Importing Personal Effects into Malaysia: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2024 · Download the Malaysia Import Guide (PDF)

Used Household Goods

• Copy Airway Bill.
• OBL (express release preferred)
• Copy of packing list.
• Passport copy of shipper with photograph.
• Copy of work permit and/or letter of employment confirming employment in Malaysia.
• Identity card (IC) front & back for returning Malaysian.
• Copy of work permit or letter of employment from origin country from returning Malaysian.

• Duty free for used personal and household goods, provided:
• The shipper is the owner of the goods.
• They have been in the owner's use and possession for a period of not less than 6 months.

• In accordance with the recent announcement from the Finance Ministry and the directive of The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD), a 6% Service Tax will be applicable to companies offering logistics services in Malaysia effective from 1st April 2024.
• All PHE may be subject to 100% customs examination.
• Customer need not be present when goods arrive.
• Packing list must tally with goods packed.
• All necessary documents with customer contact address and also stating if shipment is D/D or D/P, must be despatched well in advance to avoid delays.
• Consign goods to shipper c/o destination agent.
• Notify to Destination agent.

Used personal and household goods - Diplomats/Embassy

• Malaysian Customs form N°1 (8 copies).
• Letter of authority.
• OBL.
• Packing list.

• Duty free entry.

• Only authorised persons from Embassy can sign documents.
• Documents must be endorsed by the Embassy and after, be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before goods can be cleared. Can take 2-3 weeks.

New furniture, new personal and household goods

• Original invoice with value stated.
• Malaysian customs form N°1.
• Letter of authority.
• OBL.

• Subject to payment of customs duty.

• Inform destination agent if items are new, to avoid any delay.

Antiques

• Requires import permit from National Museum applied by owner himself.

Precious metal objects

• Subject to payment of customs duty.

• Type of objects needs to be known.

Presents & Souvenirs

• Same as above.

• Whether goods are subject to payment of customs duty is up to the discretion of the customs.

Motorcars, motor cycles, vehicles

• Original registration card/certificates of the vehicle.
• Original insurance certificate.
• Original invoice (for new vehicles).
• Original import permit.
• Original B/L.

• Motor vehicles are subject to import duties and taxes ranging from 150% to 300% depending on the cc.

• The owner must obtain his own permit from the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade before importation of the vehicle.

Machines, appliances and equipment

• Original invoice with value stated for items less than 6 months old. The customer is advised to keep the document in case it is requested by customs authorities during the clearance process.
• Malaysian customs form N°1.
• Letter of authority.
• OBL.

• Subject to payment of customs duty.
• Request to know type of machine/appliance and equipment, as import permit may be required.

• Malaysia uses 220-240 volt electricity.

Telecommunications equipment

• Import permit required from Telecom Malaysia before such goods are imported.

• To apply for permit, fax details to your agent:
• Model/type.
• Serial number.
• Country of origin.
• Reasons for importing into Malaysia.

• This includes fax machines, cordless phones, cellular phones, modems, answering machines etc.

Alcohol

• Alcohol is subject to high duties/taxes in Malaysia.
• Duties/taxes vary from 150% to 250% (estimated) of value of goods, or about US$ 30 – US$50 per litre, depending on the alcoholic contents.
• The same process applies for diplomats. Contact your local embassy/local destination agent for information prior to shipping.

• There is no tax-free allowance for alcohol arriving in unaccompanied shipments.
• If a shipper wishes to import alcohol a separate inventory needs to be done detailing each bottle (brand, country of origin, alcohol content, and container size) and that inventory submitted to the destination agent so that they can apply for an import permit.
• This can take several weeks and is not always approved.
• It is strongly recommended that shippers do not include alcohol in their shipments.

Firearms, dangerous weapons, imitation firearms and fireworks, explosives, foodstuffs

• Importation prohibited unless special authorisation is obtained.

• Mandatory death sentence if convicted for illegal possession of firearms.
• Swords require an import permit applied for by owner.

Plants

• Airway Bill.
• Original import permit.
• Original health certificate.

• Subject to payment of customs duty.

• Must get approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and need to be sent as a separate shipment.

Video tapes

• Titles and story of tapes/CDs.
• Duration.
• Actor names.
• Genre.

