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COVID-19 Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur (April 30, 2020)
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16 MINUTE READ
April 30, 2020

Event: COVID-19

Location: Malaysia

Please share this information with other U.S. citizens who may not be registered for these alerts.  

Global Health AdvisoryInternational commercial flight options currently exist in Malaysia.  U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.  The U.S. government does not anticipate arranging repatriation flights in Malaysia at this time.

On April 23, the Prime Minister announced that the Movement Control Order has been extended through May 12.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  U.S. citizens and Foreign Nationals traveling to the United States who wish to depart Malaysia during the Movement Control Order MUST have a letter from the U.S. Embassy.

Action Needed to Depart Malaysia Under the MCO:

Foreign citizens, including U.S. citizens, may depart Malaysia during the MCO.  However, the Malaysian authorities require that foreign citizens obtain all of the following documents prior to departure and bring them to the airport:

  1. Valid travel documents including passport and airline ticket;
  2. Written concurrence from your respective Diplomatic Mission (see below); and
  3. Written movement permit from the nearest Police Station or police stamp/signature on Embassy travel letter (IF REQUIRED, see guidance below):
    • Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Klang Valley:  DO NOT NEED the written movement permit from the nearest police station.
    • Outside of Klang Valley and traveling interstate to the airport by land (car, bus, train, etc.) MUST OBTAIN the written movement permit from the nearest police station.
    • Outside of Klang Valley and traveling to KLIA by air DO NOT NEED to the written movement permit from the nearest police station.
    • Any questions regarding the written movement permit should be directed to your nearest police station.

Travel Letter from the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Embassy can provide a travel letter to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals traveling to the United States who plan to depart Malaysia during the MCO to satisfy the second requirement above. To request a travel letter, please complete this online form: http://tiny.cc/cpexmz.

Movement Control Order and Mandatory Quarantine

The Malaysian government extended the Movement Control Order (MCO) through May 12, though this end date may be extended again at the discretion of the Malaysian government.  All foreign nationals, with very limited exceptions, are restricted from entry to Malaysia during this time.  Any travelers permitted to enter Malaysia during the MCO will be subject to COVID-19 testing and a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine.  Travelers will be transported directly from the airport to a quarantine facility by Malaysian authorities. Foreign nationals, including Malaysian permanent residents and foreign diplomats, will be required to cover the costs of this quarantine, which will be a minimum of RM150/day.  For additional information on quarantine requirements and costs, please contact the Malaysian National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

Foreign nationals may transit through the international terminals of Malaysian airports but may not pass through Immigration.  The MCO prohibits all individuals – Malaysian citizens and foreign nationals – from movement and mass assembly within Malaysia.  Under the MCO, only one person from each family is permitted to leave home to buy essential items.  Outdoor recreational activities such as jogging or walking are prohibited.  U.S. citizens should carry a copy of their passport and visa with them at all times.  U.S. citizens are subject to local laws and regulations while visiting or living in Malaysia.

Malaysia COVID-19 Information

Malaysia has confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout the country.  For more information regarding COVID-statistics in Malaysia, please review the Malaysian Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Portal and visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19.

Commercial Flight Availability and Travel Restrictions

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.

Very limited commercial flights remain an option for U.S. citizens wishing to depart Malaysia.  Many airlines have cancelled international flights and several transit countries have set up new quarantine restrictions or have barred international transit altogether.  The Embassy is aware of commercial flights from Kuala Lumpur to the U.S. through Tokyo, Doha, and London.  Please note that flight schedules are likely to change with little advance notice and commercial flight options will likely become increasingly limited over the coming days. Very limited domestic flights continue to operate in Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak.

Please see below for outbound flights from Kuala Lumpur to major transit hubs with onward flights to U.S. cities.

  • Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo via All Nippon Airways flies on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
  • Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo via Japan Airlines flies on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
  • Kuala Lumpur to London via Malaysia Airlines flies on Mondays.
  • Kuala Lumpur to Doha via Qatar Airways flies on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The U.S. Embassy is unable to book airline tickets on your behalf.  Please continue to reach out to airlines and utilize commercial websites to book or change your tickets while these flights are an option.  We encourage you to look at all flight options flying into the United States, regardless of whether the flight is going to your final destination; it may be necessary to book a second ticket onward. We will post any alerts and updates on the COVID-19 situation in Malaysia on our Embassy’s webpage on COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 – Avoid Non-Essential Travel– Notice for Malaysia.  The State Department has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel.

Countries around the world are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice.  Any U.S. citizen returning home should be prepared for additional travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.  Travelers should closely monitor the situation in Malaysia and other transit countries before travel.

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