Steps to Import Personal Belongings

Moving to Malaysia is a big step for a person, especially for those moving from overseas. To make such a move, you will need to find the right home by working with a realtor who has detailed knowledge of home availability throughout the country. The real estate agent will be able to work with you to ensure you find the home that will be best suited to your personal lifestyle and needs.

You will need to apply for a visa to travel to Malaysia and if you plan to stay long term, you will need to check into special visa programs such as Malaysia My Second Home Program (MM2H) so you can own a home and stay in the country as a resident rather than a tourist.

It is also a move that comes with many stipulations when it comes to bringing personal items along. If you plan to import your personal car, you must hire an overseas auto shipper to handle the import for you. The same is true for moving household goods and other property. You must hire a pro to handle the move for you, this company is one option:






VEHICLE IMPORT
Some people will forego importing a personal vehicle to Malaysia because they are afraid it may be too expensive or that customs will require them to jump through hoops to get the car approved for import into the country. This is somewhat true as the automotive industry is a big business in Malaysia and they are one of the largest automakers in South-East Asia.

Motor vehicles from America and the United States started dominating Malaysia in the early 1900’s and from that moment on, Malaysia has sought to overcome the western cars by producing their own. In the late 1960’s, Malaysia started producing cars for companies including Fiat, Datsun, Mitsubishi and Toyota. Over the years, the country has worked hard to increase productivity in the auto industry.

For those who want to bring their own car, this may be a positive aspect for importing the vehicle if it is a type of car manufactured in Malaysia. This means parts will be available and the car should be able to be serviced locally rather than having to ship parts overseas and handle repair work on your own.

To import a car to Malaysia, you will need to adhere to some strict customs policies. These include the vehicle owner must possess a valid work permit and the car will need to be exported when the permit expires. You can only use your car for personal use and you won’t be allowed to sell it to anyone while in Malaysia. You will also need to have some important paperwork for the import to succeed.

Legal Documentation for Vehicle Imports to Malaysia

• Passport
• Malaysian Identification
• Vehicle Registration
• Vehicle Title
• Insurance Certificate
• Vehicle Purchase Invoice
• Permission Letter from Shipper
• Residence Permit
• Employer Letter (Employer must be in Malaysia)

Before you can have the car shipped, you must place an application with the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the application must be approved before import may commence.



How to Ship a Vehicle and Other Property to Malaysia
There are a few ways that a motor vehicle and other belongings can ship to Malaysia. The most common ways will be inside a large shipping container or on the deck of a ship through a process called roll on roll off (RORO). Some people ship by air, but that is typically reserved for extremely expensive vehicles and it can be an expensive shipping method.

CONTAINER SHIPPING
Container shipping allows your vehicle to be placed safely inside a solid steel container and loaded onto a large ship for transport overseas. This can be a little expensive and some have paid as much as $4000 or more to ship their vehicle this way. You can cut down on costs if you can share a container with another customer or if you are going to pack household goods inside the container and ship them along with the car.

RORO
For this, your car will be driven onto the ship and secured in place right on the ships deck for travel. It is a safe way to ship a car and it is also the most economical. You should know that cars shipped via RORO will be fully exposed to the elements during shipment. With RORO shipping, you will only be able to ship your car but no personal items will be allowed inside the vehicle during shipment.

AIR
When you fly over, you can pack your clothing and small accessories in the luggage you bring on the plane. Many people bring along their laptop or tablet in the luggage or in their carry-on bags so they won’t need to ship anything. If you do need to have items shipped via air freight, be sure to check with your local postal service or with an international moving company if you need to ship heavy items that will require a large space to ship. Shipping by air usually reserved for expensive items or items that need to arrive very quickly, but common household goods will need to be shipped by sea.



Vehicle Registration in Malaysia
When your vehicle arrives in Malaysia, you will need to go to the Malaysian Road Transport Department (MRTD) and register it. You must have some important vehicle documentation for this as well. Paperwork for registration includes:

• Driver’s License
• Customs Approval
• Vehicle Permit
• PUSKAPOM inspection paperwork (This is the primary inspection company in Malaysia)

Malaysia is a beautiful country and one that you will find easy to feel at home in quickly. Be sure to take in the sights including the amazing temples, beaches, markets and other areas to really feel at home when you arrive. Once your vehicle and other personal items arrive, it will be simple to get around fast and really be able to unwind from the comfort of your new home in Malaysia.

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