tastes of the many herbs and spices commonly found in other Southeast Asian dishes. Fresh herbs and spices such as lemon grass, lime leaves, basil, nutmeg, turmeric, cumin, and coriander are often used when cooking dishes. Most meals in Malaysia are eaten using your fingers, as eating utensils are kept to a minimum.
Malay is the official language in Malaysia but is not the only language spoken. Chinese, Tamil, Javanese, and English are other languages in Malaysia. You will find that most Malaysians, especially in large cities, can speak and understand English quite well.
WEATHER
Situated between one and six degrees north of the equator, Malaysia experiences slight variations in temperature throughout the year. The country’s tropical climate means they undergo high temperatures, high humidity, relatively light winds, and abundant rainfall throughout the year. Temperatures in Malaysia are pretty high no matter what time you visit. Humidity is also very extreme, ranging from 70-90%, and varying more throughout the day than it does annually.
Average Temperatures
All temperatures in Fahrenheit (°F)
| Month/City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu | 74 - 87 | 74 - 88 | 75 - 89 | 76 - 90 | 76 - 91 | 75 - 90 | 75 - 89 | 75 - 89 | 75 - 89 | 75 - 89 | 75 - 88 | 74 - 88 |
| Kuala Lumpur | 73 - 90 | 74 - 91 | 75 - 92 | 75 - 92 | 76 - 92 | 75 - 91 | 74 - 90 | 74 - 90 | 74 - 90 | 74 - 90 | 74 - 89 | 74 - 89 |
| Kuching | 73 - 86 | 73 - 86 | 74 - 88 | 74 - 90 | 74 - 91 | 74 - 91 | 73 - 90 | 73 - 90 | 73 - 90 | 73 - 89 | 73 - 89 | 73 - 87 |
| Langkawi | 77 - 90 | 77 - 92 | 78 - 91 | 79 - 90 | 78 - 89 | 78 - 89 | 77 - 88 | 77 - 88 | 77 - 87 | 77 - 88 | 77 - 89 | 77 - 88 |
| Penang | 74 - 89 | 75 - 91 | 76 - 90 | 77 - 90 | 77 - 90 | 77 - 90 | 76 - 89 | 76 - 89 | 76 - 88 | 76 - 88 | 76 - 88 | 75 - 88 |
| Sipadan | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 75 - 88 | 75 - 88 | 75 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 | 73 - 88 |
| Sukau | 72 - 84 | 72 - 85 | 73 - 86 | 73 - 88 | 74 - 88 | 74 - 87 | 74 - 87 | 74 - 87 | 73 - 87 | 73 - 87 | 73 - 86 | 73 - 85 |
OTHER INFORMATION
This will be contingent on your preference and the time of year you travel. Generally, we suggest that travelers pack lightly and bring comfortable, casual clothes in natural, “breathable” fabrics because of the humidity. Choose versatile styles that can be layered. A lightweight (preferably non-plastic) raincoat or poncho is a good idea, especially during the rainy season, and a sweater or lightweight jacket for when the weather cools down or in air-conditioned buildings. A sturdy pair of walking shoes is a must, as sandals may not be comfortable for some sightseeing activities. Some hotels have pools, so you may want to pack your swimming suit. Do not forget to bring sunblock, sunglasses, insect repellent, pocket packs of tissues, a sunhat, an umbrella (for both the sun and rain), and any medications you may need. Most hotels offer reliable laundry and dry cleaning services.
Always wear what you are most comfortable traveling in, but a reasonable amount of modesty ought to be exercised. In most areas, comfortable, casual clothes such as short-sleeved shirts, polo shorts, long skirts, etc., are great for sightseeing. Remember that temperatures will likely be hot and humid, so wearing light, loose-fitting fabrics is a good idea.
Although the dress code when visiting temples in Malaysia is not as strict as in the Middle East, these temples are still considered a place of worship, so one should dress politely in modest and conservative clothing as they would at any other religious place. It is always wise to exhibit a sense of respect for Buddhist and Hindu temples in this predominantly Muslim country. Clothing such as short-sleeved shirts, polo shirts, and bottoms or skirts that cover the knees are acceptable. Socks are also a good idea since you must remove your shoes before entering the temples. Usually, a sarong or scarf will be available for those with inappropriate clothing attire, but it may be a good idea to bring your own as they are constantly being reused.
Hotels may impose a hefty charge on international calls. Check your hotel’s policy before placing any calls. You can use a calling card from your local, long-distance carrier to avoid hotel markups. Several United States cell phones manufactured today can operate overseas on the GSM (Global System for Mobile) standard. We recommend contacting your cell phone service provider to determine if your phone runs on the GSM and what activation may be required. In Indonesia, reception on any cell phone can be unreliable and unpredictable. In some locations, transmission is not possible at all. If access to e-mail is critical during your trip, please check availability in advance. Most hotels have business centers or in-room WI-FI service, and surcharges may apply.
The nationwide emergency phone numbers are:
Ambulance: 999
Fire: 999
Police: 999
From Mobile Network: 112
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