Malaysia Reopening | Travel Updates

[Logan]

Malaysia - Travel Restrictions, COVID Tests & Quarantine Requirements
Update: 26 August, 2021.

Tourist Entry: Partially Allowed
Testing: Negative COVID-19 test is required for all countries.
Quarantine Required: Depends
Quarantine Details: Quarantine for 7 and 10 days required for some travellers.

Lockdown in Effect: Partial
Events: Banned
Transport: Operational with restrictions
Shopping: Open
Restaurants and Bars: Delivery/Takeout only

Detailed Travel Advisory
Update 26.August 2021

Passengers are not allowed to enter. This does not apply to:

• Nationals of Malaysia;
• Passengers with a diplomatic passport;
• Passengers with MyTravelPass (MTP) obtained at https://mtp.imi.gov.my/myTravelPass/main
• Students with a written approval from immigration applied at https://educationmalaysia.gov.my
• Merchant seamen with an official letter from the company certified by Malaysian immigration and joining the ship no later than 24 hours from arrival.

Passengers arriving from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan or Sri Lanka are not allowed to enter and transit. This does not apply to:

• Nationals of Malaysia;
• Permanent residents of Malaysia with MyTravelPass (MTP) obtained at https://mtp.imi.gov.my/myTravelPass/main
• Spouses of nationals of Malaysia with MyTravelPass (MTP) obtained at https://mtp.imi.gov.my/myTravelPass/main

Passengers must install ’MySejahtera app’ in their phone and complete the health declaration at least one day before departure.

• Passengers entering or transiting through Malaysia must have a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken at most 3 days before departure from the first embarkation point.
• Passengers are subject to a COVID-19 RT-PCR test upon arrival at their own expense.

Passengers are subject to medical screening and quarantine for 14 days or 21 days at the first point of entry at their own expense.

• This does not apply to nationals and residents of Malaysia with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated.
  They are subject to self-isolation at home for 14 days. They must send an email to [email protected] at least 3 days before departure to apply for the home isolation.

Airline crew must have their names listed on the General Declaration.

• Airline crew are subject to quarantine until their next flight and must install ’MySejahtera app’ in their phone.
• The maximum transit time through Kuala Lumpur (KUL) changed from 48 hours to 24 hours.
• Transfer from an international flight to a domestic flight is not allowed.
• This does not apply to nationals of Malaysia traveling to Sarawak.
• Passengers traveling to Sarawak must complete an “enterSarawak” form and an “eHealth Declaration Form” before departure at https://sarawakdisastermc.com/

Detailed Tourist Information

Category of Passengers Allowed to enter Malaysia:

• Malaysian
• Foreigners with permanent resident status
• Diplomat and dependents of foreign mission in Malaysia
• Expatriates and their dependents, including foreign maids to expatriates who are holding a valid long-term pass and/or has obtained pass approval application to enter Malaysia. The application made through MYEntry system in ESD: https://esd.imi.gov.my/portal/

The category of the pass are as follows:

• Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) and their dependent/s
• Employment Pass (Category EP I, II and III)
• Professional Visit Pass (PVP)
• Dependent Pass to expatriate for all categories
• Long Term Social Visit Pass (LT-SVP) to expatriate for all categories
• Foreign Maid to expatriate for all categories
• Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Pass Holders
• Student Pass Holders
• Medical Tourism – Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)
• Other Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) (Resident Pass / Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) / Professional Visit Pass (PVP/PLIK) / Dependent Pass to the LTVP Holders
• Oil and Gas workers and Seafarers

The following passengers are not allowed entry to Malaysia:

• Passengers/nationals of Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, German, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
• Passengers from the aforementioned nations, however, can transit in KLIA within 24 hours.
• Transit passengers bound for China.
• Effective May 08, 2021, foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Nepal (including earlier advisory for India) travelling to or transiting in Malaysia are not allowed until further notice. This entry restriction applies to:
• All category of Long-Term Visit Pass holders (including student pass).
• Business travelers; and
• Social Visit Pass (the ban has been imposed earlier since 7 September 2020).
• The following categories of passengers with entry approval obtained through My travel Pass (MTP) may be allowed from to enter Malaysia but subject to a 14-day quarantine.
• Permanent Residents and Holders of Long Terms Social Visit Pass
• Holders of Diplomatic Passport and Officials including their family members.
• Entry and exit approval that have been obtained earlier (7 May and earlier), either through MyTravelPass, MyEntry or any other mechanism are VOID and no longer valid.
• Following the above entry restriction, the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka will temporarily suspend all Visa related services until further notice.

