Customs is the Government Agency entrusted with enforcement of laws and regulations to collect and protect import-revenues and to regulate and document the flow of goods in and out of the country. Customer must be in the Country at Time of Customs Clearance to Sign Documents. All shipments are subject to 100% Customs examination.
Used Household Goods Duty-Free if:
- Customer has owned goods for a minimum of three months and will not dispose of them for at least six months
- Customer is a foreigner holding a Work Permit or
- Customer is a Malaysian who has been out of the country for a continuous period over 12 months.
Dutiable/Restricted Items
- All electrical items require Import Permit
- All items less than six months old are taxed and dutiable (original invoices with value are required)
- Video cassettes and films
- Subject to review by the Film Censorship Board
- Additional charges are for the customer's account
- Precious metal objects
- Plants require Phytosanitary Certificate and approval from the Ministry of Agriculture
- Computers are tax free, limited to no more than three imported per family, cannot be sold within one year of import, and require an Import License
- Alcohol and cigarettes are subject to high import duties.
Prohibited Items
- Firearms, dangerous weapons, fireworks, explosives, ammunition and knives
- Narcotics and drugs (violators subject to Death Penalty)
- Foodstuffs
- Pornographic or politically sensitive material (in the form of books, videos, films, etc.)
- Gold bullion
- Telephone and fax equipment (permit required)
- Short wave radios
- Satellite dish
- Nothing from Israel is allowed into Malaysia
- Any literature on communism is prohibited
Motor Vehicles
- Import highly discouraged
- All motor vehicles (new or used) are subject to Customs duties, are highly taxed and require an Import Permit
- The permit must be granted before the vehicle is shipped
- Motor vehicles over five years old are prohibited
- Documents required:
- Original ownership certificate
- Customs Form No. 1 (eight copies)
- Insurance Policy
- Original and copy of passport of owner
- Letter from owner stating reason to import vehicles
- Invoice, if vehicle is new
Pets
- Dogs/cats/birds are permitted and require an Import Permit (prior to the animal's arrival)
- Health Certificate (issued within seven days of flight, and must state that animal comes from a rabies free area)
- Vaccination Certificate required (must show proof that vaccination was administered between 30 to 180 days prior to the flight)
- Must note breed, age, color, name of pet and owner and flight details
- One month quarantine (minimum one week advance notice required for kennel/quarantine space)
- After two weeks animal may be released to spend the remainder of the quarantine time at home in quarantine.
Last Updated on: 17-11-2009
