Entry Requirements:
A valid passport (and visa if applicable) is required for all persons entering Malaysia. A passport is also necessary for travel between Peninsular Malaysia and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as between Sabah and Sarawak.

Immigration:
All visitors are required to complete an Arrival/Departure Card, a Customs Declaration and if required, a Travellers Declaration Form (TDF) and Quarantine Form. These are given out on all inbound Malaysia Airlines' flight.

Travellers are no longer required to complete the TDF except under the following circumstances:

• Residents and non-resident travellers who carry in excess of RM1,000.
• Resident travellers who take out foreign currency notes and/or travellers cheques exceeding the equivalent of RM10,000.
• Non-resident travellers who bring into Malaysia more than US$2,500 equivalent.

The currency practice of obtaining prior written approval from Bank Negara Malaysia remains unchanged for the following:

• Residents and non-resident travellers who carry in excess of RM1,000.
• Resident travellers who take out foreign currency notes and/or travellers cheques exceeding the equivalent of RM10,000.
• Non-resident travellers who bring into Malaysia more than US$2,500 equivalent.

Visas:
No visa is needed for nationals of Commonwealth countries except for Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.

• Nationals from Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands, San Marino and Liechtenstein do not require visas.
• No visa is required for social/business visit not exceeding three months for nationals of Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kirgystan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxambourg, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., Uruguay and Yemen.
• No visa is required for U.S.A. citizens visiting Malaysia for social, business or academic purposes (except for local employment).
• No visa is required for social/business visit of not exceeding one month for nationals of all ASEAN countries, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, British National Overseas (BNO) and North Korea. For stay exceeding one month a visa will be required for nationals of Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam.
• No visa is required for a stay not exceeding 14 days for nationals of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Macau (Travel Permit) and Portugal Alien Passport. Noationals of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Angola, Burkina Faso Burundi, Camaroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Republic, Congo Democratic Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Western Sahara, Nigeria, Taiwan, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, People's Republic of China, Certificate of Identity (CI) holders, Laisser Passer holders and Titre De Voyage holders must obtain a visa before entering Malaysia. National of Isreal and Yugoslavia are required to apply for Special Approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs before entering Malaysia.
• Other countries that are not listed in any of the categories do not require visa for social/business visit for a stay of not exceeding one month. Regulations are subject to change.

Visit Passes:
A Social or Tourist Visit Pass does not permit the holder to take up employment, business or professional work in Malaysia.

The Business Visit Pass allows foreign visitors to enter Malaysia for business negotiations or inspection of business houses. However, these passses cannot be used for employment purposes or for supervising the installation of new machinery or construction of a factory.

No fee is charged for a Business Visit Pass issued for a period of up to three months. A nominal fee is imposed for each month beyond this.

Foreign visitors, except from the Republic of Singapore, who have entered Malaysia on a Social Visit Pass may contact the immigration Department to convert their passes to a Business Visit Passes.

Health Regulations:
Cholera vaccination is NOT required for travellers entering Malaysia. Visitors arriving from Yellow Fever Endemic Zones and other affected areas are required to present International Health Certificates showing Yellow Fever vaccination. This regulation does not apply to children below the age of one.

Customs

At the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) there are 26 Customs lanes located beyond the Baggage Reclaim area.

Prohibited Goods:
Trafficking in illegal drugs carries the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia.

• A special permit is required for the carriage of firearms and ammunition. Other prohibited items include flick knives, daggers and pornographical material.
• Taped video cassettes shouls be submitted for clearance by Customs.
• Export of antiquities and historical objects is not allowed unless and export licence has been obtained from the Director-General of Museums, Malaysia, or if the antiguity was originally imported and declared to customs.

Plant Quarantine:
All passengers must declare the following items to the Plant Quarantine Office upon arrival: plants and plant parts including fresh plant produce and processed products, soil and growth/rooting media, insects and other organisms, micro-organisms, herbarium and dried flowers. Penalty for failure to do so is up to RM1,000 fine or up to six month's imprisonment or both. Penalty for maliciously introducing a pest or plant into Malaysia is a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both.

Passengers from South and Central America and Central Africa are required to report to the Plant Quarantine Office.

Duty-Free:
Visitors entering Malaysia for a period of not less than 72 hours, except from Labuan (24 hours) and Langkawi (48 hours), enjoy exemption on the following purchases:

• Wines, spirits/malt liquor not exceeding one litre.
• Tobacco not exceeding 225gms, or 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars.
• Matches not exceeding 100 sticks.
• New footwear not exceeding one pair (**).
• New apparel not exceeding three pieces.
• One unit each of portable electrical and/or battery operated appliances for personal care and hygiene.
• Dutiable food preparations to a total value not exceeding RM75.
• Cosmetics, soap and dentrifices to a total value not exceeding RM200 (excluding powder and hair-care).
• Souvenirs and gifts not exceeding RM200 in value, except from Labuan and Langkawi where the total value shall not exceed RM500.

(**) Footwear of leather product material.

No Duty:
The following goods are duty free: Fountain pens, cigarette lighters (except of plastic), printed books, newspaper and journals, perfume, skincare products and cosmetics, portable radios incorporating sound recorder or reproducers (weighing less than 10kg, with AC/DC), pocket and wrist watches, clocks, cameras, flashbulb, flashlight apparatus, film in rolls, pocket calculators (weighing less than 150gms) and video tapes (blank or recorded). Also cinema cameras, projectors, sound recorders and sound reproducers for films of less than 16mm width, including cameras for double 8mm film and video cameras.

Baggage:
At KLIA there are 12 baggage conveyors. Those marked L and M are for domestic arrivals, while the rest are dedicated to international arrivals. Complimentary trolleys are available close to the Baggage Reclaim area. On the airside, hand luggage trolleys are available near the arrival gates.

The 24-hour Left Baggage service is available at Arrival Level (Level 3) as well as at Level 5.

Weather Conditions:
Hot and humid all year round, Malaysia enjoys an equatorial climate with temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 degrees C in the lowlands. Highland areas experience cooler weather. The annual rainfall averages 200-250cm. For visitors, light clothing is advised and warm garments need be worn only at hill resorts.

Money Matters:
Money exchange facilities are easily available in all big towns. The Malaysian Ringgit (RM) comes in denominations of RM1 to RM100, and coins from one sen (cents) to RM1. Major credit cards are commonly accepted in most business establishments.

All commercial banks are authorised foreign exchange dealers and open from 9.30am to 4.00pm on weekdays, and 9.30am to 12 noon on Saturday. They close on Sunday, the first and third Saturdays of the month and during public holidays. In Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, banls close on Friday instead of Sunday and open from 9.30am to noon on Thursday, except on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Licensed moneychangers operate in key entry/exit points and shopping malls. Most hotels exchange foreign currency and accept travellers' cheque.

Communications:
Modern telephone, facsimile, telegraph, telex, e-mail and airmail facilities exist for internal and international communications. Cybercafes and wireless internet broadband access services are easily found in busy shopping malls and business districts.

Time Difference:
The standar Malaysian time is eight hours ahead of GMT.