Malaysia ends testing for all international visitors
The country will join several of its Southeast Asian neighbours in bringing travel back to pre-pandemic mode.
By David Flynn, April 28 2022
Malaysia is the latest Asian country to remove all testing and Covid insurance requirements for fully vaccinated travellers, joining Singapore and Thailand in ending over two years of stringent pandemic-era border controls.
The country will scrap mandatory pre-departure and on-arrival tests for all incoming vaccinated travellers as of May 1.
Insurance with a minimum coverage of US$20,000 for potential Covid-related treatment will no longer be a must-have.
Once they reach Malaysia, travellers will find that wearing masks outdoors will be optional, although they must be worn indoors unless sitting alone, exercising or eating or drinking.
“The healthcare system is recovering and Covid-19 hospital admissions as well as intensive care unit occupancy is falling,” Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said in a media briefing on Wednesday.
“The success is also a result of the people’s awareness on the importance of observing the government’s preventive measures.”
More than 26 million international tourists visited Malaysia in 2019, with popular destinations including the Nonya food and street art mecca of Penang, the island paradise of Langkawi and the bustling capital of Kuala Lumpur all drawing big crowds.
Malaysia Airlines continues to rebuild its Australia schedule, with the Oneworld member and Qantas partner already scheduling flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to Kuala Lumpur.
All cities but Perth feature Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330s, with fully lie-flat beds in business class; the shorter six-hour hop between the WA capital and KL is handed over to a single-aisle Boeing 737.
As previously reported, Malaysia has also rebooted its Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) scheme which aims to attract well-to-do foreigners and expat retirees, but with tough new eligibility requirements for income and assets.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
I wonder what the exact entry conditions will be. Will it be a Thailand style "test and go" non-quarantine that is termed "quarantine free" or involve only an antigen test on arrival as in Cambodia? The devil is in the details.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jan 2018
Total posts 58
Good news, let's hope the government agrees with the recommendation and make this a reality. Miss the hawkers food!
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 458
I am all for it.after paying silly money for a week in Cairns last year I would do anything for a Penang trip.
23 Mar 2012
Total posts 98
Great news let’s hope it’s not the convoluted Thailand option “no quarantine” but in reality quarantine given the two tests , day one and day five, both require quarantine( 2 days in total ) until results are confirmed as negative!
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
It probably will be. Thailand has abolished the second test and is under pressure to end the day 1 test too (or at least replace it with ATK airport testing and no quarantine hotel booking requirement). This would mark the first time in more than two years (by that time, as they're talking about doing this effective April 1 or May 1) that travellers will be allowed to leave the international terminal on their own and/or be greeted by family members/friends/business associates and not just hotel drivers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Jul 2019
Total posts 7
What is the situation when transiting KLIA? Any testing required at all?
06 May 2022
Total posts 1
I have spoken to Malaysia Airlines regarding Insurance for Covid. They advise it is still a requirement to have Insurance to USD$20,000.
29 Jun 2016
Total posts 25
Given some of the comments posted here, I don't think people are aware that as of May 1, 2022 anyone who has had at least double vax is no longer required to stay at a SHA+ hotel, there is no PCR or rapid antigen test or quarantine required, all they need is a minimum USD 10.000 medical insurance cover, exactly what Malaysia will impose as new measures (except for the insurance cover.
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