Malaysia travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Malaysia, last updated by the FCDO on 19 March 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country
Latest FCDO update (19 March 2026): Updated information about global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
FCDO notice
Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East
Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.
Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:
- check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
- check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
- review your travel insurance policy for coverage
- monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts.
- be mindful of your permitted length of stay in Malaysia
Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Eastern Sabah coastal islands
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all islands and dive sites off the coast of eastern Sabah from Sandakan to Tawau, including Lankayan Island, due to the threat of kidnapping. This does not apply to the mainland of Sabah.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Passport validity
To enter Malaysia, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Make sure it is undamaged, with no pages missing.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 19 March 2026: Updated information about global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
- 4 March 2026: New information about travel disruption ('Warnings and insurance' page).
- 10 December 2025: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Plan your trip
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.