Your first 90 days in Malaysia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Entry must fall inside the approval letter's validity and endorsement inside 30 days; the EP is employer-bound (resignation = cancellation and a short exit window), and MM2H terms have changed repeatedly.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
No address registration; the long-stay pass (EP/DE Rantau/MM2H) is endorsed digitally (ePASS) + i-Kad issued
Entry within the approval letter's validity; pass endorsement completed within 30 days of entry
Employment Passes run through ESD/MYXpats with the employer driving the process; the i-Kad (foreigner ID card) is delivered to the company after endorsement.
Get your TIN (Income Tax Number), LHDN / Inland Revenue Board
Needed for payroll and tax filing once the 182-day tax-residency mark approaches, plus some property paperwork.
Registered by the employer or self-registered via LHDN's e-Daftar (MyTax) portal after the pass is issued.
Open a bank account
A valid long-term pass + passport + commonly an employer (or MM2H agent) letter; MM2H holders open the program's fixed-deposit account. FATCA forms for US persons; Wise is the usual pre-account bridge.
Enrol in healthcare
No public-scheme enrollment for expats — public hospitals charge foreigner rates; employer group cover or private policies are the norm (a separate mandatory scheme covers lower-wage foreign workers).
Sort your driver's license
A home license in English (or with IDP/translation) covers visitors up to 90 days; JPJ ended general license conversion in May 2025 — EP/MM2H/diplomatic holders from approved countries stay conversion-eligible.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Malaysia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Malaysia?
No address registration; the long-stay pass (EP/DE Rantau/MM2H) is endorsed digitally (ePASS) + i-Kad issued — Entry within the approval letter's validity; pass endorsement completed within 30 days of entry. Employment Passes run through ESD/MYXpats with the employer driving the process; the i-Kad (foreigner ID card) is delivered to the company after endorsement. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (Income Tax Number), LHDN / Inland Revenue Board is Malaysia's personal tax/ID number. Needed for payroll and tax filing once the 182-day tax-residency mark approaches, plus some property paperwork. Registered by the employer or self-registered via LHDN's e-Daftar (MyTax) portal after the pass is issued.
Can I drive in Malaysia on a US license?
A home license in English (or with IDP/translation) covers visitors up to 90 days; JPJ ended general license conversion in May 2025 — EP/MM2H/diplomatic holders from approved countries stay conversion-eligible. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Malaysia?
No public-scheme enrollment for expats — public hospitals charge foreigner rates; employer group cover or private policies are the norm (a separate mandatory scheme covers lower-wage foreign workers). See our healthcare-systems guide for how Malaysia's system treats foreign residents.