For enquiries, please email: [email protected]

Lockdown Details

• Malaysian authorities have ended the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) and are enforcing eased measures in most locations, including the capital Kuala Lumpur and Selangor State. Under phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (PPN), interdistrict and interstate travel remains suspended; exemptions are in place for individuals attending vaccination appointments. Authorities do not allow children under the age of 12 in public except for exercise, medical, education, or emergency reasons. Only two people from each household can leave their residence to purchase essential items within 10 km (6 miles) of their residence; at most, three people from each household may leave home for medical reasons or emergencies within the same radius.
• Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, and Terengganu states remain under phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan. Some economic sectors can reopen. People may participate in individual exercise and non-contact sports but must adhere to physical distancing requirements. Food establishments may operate from 6:00 am to 10:00 am. Officials limit on-site employees in essential industries to 80 percent. Interdistrict and interstate travel remains suspended; exemptions are in place for essential reasons with permission from local authorities.
• While there is no nationwide curfew, the government has encouraged people to remain in their residence after 8:00 pm nightly.
• In Kuala Lumpur and Selangor State: People can participate in individual exercise within their neighborhood from 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
• Contact sports and gymnasiums remain barred.
• Shops selling essential items such as supermarkets, pharmacies, and departments stores may open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
• In Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, and Terengganu states:
• Some economic sectors can reopen.
• People may participate in individual exercise and non-contact sports but must adhere to physical distancing requirements.
• Food establishments may operate from 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

[Sundance2020]

Malaysia considers further re-opening to domestic tourism

Malaysia’s tourism minister says the re-opening of inter-state travel is now a high priority as the country seeks to reboot domestic tourism. Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri says other islands are hopeful they will soon be able to follow Langkawi, which re-opened for vaccinated domestic tourists on September 16. 2021

According to a TTR Weekly report, the tourism ministry is considering re-opening a number of popular tourist spots, with the list not limited to the country’s islands. Places like the Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, and Fraser Hills could be next in line, according to comments made by the minister during a parliamentary session discussing the re-opening. The popular islands of Tioman and Pangkor are also on the list.

On September 16, Langkawi welcomed its first flight of fully vaccinated domestic tourists, who still had to submit to PCR testing on arrival. Langkawi hotels are hopeful that the archipelago will have welcomed around 200,000 domestic travellers by the end of the year.

[Sundance2020]

Malaysia and Singapore confirm travel bubble for vaccinated travellers



From November 29. 2021 vaccinated passengers can fly between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport, without having to quarantine. Bloomberg confirms that both countries have agreed a travel bubble arrangement for what is one of the world’s busiest air corridors. It’s understood the agreement could also be extended to land crossings in the near future.

Vaccinated travellers will not be subject to home isolation or quarantine, but will still need to submit negative Covid-19 tests, according to a joint statement from both leaders yesterday. Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong hopes the move will help revive the economies of both nations.

“Singapore and Malaysia enjoy deep, warm, and multi-faceted relations. This will help revive our economies, restore our people-to-people ties, and strengthen our bilateral relationship.”

According to the Bloomberg report, Singaporeans make up the bulk of Malaysia’s foreign tourists, accounting for around 10 million in 2019. That figure plunged to just 1.5 million last year. In 2019, around 1.2 million tourists visited Singapore from Malaysia, dropping to under 154,000 last year.

Singapore has already introduced vaccinated travel lanes for a number of countries, including the UK, Germany, and the US. Following the recent partial re-opening of Australia, visitors from Down Under can now also enter the city-state without quarantine.

Yesterday’s announcement is the first travel bubble arrangement for Malaysia, which only allowed interstate travel to resume last month. The government is taking a cautious approach to re-opening and is piloting a sandbox scheme similar to Thailand’s on the island of Langkawi. PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob says a vaccinated travel lane with Singapore will allow the country to continue a gradual and safe re-opening.

“The VTL will allow travel as our 2 countries gradually re-open our borders responsibly, by balancing the need to recover our economies while ensuring the safety and health of our peoples from Covid-19.”

[Sundance2020]

Singapore-Malaysia Vaccinated Travel Lane starts November 22.2021, 6 Airlines offer Flights

With Singapore and Malaysia’s so-called “Vaccinated Travel Lane” launching Monday, allowing quarantine-free travel for those going to and from the two countries, six airlines will offer flights under the scheme. AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Scoot, and Singapore Airlines are set to fly between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur under VTL programme, starting Monday, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, or CAAS.

CAAS says applications for the Singapore-Malaysia Vaccinated Travel Lane scheme , or VTL, will open at 10am onward from Monday and passengers can choose from six designated airlines in each destination. The immigration office of Malaysia said long-term pass holders and short-term tourists wanting to enter Singapore can apply for a pass to use the VTL whilst Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and children under the age of 12 are exempt from the application process.

Passengers must be completely vaccinated against Covid-19 using a vaccine that is recognized by both countries’ health authorities. Children under the age of 12 will not be required to produce proof of immunisation.
Travellers arriving at Changi Airport will be required to self-isolate after leaving the airport and wait for the results of their Covid-19 on arrival PCR swab test for up to 24 hours.

Those arriving at KL International Airport, on the other hand, will most likely receive their swab test results in one to three hours. Prior to immigration, they will have to wait for the results in a designated waiting room.

According to Hasni Mohammad, Chief Minister of Johor, the land border crossing between Singapore and Malaysia in Johor Bahru via the Causeway and Second Link will also open “quarantine-free travel” on the same day with air travel between two countries under the VTL.

Only long-term pass holders working or employed in Singapore and Johor Bahru will be able to cross the land border.

