U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Health Alert
Event: COVID-19
Location: Malaysia
Recovery/Conditional/Enhanced Movement Control Orders and Updated Quarantine Requirements
On August 28, 2020, the Prime Minister announced an extension of the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) through December 31, 2020.
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.
The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to review current MCO 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.
(Updated) 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 presenting the results of a negative RT-PCR test undertaken within 72 hours of their departure to Malaysia must quarantine for seven days upon arrival. The Malaysian authorities may require a COVID-19 test upon arrival, and will require an additional COVID-19 test on the 5th day of quarantine.
- Travelers not presenting the results of a negative RT-PCR test will be tested upon arrival and must quarantine for ten days with an additional COVID-19 test on the 8th day of quarantine.
Travelers who test positive are transferred to a designated government hospital for treatment; there are no exceptions to this mandatory hospitalization and 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 December 31, 2020. 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). On December 18, 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 December 31.
The following restrictions will continue to be enforced in areas subject to a CMCO:
- Schools, higher education institutions, training institutes, kindergartens, public parks and recreational centers will be closed. The only exception is for childcare centers for young children, which may apply for special permission to reopen;
- Mosques and other non-Muslim places of worship may operate on a limited basis subject to numerical caps;
- Sports, recreational, social and cultural activities may operate on a limited basis and may be subject to numerical caps;
- Entertainment centers and nightclubs will not be allowed to operate.
As of December 7, police authorization is no longer required for travel in or out of CMCO districts. Police authorization is still required for travel to or from EMCO districts. Please refer to Malaysian government guidance on which districts are currently subject to an EMCO.
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.
COVID-19 Vaccine
(Updated) 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.
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.
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 3 – Avoid Non-Essential Travel– 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”.
Actions to Take:
- Consider returning to your country of residence immediately using whatever commercial means are available.
- Have a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. Government for assistance.
- Review and follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus.
- Check with your airline or travel operator regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Review what the State Department can and cannot do for you during an international crisis.
- Visit our Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
- Visit keeping workplaces, homes, schools, or commercial establishments safe.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
376 Jalan Tun Razak
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 60-3-2168-5000
KLACS@state.gov
https://my.usembassy.gov/
- State Department – Consular Affairs: 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
- Malaysia Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
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