• All videotapes and CDs can be subject to censorship through the Government Film Censor Board, which will view all tapes/CDs before release.
• This will take approximately two to three weeks without any guarantee of return if not allowed to be viewed in the country.
• A fee of US$3.00 per tape will be charged for this service.
• Instances of this happening are rare however shippers need to be aware that it may happen.

Prohibited importation

• Narcotics, drugs e.g., opium, heroin, morphine and marijuana.
• Goods of Israeli origin.
• Obscene and pornographic materials.
• Daggers and flick-knives.

• For possession of drugs, there is a mandatory death sentence.
• The Malaysian Government does not differentiate between hard and soft drugs. The penalties are the same.

Exporting Personal Effects from Malaysia: Documents & Customs Rules

Source: FIDI Customs Guide · Updated 2023 · Download the Malaysia Export Guide (PDF)

Used Household Goods

• Passport Copy with work permit/visa page copy.
• Identity card (IC) front
• back page for Malaysian Citizens.

• The shipper is the owner of the goods.

• All PHE may be subject to 100% customs examination.

Malaysia Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes

Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-05 · Download the Malaysia Country Guide (PDF)

Documents

Specific Information

Customs examination: All shipments of personal and household effects may be subject to 100% customs examination. The packing list must tally with the goods packed. Discrepancies will result in delays and potential duties.

Electrical items: Some entry ports require an electrical board permit for all electrical goods. The list of electrical items must include the item name, model, make, serial number, and year of purchase. This is not required for the port of entry at Port Klang but may be required elsewhere.

Telecommunications equipment: Fax machines, cordless phones, cellular phones, modems, and answering machines require an import permit from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). To apply, provide the model/type, serial number, country of origin, and reasons for importing to the destination agent.

Consignment: Goods should be consigned to the shipper c/o the destination agent, with the destination agent listed as the notify party. All necessary documents with the customer's contact address, and whether the shipment is door-to-door or door-to-port, must be sent to the destination agent well in advance.

ISPM 15 (wood packaging): All solid wood packaging material must comply with ISPM 15 and bear the IPPC mark. Treatment must be performed by companies accredited under the Malaysian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (MAFAS). ISPM 15 markings may be in any color except red and orange, and stickers are not permitted.

Malaysia uses 220-240 volt electricity. Appliances from 110V countries may require transformers.

Censorship: Books, VCDs, DVDs, CDs, and similar media may be subject to screening by the Government Film Censor Board. All tapes and discs may be viewed before release, a process that takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks. There is no guarantee of return if content is not approved. A screening fee of approximately USD 3.00 per item applies.

Duties & Taxes

Duty-free conditions: All used household goods and personal effects that have been owned and used by the shipper for more than 6 months may be imported into Malaysia duty-free. The shipper must be the owner of the goods. Items less than 6 months old are subject to customs duties and taxes; original invoices with values stated are required.

Diplomatic clearance: The diplomatic exemption letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes approximately 7 to 10 business days to obtain. Documents must be endorsed by the Embassy and approved by the Ministry before goods can be cleared, a process that can take 2 to 3 weeks.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air / sea shipments and the critical distinction between West Malaysia and East Malaysia.

Port of entry: The principal port for Peninsular Malaysia is Port Klang (near Kuala Lumpur). Air shipments arrive via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) has separate ports and airports with different regulations.

West Malaysia vs. East Malaysia: This is the single most important distinction for shipments to Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo have their own immigration and customs controls, separate from Peninsular Malaysia. Requirements for household goods, vehicles, and especially pets differ significantly. Always confirm which part of Malaysia the shipment is destined for.

Documentation timing: All documents, including the customer's contact address and shipment type (door-to-door or door-to-port), must be sent to the destination agent well in advance to avoid delays. For vehicles, documentation must arrive at least 7 days before the vessel or 2 days before the flight.

Customs clearance: Clearance typically takes 3 to 5 working days for household goods. Diplomatic shipments take 2 to 3 weeks due to Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval requirements.

Owner presence: Sources differ on whether the customer must be present when goods arrive; an older baseline source states the owner must be present, while a more recent source states this is not required. Confirm the current requirement with the destination agent, as this may vary by port and shipment type.