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News From Mission
SOP for Entry of Tourist under the Langkawi International Travel Bubble (as of 9 March 2022)
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) FOR ENTRY OF TOURIST UNDER THE LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL BUBBLE (UPDATED 9 MARCH 2022)
For a complete guide of the SOP, please see https://www.motac.gov.my/en/announcement/standard-operating-procedures-sop-reopening-of-the-international-tourism-sector-for-langkawi-island-pilot-project
ACTIVITY/PROTOCOL
SUBJECT/ACTION | BRIEF CLARIFICATION | |
Allowed Movement |
Subject to nationals from countries approved by the Ministry of Health (MOH) / Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) / Ministry of Foregin Affairs of Malaysia.
MyTravelPass (MTP) is NOT required.
Minimum three (3) days stay in Langkawi Island.
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General Conditions for entry of international tourist to Langkawi Island |
For 3 - 6 Days Stay In Langkawi :
Movement to and from Langkawi Island must use air transport either through Kuala Lumpur (KLIA / KLIA2 ) / Penang (technical stop only) or directly to Langkawi Island.
The movement of international tourists is restricted to the district of Langkawi Island only.
Tourists must undergo RT-PCR Test / Rapid Molecular Test within 48 hours before departure to Langkawi.
Effective 3 March 2022, tourists are no longer required to administer a self-rapid antigen (RT-Ag) testing on day-2, day-4, and day-6 of arrival as well as RTK-Ag (Professional) COVID-19 test on day-3 and day-5 of arrival.
Effective 3 March 2022, tourists are no longer required to take RT-PCR test or RTK-Ag (Professional) test prior to leaving Langkawi to domestic destinations in Malaysia.
Fully vaccinated tourists with booster may leave Langkawi on Day 5. Tourists need to undergo the RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test prior to departure frrom Langkawi, depending on the health protocol of the next country of destination.
For Over 7 Days Stay In Langkawi :
Movement to Langkawi Island must use air transport, either via Kuala Lumpur (KLIA / KLIA2) / Penang (technical stop only) or directly to Langkawi Island.
Effective 3 March 2022, tourists are no longer required to administer a self-rapid antigen (RT-Ag) testing on day-2, day-4, and day-6 upon of arrival as well as RTK-Ag (Professional) COVID-19 test on day-3 and day-5 of arrival.
Fully vaccinated tourists with booster may leave Langkawi on Day 5.
Effective 3 March 2022, if tourists wish to go to the next destination within Malaysia after day-7, tourists are no longer required to undergo the RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test on day-7.
If tourists wish to go to the next destination outside Malaysia after day-7, tourists must undergo the RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test prior to departure, depending on the health protocol of the next country of destination.
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Movement outside of Langkawi after 4 days / 7 days stay in Langkawi |
Tourists who have met both of the conditions above are allowed to travel to any destinations in Malaysia except areas declared as under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
Tourists may choose whether to use a tour package under a tour operator registered and licensed with MOTAC or continue the holiday as a Free Independent Traveler (FIT).
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Category of Allowed International Tourist
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Fully vaccinated individuals after 14 days of second - dose injection or after 28 days of single -dose injection (depending on the type of vaccine). The vaccines approved* by the MOH are as follow:
No age limit. Children aged 12 and below may travel with their vaccinated parents / guardian without having to prove their vaccination. The children's age are based on calendar year.
The following individuals are not allowed to participate in the Langkawi International Tourism Bubble:
✓ positive for COVID-19 infection; ✓ close contact to positive cases; ✓ individuals subject to a Home Surveillance Order (HSO); ✓ individuals subject to mandatory quarantine; ✓ individuals who recently arrived from high-risk countries; and ✓ those who are symptomatic.
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Screening Test |
Pre-departure to Malaysia
Every tourist is required to take the RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test within 48 hours before depature to Malaysia.
Test results should be provided in printed or digital form and should be shown to the authorities upon request.
Children aged two (2) years and below are exempted printed RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test (RMT) result.
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Purchase of Travel Packages
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Every tourist must use a tour operator in Malaysia who is registered and licensed with MOTAC or through a foreign representative who uses the services of a Malaysian tour operator who is registered and licensed with MOTAC.
MOTAC Registered Travel Agency List https://www.motac.gov.my/en/check/tobtab
Free Independent Traveler (FIT) travel is NOT allowed.
Travel packages offered must include:
i. details of tour operators registered and licensed under MOTAC (including license number); ii. round trip flight tickets (either purchased directly with the airline or through a tour operator). Exemption is given to Malaysians living abroad; iii. accommodation; iv. booking / payment of compulsory COVID-19 screening tests; v. tour guide (Tour Guide -TG); and vi. Itinerary / tour package (need to go through tour operator).
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Purchase of Travel Health Insurance
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Every foreign tourist must purchase an insurance policy worth USD50,000 (COVID-19 & travel) for the duration of their stay in Malaysia. This Insurance Policy can be purchased from a Malaysian or foreign insurance company before departure to Malaysia and can be packaged into a tourist package by the tour operator.
Insurance policies packaged together with the purchase of flight tickets by the airline or accommodation are also accepted / allowed as long as they cover coverage for COVID-19 and travel .
