U.S. Embassy in Malaysia

U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Health Alert

Event: COVID-19
Location: Malaysia

(Updated) U.S. Entry Requirements
On December 3, the White House and CDC announced new requirements for all travelers to the United States, effective December 6, 2021. 

All air passengers 2 years or older with a flight departing to the United States from a foreign country at or after 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT) on December 6, 2021, are required show a negative COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 1 day before travel, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days, before they board their flight.

Test Timing
The 1-day period is one calendar day before the flight’s departure. This is intended to provide more flexibility to the air passenger and aircraft operator. By using a one-day window, test acceptability does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test sample was taken. For example, if your flight is at 1pm on a Friday, you could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Thursday.

Test Type
The CDC accepts viral COVID-19 tests, including antigen tests or nucleic acid amplification (including PCR) tests. Rapid antigen tests are widely available in Malaysia with test results typically available in less than 24 hours. However, some airlines may have their own, stricter requirements (for example, they may only accept PCR tests), so we urge all travelers to check with their airline prior to travel to verify any airline specific requirements. For more information on COVID-19 testing in Malaysia, please visit our COVID-19 website.

For full information on requirements for travelers to the United States, please review the CDC’s website and the full text of the updated CDC Order.

(Updated) Malaysian Entry Requirements
Restricted countries: Effective November 27, 2021, Malaysia prohibited entry for almost all foreigners who have visited South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, or Zimbabwe in the previous 14 days. Malaysian citizens and permanent residents who have been to these countries may reenter Malaysia, but must quarantine for two weeks in a designated quarantine center. The Malaysian government may add additional countries to this list with little advance notice. Travelers are encouraged to monitor websites and social media of the Malaysian Ministry of Health and Malaysian Immigration for further updates.

Langkawi Island International Tourism Pilot Project: As of November 15, international tourists traveling to Langkawi Island may participate in the International Tourism Pilot Project, which exempts vaccinated travelers booking travel through licensed tour operators from quarantine restrictions. Travelers must be pre-approved and are required to remain in Langkawi for a minimum of seven days before traveling elsewhere in Malaysia. Travelers are subject to COVID-19 testing on the third and fifth days after arrival. For full program details and requirements, please review the website of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. Travelers from the “restricted countries” listed below are also excluded from the Langkawi Pilot Project.

Malaysia-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lanes:  On November 8, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office announced the creation of a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Air) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport beginning November 29, 2021. Under the VTL, fully vaccinated travelers may travel between Malaysia and Singapore and undergo COVID-19 tests in lieu of serving quarantine. According to the step-by-step chart issued by Malaysian Immigration, the VTL-Air is open to short-term foreign visitors who comply with all requirements, but visa requirements may still apply. We recommend that you verify with Malaysian and Singaporean authorities what type of visa or travel permission, if any, you may require before booking travel in the VTL-Air. Also on November 29, a VTL-Land was launched permitting Malaysian and Singaporean citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders to cross the land border between the two countries. The Malaysian Ministry of Health has announced that travelers using the VTLs must perform COVID self-tests on Day 3 and Day 7 after their arrival.