Malaysia
Briefly about Malaysia
Malaysia is a fantastic country with the famous Petronas Towers, tropical jungles, ancient Indian and Chinese temples, exotic animals and delicious food.
 | Capital Kuala Lumpur |  | Ethnic composition Malays, Chinese and Hindus |
 | Languages Malay and English |  | Population 34 million |
 | Internet speed 82 Mbps |  | Religion Islam |
 | State system Parliamentary Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy |  | Currency Malaysian ringgit (MYR) |
Malaysia is considered an enchanting destination for backpackers, expats and digital nomads due to its affordability. Obviously, in larger cities like Kuala Lumpur, prices will be higher, but most nomads can still afford to live in this city.
For people who work remotely, there are co-working spaces in Malaysia, so you don’t have any problems finding a space to work.
The Capital
The capital of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur, where Malays, Chinese and Hindus live. The population is 1.8 million people.
This is a huge and well-groomed metropolis with a large number of parks and areas for recreation.
The city has 6 main attractions:
- The River of Life – once upon a time, it was in this river that the rare and expensive metal Tin was found. In connection with the extraction of this metal, the city was formed.
- Malaysian Independence Square is the main square of the city.
- The Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers at 451 meters high and each of them has 88 floors.
You can also visit:
The Climate
The climate of Malaysia is hot, humid and tropical. Here, the temperature is around 28 degrees all year round, and the humidity is 80%.
Religions in Malaysia:
| Islam | 64% |
| Buddhism | 18% |
| Christianity | 9% |
| Hinduism | 6,0% |
| Others | 3% |
| Atheists | 0,7% |
The Medicine
In Malaysia, healthcare is one of the fastest growing areas. Due to the high level of medicine and the relatively low prices for medical procedures, many “medical tourists” come here from rich countries such as Singapore and Japan. Doctors and other staff speak English.
National cuisine
Traditional Malay cuisine is the basis of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and European traditions. It is rich in spices, and rice is considered the main national dish, it is prepared in various ways and served as a main dish or as a side dish. The range of food is huge, the prices are affordable, and the cuisine for its taste and diversity was recognized as the best in all of Asia.
Salary
The average salary in the country is about $750
Taxes
In Malaysia, the progressive tax rate for residents depends on salary and ranges from 0% to 30%:
| 0 to 1100$ | 0% |
| 1100$ to 4500$ | 1% |
| 4500$ to 8000$ | 3% |
| 4500$ to 11 500$ | 8% |
| 11 500$ tо 16 000$ | 14% |
| … | … |
| $450,000 and Above | 30% |
Non-residents are subject to a flat rate of 30%
Prices
Restaurant
| Food in an inexpensive restaurant | 3$ |
| Lunch for 2 people, a middle-class restaurant with three courses | 15$ |
| Combo lunch at McDonalds | 3$ |
Shop
| Milk (1 liter) | 1,4$ |
| Bread | 1$ |
| Eggs (10 pcs) | 1,2$ |
Traffic
| One way ticket (city transport) | 0,6$ |
| Taxi (price per 1 kilometer) | 0,5$ |
| Petrol (1 liter) | 0,5$ |
Accommodation
| Hotel 2-3* | 15$/day |
| Hotel 4-5* | 27$/day |
Housing prices in Malaysia per month
| Rent a modest housing or room | 450$ / month (without utilities) |
| Renting an apartment or a room in a good hotel | 750$ / month (without utilities) |
Digital Nomad Visa
There are currently no specific digital nomad visas for Malaysia, but there are still options available to you.
Visa-Free
Malaysia has a visa exemption agreement with many countries. When crossing customs, you will automatically receive a stamp upon arrival. The so-called Short Term Social Visit Pass, which allows you to legally stay in the country for 30 or 90 days.
- 90 days visa-free for citizens of the EU, USA and Canada.
- 30 days for Ex-CIS residents.
You can check the visa regime of your country with Malaysia on the Wiki or on the Passport Index.
How to extend the visa-free period?
- Visa run – you can leave Malaysia for a neighboring country (often Thailand, Bali or Brunei) for at least 7 days and when you return you get a new stamp. Usually the visa run can be done 1-2 times. For subsequent entries, customs officers can arrange an interrogation for you and, in the end, simply not let you in.
- Special Pass – at the migration office you can get a special pass for 30 days. You can apply in case of emergency, for example, if you are ill, there was an accident, a war in the country of origin, etc. You will be required to provide proof of these very incidents, as well as have a booked ticket to the country of origin or any other country.
What do you need to enter Malaysia?
- Passport (which expires no earlier than 6 months)
- Paid hotel or accommodation reservation
- A paid and printed return ticket or a ticket to another country (for example, Thailand, Bali or Brunei). In Asia, it is cheapest to buy air tickets on AirAsia.
- Sufficient supply of funds (at least $50 per day)
- Negative PCR test done within 48 hours before the flight
- Travel insurance policy with coverage of at least $35,000 in case of COVID-19
- Download the MySejahtera app and upload a vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test or a certificate of a recovered COVID-19 into it. The instructions are here.
- Any documents (if any) that confirm the relevance and purpose of your visit.
Foreign Knowledge Entrepreneurs Visa
This visa is divided into two categories, for mature entrepreneurs (FKE) and start-ups. Both categories should be related to the IT field.
FKE – you must have experience in creating a successful IT startup and turning it into a well-known brand. The main thing they look at here is an indicator of growth. It is expected that the business should show stable growth, and it is especially cool if the company has been able to multiply itself several times over the past year. You also need to have some kind of awards and be recognizable in the digital space.
Startups – you need to have a great idea for a business. At the same time, it is not necessary to have any reputation and experience, the main thing that is required is an idea for a fast-growing digital business.
For more information, requirements and how to apply for FKE, see here.
Other visas
There are also: Single Entry Visa, Multiple Entry Visa (eVisa), Transit Visa
It makes sense to apply for these visas to those who do not have access to the regular Social Visit Pass. The list of countries that are eligible to apply for this visa and detailed information can be found on visasmalaysia.com.
Employment Pass (EP) – аllows you to get a job in a Malaysian company. Issued in the presence of an employment contract up to 60 months.
Long Term Social Visit Pass – issued to family members of Employment Pass holders.
Customs restrictions
For the import and export of drugs in Malaysia threatens the death penalty!
If you have been to Africa in the last six months, you need to have a yellow fever vaccination document with you.
You cannot bring into Malaysia:
- Goods, products and currency from Israel
- Clothing printed with quotes from the Quran
- Radio equipment
- Pornography
- The weapon, even if it is a toy, but looks like a real one
Can be imported to Malaysia:
- The amount of more than $10,000 can be imported, but it must be declared
- Strong alcoholic drinks up to 1 liter
- Wine or liquor up to 1 liter
- 10 packs of cigarettes, 50 cigars or tobacco 225 grams
- Cosmetics and perfumes worth no more than $45
- Souvenirs also no more than $45
- Antiques, but you must have a receipt
Cannot be exported from Malaysia:
- Malaysian currency if the amount exceeds 1000 MYR
- Rare representatives of flora and fauna
For a full list of import and export restrictions, see the Malaysian Customs government website here and here.
Useful information
- Car rental – you can rent a used car cheaply from local resellers, all you need is a foreign license and a credit card.
- It is advisable to get vaccinated against tetanus, polio, hepatitis A and typhoid before entering the country.
- Before entering someone’s house or temple, you must take off your shoes.
How to get from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city?
After passing customs at the airport, you can go down to the ground floor and get to the city by train “KLIA Express”, cost 12$ / person. A taxi costs about $18 to the city center.