Travel insurance coverage/policy must include:
1. Daily quarantine facility expenses 2. Emergency medical transportation expenses by air / sea to the nearest private medical facilities following a positive diagnosis of COVID- 19 (Category 3- 5). 3. Emergency medical expenses to treat illness or injury 4. Mortuary and burial services 5. Daily quarantine facility expenses
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Screening Tests & Quarantine Exemptions
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Flights via Kuala Lumpur
Upon arrival at KLIA or KLIA 2, tourists will be given an identification tag by the operator of a private health screening test facility. Private screening facilities need to check: the tourist's complete vaccination certificate, Health Declaration Form from MOH has been completed, proof of purchase of minimum insurance of USD50,000 (COVID-19 & travel) or insurance packaged by the airline/hotel and MySejahtera Apps has been downloaded and functioning on tourist’s electronic devices. The operator of this private facility may be assisted by the Malaysian Civil Defense Force (APM) in making the review.
Scan the QR code “Langkawi Island International Tourism Bubble Traveler”.
After that, tourists need to be brought to undergo COVID-19 screening test, Rapid Molecular Test (RMT) at a private facility, KLIA / KLIA 2. Booking and payment for RMT COVID-19 test needs to be included in the tour package offered by the registered tour operator and licensed with MOTAC.
Children under the age of two (2) DO NOT NEED to undergo the COVID-19 screening test at KLIA / KLIA 2/ Langkawi International Airport.
Tourists will be sent to MOH counters / stations for confirmation of COVID-19 screening test results as well as confirmation of quarantine exemption.
Only tourists with negative results and have obtained clearance from the MOH will be allowed to advance to the immigration counter.
If found to be symptomatic or tested positive, the private facility screening operator is responsible to arrange for the transfer of tourists to private isolation / quarantine locations (for categories 1 & 2) or private hospitals (for categories 3,4 & 5) that have been identified.
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Security Review & Screening by JIM
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Flights via Kuala Lumpur
Only tourists with negative results for the RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test conducted at KLIA / KLIA 2 are allowed to continue their journey to the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) counter. At the immigration counter, tourists need to submit the following for JIM review:
i. passport; ii. visa (if necessary); iii. round trip tickets (printed); and iv. travel packages (printed).
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Transit / Stopover to Langkawi via Domestic Flights
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Tourists who pass the security check and screening by JIM can proceed to the check-in counter (check-in) to continue their journey via domestic flight to Langkawi Island from KLIA / KLIA 2.
For tourists who have to stay overnight at KLIA / KLIA 2 due to unavoidable reasons i.e., missed domestic flight, domestic flight is cancelled or domestic flight is scheduled the next day, they are allowed to stay at Hotel Sama-Sama Express KLIA / KLIA 2.
Baggage for tourists via KLIA / KLIA 2 must be handled by check -in directly to the final destination of Langkawi Island for airlines with code- sharing agreement (code share) with Malaysia Airlines OR by interline arrangement. The tour operator must ensure that proper arrangements have been made with the airline on which the tourists are boarding for baggage collection arrangements at KLIA / KLIA 2 if the flight is not a code share flight with Malaysia Airlines and does not have the required interline arrangements.
For tourists through KLIA / KLIA 2 who are in Langkawi Island and do not exceed a minimum period of three (3) days / 72 hours, they only need to undergo the RT-PCR COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test screening test before returning to the country of origin if the RMT test period is conducted at KLIA / KLIA 2 has exceeded 72 hours before boarding the plane to return.
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Health Screening & Quarantine Exemption by MOH
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Direct flights to Langkawi or via Penang (Technical Stop)
Upon arrival at the Langkawi International Airport (LIA), tourists are required to go to the MOH counter / station at LIA for the purpose of review and quarantine clearance. Tourists need to submit the following documents:
i. vaccination certificate; ii. RT-PCR test results COVID-19 / Rapid Molecular Test performed within 48 hours before boarding a plane to Malaysia (printed or digital); iii. completed Health Declaration Form; iv. proof of purchase of minimum insurance of USD50,000 (COVID-19 & travel); and v. MySejahtera app has been downloaded and it works on the tourist’s electronic device
Scan the QR code “Langkawi International Tourism Bubble Traveller”.
You will receive a digital Home Surveillance Order (HSO), and are allowed to go to the hotel while waiting for the test result.
Tourists who have passed the health check and screening can proceed to the JIM counter.
Children under the age of two (2) DO NOT NEED to undergo the COVID-19 screening test at LIA.
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Verification & Security Check by IMM
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Direct flights to Langkawi or via Penang (Technical Stop)
At the immigration counter, tourists need to submit the following for JIM review:
i. passport; ii. visa (if necessary); iii. round trip tickets (printed); iv. and travel packages (printed).
Tourists who pass the security check and screening by JIM are allowed to exit the LIA, meet the tour guide and go straight to the hotel accommodation.
Children under the age of two (2) DO NOT NEED to undergo the COVID-19 screening test.
RT-PCR test or Rapid Molecular Test is performed on the day of arrival. Tourists are only allowed to continue their tourism activities after obtaining negative test results and clearance from the MOH.
If found to be symptomatic or positive, the responsible tour operator must report to the MOH / private screening facility that has been appointed to manage tourists to private isolation / quarantine locations (for categories 1 & 2) or private hospitals (for categories 3,4 & 5) that has been identified.
If found negative, tourists can continue the tour.
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For further inquiries on the Langkawi International Travel Bubble, please contact the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s hotline: +603-8891 7189 or e-mail at ukc19@motac.gov.my.