[Barfly]

Malaysia lifts travel ban on eight African countries

Malaysia lifted its travel ban on eight South African countries that were among the first to identify the Omicron strain of the coronavirus, citing its global spread. The move follows Singapore, which recently lifted its travel ban on 10 African countries.

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin told reporters yesterday that officials would rush booster vaccines as Omicron is spreading very fast, and a total of 306 out of 366 samples were taken from travellers who tested positive for the Covid-19 upon arrival last week were found to be suspected Omicron cases.

“We’re still waiting for whole-genome sequencing data to confirm.”

Despite the fact that Malaysia has only reported one verified instance of local transmission so far, the minister believes the travel ban on the African countries should be lifted. Yet, stricter measurements are expected for travellers from these countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Malawi.

Since the first case of Omicron was reported earlier this month, Malaysia has cancelled mass gatherings, Christmas and New Year events, as well as set requirements for vaccination boosters among high-risk communities.

[Steve]

Malaysia waives quarantine for vaccinated travellers recently infected with Covid-19

Malaysia has waived quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers with a history of previous Covid-19 infection starting today. Visitors must present proof that they are fully vaccinated as well as documents showing that they recently contracted Covid-19 and have recovered, according to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Along with proof of vaccination, those who have previously been admitted to a hospital for Covid-19 must also present a “fit to travel” certificate from the medical staff and documents showing that they had been infected with the virus 11 to 60 days before travelling to the Southeast Asian country. Vaccinated travellers who were isolated at home or in a hotel due to the infection, but were not admitted to a hospital must test negative on a quick antigen ATK test two days before departure. They will also be asked to perform an ATK test upon arrival at Malaysian airports.

But a seven-day quarantine at a designated still awaits those who have not been vaccinated, according to Khairy. The same goes for vaccinated travellers who have not been infected with Covid-19.

[Sundance2020]

Malaysia allows two new airlines to operate as industry still reels from Covid-19



The civil aviation regulator of Malaysia has allowed the entry of two new airlines despite the fact that the industry has been reeling from the catastrophic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for more than two years.

According to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), the newly founded ultra-low-cost carrier MYAirline is about to begin its operations soon as it has been granted an airline service licence (ASL) which is valid for 12 months from January 1 through December 31 this year.

This is the second airline that is about to launch after Johor-based SKS Airways was given an ASL on December 22 last year, which will last for 36 months or three years. ASL allows both airlines to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services similar to those offered by Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia Group.

MYAirline’s filing with the Malaysian Companies Commission (SSM) stated that it has two million shares with a par value of RM1 each, totalling RM2 million in paid-up capital. The shareholders are reportedly recognised as Zillion Wealth (88%), Trillion Cove Holdings (10%), and Rayner Teo Kheng Hock (2%).

[Sundance2020]

Malaysia considers full reopening in March to vaccinated travellers



Following moves from other Southeast Asian countries, like Thailand, to gradually reopen borders, Malaysia is considering a full reopening of borders starting March 1, allowing vaccinated travellers to enter without mandatory quarantine requirements. The plan is to speed up the country’s economic recovery, according to its coronavirus recovery council today.

The Southeast Asian country that shut down its borders in March 2020 has recently allowed Singaporeans to enter without quarantine as part of a bilateral agreement. A government advisory body said travellers would be subjected to Covid-19 screening prior to departure and upon arrival.

“This means tourists can visit, investors can enter… It means AirAsia can fly again, as an example.”

Coronavirus infections in Malaysia have risen to their highest level in four months in recent weeks, which officials say is due to the spread of the Omicron variant. A total of 13,944 new infections were reported today, bringing the total number of cases to over 2.9 million, with more than 32,000 deaths – one of Asia’s highest fatality and infection rates per capita.

However, the majority of the cases were asymptomatic or moderate which the country’s health ministry owes to the country’s high vaccination rate. Around 98% of Malaysia’s adult population has received two vaccine doses and more than half of a booster shot. Approximately 89% of children aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated, with children aged 5 to 11 receiving their first dose last week.

[Kink]

Satun border between Thailand and Malaysia to reopen in April

The Satun border between Thailand and Malaysia will reopen on April 1 to all cross-border traffic. Thailand’s CCSA announced yesterday that more entry points will also be opened under the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes. These entry points include the sea port in Surat Thani for registered Thai vessels and Thai crews, as well as the airports in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Krabi and Surat Thani.

Songkhla’s deputy governor said the border checkpoint in Sadao district is also ready to reopen, and is waiting for a signal from the CCSA. In pre-Covid days, the Sadao border was the main entry point for Malaysian tourists.

The Satun border’s reopening comes after two years of closure. Officials from both countries met today to discuss preventative measures for Covid-19. A deputy commander from Thailand’s army says both countries are ready to reopen the checkpoint. The border checkpoint is located in the Khuan Don district of Satun province.

This news comes after Thailand announced it will scrap pre-departure testing requirements for international arrivals starting April 1. Other Southeast Asian countries also announced this week they will loosen border restrictions. Cambodia has stopped requiring Covid-19 tests for visitors upon arrival, and Myanmar is reopening to international travellers despite its political turmoil.