Malaysia customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• Wine, spirits, beer or malt liquor: up to 1 L in total.
• New clothing: up to 3 pieces; new footwear: 1 pair.
• New portable electric or battery-operated appliances for personal care and hygiene: 1 unit of each.
• Food preparations with a total value of up to RM 150.
• All other goods, including gifts and souvenirs, with a total value of up to RM 1,000 when arriving by air, or up to RM 500 when arriving by land or sea.
• There is no duty-free allowance for cigarettes, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vapes, or e-liquids (with or without nicotine). They must be declared, and duty and tax are payable on any quantity.
• The allowances apply to goods carried by the traveller, to visitors intending to stay in Malaysia for at least 72 hours and to Malaysian residents returning after an absence of at least 72 hours.
• Travellers with dutiable, taxable or prohibited goods must use the Red Lane and declare them; the Green Lane is only for travellers with nothing to declare.
Currency
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as travellers cheques) worth USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared on arrival on Customs Form No. 7. Failure to declare can lead to seizure of the money, a fine of up to RM 3 million, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
• Foreign currency may be brought in without limit (subject to the declaration). Malaysian ringgit notes may be brought in up to the equivalent of USD 10,000; larger amounts need prior approval from Bank Negara Malaysia.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs (such as heroin, morphine, opium and cannabis). Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Malaysia.
• Indecent or obscene material in any form (printed matter, photos, films, video and digital media)
• Cloth or animal skin bearing verses of the Quran
• Honeycomb (comb or comb chunks, with or without honey)
• Pens, pencils and other articles resembling syringes
• Water-absorbing decorative gel beads (such as "magic jelly beans", "crystal soil")
Restricted
• Firearms and ammunition, including imitation arms and toy guns, need an import licence from the Royal Malaysia Police (Chief Police Officer). Pepper spray and expandable batons need police approval. Do not bring weapons or replica weapons without a licence.
• Swords, daggers, keris, flick knives, axes, spears and crossbows need an approval letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Fireworks, firecrackers and other explosives need an import licence from the police.
• Meat, poultry, eggs and other animal products, plants and plant products, and soil need an import permit from the Department of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) and are inspected on arrival.
• Pets (dogs and cats) need a MAQIS import permit (applied for online) and an official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin, including a valid rabies vaccination. Requirements depend on the country the pet comes from - check them with MAQIS before travelling.
• Endangered species of animals and plants and products made from them (CITES) need a permit under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008.
• Prescription and controlled medicines may need a licence or permit from the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Carry medicines in reasonable quantities and declare any medicine you are not sure about.
• Nicotine liquids and preparations for vaporizers need an import licence from the Ministry of Health (Pharmaceutical Services Programme).
• Goods above the duty-free limits or intended for commercial use must be declared; duty and tax are charged on the excess.
• Wine, spirits, beer or malt liquor: up to 1 L in total.
• New clothing: up to 3 pieces; new footwear: 1 pair.
• New portable electric or battery-operated appliances for personal care and hygiene: 1 unit of each.
• Food preparations with a total value of up to RM 150.
• All other goods, including gifts and souvenirs, with a total value of up to RM 1,000 when arriving by air, or up to RM 500 when arriving by land or sea.
• There is no duty-free allowance for cigarettes, tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vapes, or e-liquids (with or without nicotine). They must be declared, and duty and tax are payable on any quantity.
• The allowances apply to goods carried by the traveller, to visitors intending to stay in Malaysia for at least 72 hours and to Malaysian residents returning after an absence of at least 72 hours.
• Travellers with dutiable, taxable or prohibited goods must use the Red Lane and declare them; the Green Lane is only for travellers with nothing to declare.
Currency
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as travellers cheques) worth USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared on arrival on Customs Form No. 7. Failure to declare can lead to seizure of the money, a fine of up to RM 3 million, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
• Foreign currency may be brought in without limit (subject to the declaration). Malaysian ringgit notes may be brought in up to the equivalent of USD 10,000; larger amounts need prior approval from Bank Negara Malaysia.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs (such as heroin, morphine, opium and cannabis). Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Malaysia.
• Indecent or obscene material in any form (printed matter, photos, films, video and digital media)
• Cloth or animal skin bearing verses of the Quran
• Honeycomb (comb or comb chunks, with or without honey)
• Pens, pencils and other articles resembling syringes
• Water-absorbing decorative gel beads (such as "magic jelly beans", "crystal soil")
Restricted
• Firearms and ammunition, including imitation arms and toy guns, need an import licence from the Royal Malaysia Police (Chief Police Officer). Pepper spray and expandable batons need police approval. Do not bring weapons or replica weapons without a licence.
• Swords, daggers, keris, flick knives, axes, spears and crossbows need an approval letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Fireworks, firecrackers and other explosives need an import licence from the police.
• Meat, poultry, eggs and other animal products, plants and plant products, and soil need an import permit from the Department of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) and are inspected on arrival.
• Pets (dogs and cats) need a MAQIS import permit (applied for online) and an official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin, including a valid rabies vaccination. Requirements depend on the country the pet comes from - check them with MAQIS before travelling.
• Endangered species of animals and plants and products made from them (CITES) need a permit under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008.
• Prescription and controlled medicines may need a licence or permit from the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Carry medicines in reasonable quantities and declare any medicine you are not sure about.
• Nicotine liquids and preparations for vaporizers need an import licence from the Ministry of Health (Pharmaceutical Services Programme).
• Goods above the duty-free limits or intended for commercial use must be declared; duty and tax are charged on the excess.