VISA/PASSPORT
U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to have a passport valid for at least six months to enter Malaysia, but do not need to obtain a visa in advance for a pleasure or business trip if their stay in Malaysia is 90 days or less.Travelers are required to carry their passports for travel from peninsular Malaysia to eastern Malaysia (on the island of Borneo) and between the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak, both of which are on Borneo. Entry stamps issued at immigration points such as KLIA airport, Johor Bahru, and Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) for entry into peninsular Malaysia are not valid for entry into the state of Sarawak and usually have three months’ validity. New entry stamps must be obtained upon arrival at Kuching or Miri airports in Sarawak. In most cases, entry stamps issued by Sarawak immigration officials are valid for any part of Malaysia and usually have one month’s validity.
Please note obtaining a visa is your responsibility. These requirements change often and therefore it is best that you check with the Embassy of Malaysia for the most up to date visa information.
HEALTH
Health insurance is required. Medical facilities are not widespread and poor quality. We recommend that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. The doctor or health-care provider will determine what vaccinations and medication you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. For more information on travel requirements, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/malaysia.aspx
COUNTRY INFO
Capital: Kuala Lumpur.
Government: Constitutional monarchy since 1963. Gained independence from the UK in 1957.
Language: Bahasa Melayu is the national and official language, but English is widely spoken. Other languages such as Chinese (Cantonese and Hokkien), Iban and Tamil are spoken by minorities.
Religion: Malaysia's official religion is Islam. The country also has a large Buddhist community. Other religions, including Christian, Taoist, Confucianist, Hindu and animist, are also practiced.
Time: GMT + 8.
Electricity: 220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square three-pin plugs are generally used.
Telephone: Country code +60.
Mobile Telephone: Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.
Internet: There are numerous Internet cafes. Hotels offer Internet access.