U.S. Embassy in Malaysia

U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Health Alert

Recovery/Conditional/Enhanced Movement Control Orders
On January 1, 2021, the Government of Malaysia extended the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) through March 31, 2021.

(Updated) The Malaysian authorities have updated the U.S. Embassy that foreign nationals with expired social visit passes currently in Malaysia may leave Malaysia within 14 working days after the end of the RMCO without having to apply or obtain prior approval or any special extension pass. This guidance replaces the previous guidance received from the Malaysian authorities on December 31, 2020, which stated that holders of expired social visit passes must obtain a special pass to remain in or depart Malaysia as of January 1, 2021. Please contact Malaysian Immigration directly, through their Online Inquiry System at http://eapp.imi.gov.my/tanya/create or through the Malaysian Government call center (MyCGG) at 03-8000-8000, with any further questions.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defense instituted a mandatory mask requirement effective August 1, 2020. Failure to comply with any of the RMCO restrictions, including the mask requirement, may result in a fine of RM 1,000 (USD $235) or more, and/or jail time.

All individuals entering Malaysia are required to undergo COVID testing and a mandatory quarantine at a facility designated by the Malaysian government. The full cost of testing and quarantine must be borne by the traveler.

Travelers who test positive are transferred to a designated government hospital for treatment; at this time no private hospitals are authorized to treat COVID-19 patients.

The entire country remains under a “Recovery Movement Control Order” (RMCO) through March 31, 2021. Additionally, certain states and districts with higher prevalence of COVID-19 are subject to Conditional Movement Control Orders (CMCOs) or Enhanced Movement Control Orders (EMCOs). The Government of Malaysia announced an extension of the CMCO in effect in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah, most of Selangor, as well as some parts of Penang, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Perak. The CMCO will remain in effect until January 14.

The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to review current RMCO and CMCO restrictions frequently to ensure compliance. Restrictions may be changed with little notice and are strictly enforced. Give yourself a healthy margin of time to return home prior to applicable curfews. Carry your U.S. passport with you at all times. If detained, request that local authorities notify the Embassy (+60-3-2168-5000), and review the ways in which we can provide assistance when a U.S. citizen is arrested abroad. For additional questions on current MCO restrictions, please check with local police directly.

Sabah and Sarawak
Additional entry requirements apply for travel to the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, which have local autonomy over immigration at domestic and international ports of entry. For detailed requirements on traveling to Sabah or Sarawak, please contact the local immigration authorities directly.

Consular Services
If you are a U.S. citizen with a life or death emergency (e.g. victim of a violent crime, arrest, reporting a death of a U.S. citizen) you may reach us at +60-3-2168-5000 or via email at: KLACS@state.gov.

Please note that most routine Consular Services at the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur are suspended due to the CMCO in effect in Kuala Lumpur. Please complete this form https://bit.ly/2SPVSFf to request an emergency appointment, making sure to note the nature of your emergency. We are allowing collection of U.S. passports, passport cards, and Consular Reports of Births Abroad (CRBA) from 2-4 PM on Monday and Wednesday with no appointment required.

We will announce further resumption of services via alerts to registered U.S. citizens in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and on our Embassy’s website.

COVID-19 Vaccine
As part of our efforts to give U.S. citizens timely information so that they can make informed choices about travel abroad, please note the United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas should follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.

Malaysian Entry Requirements, Quarantine Process, and Immigration Services
For additional information, please visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19.

COVID-19 Information
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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 – Avoid All Travel Travel Health Notice for Malaysia. The State Department has moved away from its previous Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel and each country will return to issuing its own advisory based on local conditions once again. As of August 6, 2020, Malaysia is listed as Level 3 – “Reconsider Travel”.