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From routine citizenship and documentation questions to all manner of emergencies, the U.S. Embassy is pleased to provide information and assistance for U.S. citizens in Malaysia!
To get started, please use this link to our citizen services “navigator”. This navigator will ask a series of simple questions to direct you to online information on the most common topics, OR provide instructions on how to contact us by email for less common questions. If prompted to send us an email, the navigator will advise you what information to include so that our staff can assist you as efficiently as possible.
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
When an U.S. citizen dies abroad, the Bureau of Consular Affairs assists the family and friends. The Bureau of Consular Affairs attempts to locate and inform the next-of-kin of the U.S. citizen’s death. The Bureau of Consular Affairs provides information on how to make arrangements for local burial or return of the remains to the United States. The disposition of remains is subject to U.S. and local (foreign) law, U.S. and foreign customs requirements, and the foreign country facilities, which are often vastly different from those in the United States. More information available at Travel.State.gov.
International Parental Child Abduction
Malaysia is not party to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention). If your child has been abducted from the U.S. to Malaysia, speak with a U.S. State Department officer to discuss your case. We know what resources are available in different countries and can answer questions. Click for specific information for Malaysia including emergency contact information.
When a U.S. citizen is the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer from physical, emotional or financial injuries. It can be more difficult because the victim may be in unfamiliar surroundings, and may not know the local language or customs.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you are a U.S. government employee working overseas, you cannot claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For additional information, visit the IRS website.
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
If you live in Malaysia and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in the Philippines.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Renounce U.S. Citizenship Legal Assistance in Malaysia Medical Assistance in Malaysia Reporting a Death & Disposition of Remains in Malaysia Tax Preparers in MalaysiaRenunciation applications can only be made by setting up an interview with a U.S. Consular Officer. Renunciation applicants are required to attend two mandatory interviews with a Consular Officer.
Should you require legal assistance, you should review the list of attorneys who have expressed an interest in representing Americans. We cannot, however, recommend an individual attorney nor can we provide legal advice.
Medical Assistance in Malaysia
Should you require medical assistance, you should review the list of doctors and hospitals. Please note that we are not authorized to recommend specific doctors or medical facilities. Medical facilities and services are adequate in Malaysia’s larger cities, where Western-trained doctors can be found. Psychological and psychiatric medical and counseling services are limited. Malaysian ambulance attendants lack training equivalent to their U.S. counterparts. Callers to Malaysia’s “999” emergency number (equivalent to the U.S. 911) are connected to the Red Crescent, and patients are directed to whichever hospital the dispatcher chooses. Americans staying in Malaysia for extended periods, especially those who have known health problems, are advised to investigate private ambulance services in their area and to provide family and close contacts with the direct telephone number(s) of the service they prefer.
Reporting a Death & Disposition of Remains in Malaysia
Any death in Malaysia must be officially reported to the Malaysian government through either the police or a hospital. The authorities will then work with the next-of-kin (or their designates) to complete the necessary documentation and funeral arrangements. It will be necessary to hire a funeral director to arrange for burial or cremation in Malaysia, or shipment of the body or ashes to the United States. A list of funeral directors who have worked with the families of Americans who have died in Malaysia can be found at the link below.
Follow the link below to find tax preparers serving U.S. citizens in Malaysia. The Embassy has not verified the professional credentials of the tax preparers listed below.
The United States is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, an international treaty which seeks to ensure that intercountry adoptions are made in the best interests of the child and that safeguards are in place for their protection. All adoptions in another country must take place according to both U.S. and local laws for the adopted child to be eligible to immigrate to the United States. You should work with a U.S. adoption service provider specifically authorized to facilitate intercountry adoption. You can find more information about authorized authorized adoption service providers and the intercountry adoption process at travel.state.gov and are invited to direct questions to Adoption@state.gov.
If you have a child outside the United States the child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth if the requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act have been met as of the time of your child’s birth. To determine whether your child acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and to document that, you can apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) for your child. You may also choose to just apply for a U.S. passport for your child, although one benefit of a CRBA is that, unlike the U.S. passport, it does not expire and may be used as proof of acquisition of U.S. citizenship at birth. A full validity, unexpired U.S. passport is also proof of U.S. citizenship.
Local CRBA Information
U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages. Depending on the local law, civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. If your marriage overseas was performed in accordance with local law, it is valid in the country where it took place. Whether your marriage is recognized elsewhere depends on the laws of that place.
Please call: 03-2168-5000
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 03-2168-5000, then press 0 after the prompt
Outside of Malaysia: 011-60-3-2168-5000, then press 0 after the prompt
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
