On this page is useful information on entry requirements including customs, immigration and visa requirements into Malaysia for visitors to Penang. Also listed here are the foreign embassies in Penang. It is only relevant to those who arrive by international flight at the Penang International Airport and the small number who arrive by cruise ship disembarking at Port Swettenham. If you are coming by bus, train or domestic flight, you should have cleared customs and immigration at the point of entry before reaching Penang.
Arrival Cards
Recently, the Immigration department has done away with filling up of the Arrival Cards (aka Landing Cards) for visitors coming from outside Malaysia, so do not be surprised if the flight attendant do not pass them around. They are not required anymore, as of early April, 2008. Should this Arrival Card be reintroduced, be sure to keep the small Departure portion in your passport to be returned when you leave the country.
International flights to Penang touch down at the Penang International Airport (PEN) located in Bayan Lepas, on the southeast corner of Penang Island. At the airport terminal, follow the clearly marked signage for international arrivals. International clearance is on the left (southward) side of the airport terminal, while domestic clearance is on the right (northward) side.
Both manual as well as automatic immigration clearance are in operation. The automatic gates are for Malaysians arriving from overseas using passports with electronic strips. Insert your passport, closed and face-up, into the docket. You will be advised to press your thumb to the sensor for clearance. I find that if the sensor often fail to register if my thumb is too dry. Although the automatic gates are supposed to speed things up, whenever the manual counters are empty, I prefer to hand my passport to the immigration officer - I find that it is faster than fiddling with the automatic gates.
For international visitors, use the manual counters to clear immigration. Just the normal process which happens in every international gateway.
Visa Requirements
Citizens of Commonwealth countries (except India), Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, San Marino and Liechtenstein do not need a visit to enter Malaysia. Citizens of Austria, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Tunisia, United States, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg and Iceland do not need a visa for visits not exceeding 3 months. Citizens of Asean countries (except Myanmar) may enter Malaysia for up to one month without a visa. Apart from the citizens of Brunei and Singapore, visas are required for longer stays. If you are staying longer than that, please check with the Malaysian embassy or consulate for your respective country. Make sure you do not overstay, as there's a fine of up to RM10,000 (and imprisonment up to 5 years) for overstaying.
Having cleared immigration, you proceed to the carousel to collect your baggage. Then you pass through customs, which will x-ray your luggage as you move out. From there you proceed to the Arrival Hall.
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