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Malaysia travel insurance

Malaysia travel insurance

Malaysia is a getaway like no other, with a diverse culture and historic sites to visit. Malaysia is famous for its stunning natural beauty and parks, making it the perfect travel destination for sightseers. If you're looking for food heaven, or want to shop in a variety of high-end malls, look no further. Visit the famous Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, or explore Malaysia's lush rainforests and waterfalls. Malaysia is a place of unforgettable beauty, with something for everyone.

If you're ready to start comparing insurance quotes, start looking now. Or if you're curious as to what else Malaysia has to offer, keep reading to discover more.

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Important information

Insurance policies won't include cover for known events. These are global events that can put you in danger and/or disrupt travel. This exclusion applies if the event was declared as a 'known event' when you bought your travel insurance.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to parts of Malaysia, including the Eastern Sabah coastal islands*.

If you travel against FCDO advice or don't comply with Malaysian entry requirements, you won't be covered by any travel insurance you buy.

*Correct as of November 2024

How do I compare Malaysia travel insurance quotes?

Fill in our quote form

You'll need information like your name, age, type of policy and any pre-existing medical conditions. You'll also need details of anyone else included on the policy.

Select your destination

If you decide to buy single-trip insurance, choose Malaysia. If you decide on annual, you can select 'Worldwide, excluding the US, Canada and the Caribbean'.

Compare quotes

We'll show you quotes from up to 44¹ UK providers. Compare policy details and prices to find the insurance most suitable for you.

¹Correct as of October 2024

What our travel insurance expert says

"Malaysia is a stunning tourist destination, well known for its impressive temples, beaches, and outdoor activities to try. Getting travel insurance can be a great way to fully enjoy your visit, letting you explore Malaysia with peace of mind. Travel insurance can cover medical expenses if things go wrong, meaning you can get stuck in with all the activities Malaysia has to offer.

"The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advise against all but essential travel to the islands and dive sites off the coast of eastern Sabah, Malaysia, from Sandakan to Tawau."

Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert

Alvaro Iturmendi Travel insurance expert

Choosing the right travel insurance policy for your trip to Malaysia

When you compare quotes, you can choose from 3 types of travel insurance. The policy type you choose will depend on your personal circumstances, such as how many times you're planning on travelling in the year.

Single-trip travel insurance

This can be ideal for anyone planning just one trip in a year. You can get policies covering an individual, family, and couples. You can also add policy extras.

Learn more about single-trip insurance

Annual travel insurance

Also known as multi-trip insurance, this can be good if you're planning multiple trips in a year as it can work out cheaper than if you buy multiple single-trip policies.

Learn more about annual insurance

Backpacker travel insurance

This could be a good choice if you're planning an extended trip to multiple countries. This insurance covers trips from three to 18 months depending on the policy.

Learn more about backpacker insurance

¹Correct as of October 2024

Travel insurance for popular tourist activities in Malaysia

There are a variety of activities you can do in Malaysia to get closer to the natural scenery. For high-risk activities you may want to consider enhancing your cover with adventure travel insurance, or policy add-ons for an added cost. Here are a few popular tourist activities you might want to try:

Water sports like white water rafting. Just remember, heavy rains in Malaysia can sometimes mean that the rivers aren't safe for water rafting. You should always check weather forecasts and local warnings before you book.
Hiking and trekking in the Cameron Highlands or at Mount Kinabalu. There are a variety of different hikes to bring you closer to the natural scenery of Malaysia, so it's a great activity if you're keen on sightseeing.
Scuba diving at the Perhentian Islands. Malaysia's warm waters make it the perfect place to give scuba diving a go.

What does Malaysia travel insurance cover?

Exactly what's covered depends on your chosen provider and policy. But most travel insurance policies will include the following:

Emergency medical insurance. This will cover the cost of emergency medical care you need during your Malaysian holiday.
Repatriation insurance. If you need to get home in an emergency, your insurance can cover the cost of transportation home. This could be by air ambulance, for example.
Cancellation and curtailment cover. If your trip gets cut short because of medical issues, emergencies, or a family bereavement.
Travel disruption cover. This will cover you for disruption to your travel caused by things like adverse weather or strikes.
Baggage cover. This will cover lost, damaged or stolen belongings. You may need to check the single-item limit to check what's the most you can claim for an individual item. You may need to state other items separately, especially more expensive items.

What doesn't it include?

Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't disclose your medical conditions to your insurer, you won't be able to make any claims if you need treatment while away.
Natural disasters cover. Malaysia is known for having a lot of adverse weather. Heavy rain increases the risk of flooding and landslides. Make sure you check your policy to see if natural disasters are excluded.
Known events. These are events that are known about before you travel. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the islands off the coast of eastern Sabah from Kudat to Tawau*.
Incidents that occur under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Typically insurers won't cover you for any accidents or incidents that happen while you're under the influence.
Illegal or malicious activity. If your insurer finds you were involved with illegal or malicious activity, it won't cover you.

How much does Malaysia travel insurance cost?

The price of travel insurance varies based on your personal circumstances and the type of cover you choose. But, you could get travel insurance for Malaysia from £8.90².

The price depends on:

The type of policy. A multi-trip policy might be more expensive because it offers more cover. But, this type of policy might be more cost-effective than buying multiple single-trip policies.
Age. Older travellers are deemed a higher risk so insurance is more expensive.
Destination. Malaysia is further away, so there's an increased chance that things could go wrong due to longer travel. The average flight time to Malaysia is 13 hours. It's also worth remembering that the GHIC and EHIC aren't accepted, so medical care could cost more.
Pre-existing conditions. These put you at higher risk of needing medical care, so your insurance might cost more.

²The cheapest price for a single-trip travel insurance policy. Based on 1 adult aged 30 with no pre-existing medical conditions, travelling in Malaysia for 1 week. Confused.com data, November 2024.

Do I need travel insurance for Malaysia?

Travel insurance for Malaysia isn't a legal requirement, but it can offer you peace of mind if things go wrong. Malaysia can experience extreme weather conditions and a risk of flooding, and travel insurance can help protect you if things go wrong.

The flight time from the UK to Malaysia is around 13 hours. Long flight time means there's more chance for things like delays or cancellations. To avoid huge extra costs, travel insurance can cover these situations, giving you peace of mind while you're travelling.

Do I need a visa to travel to Malaysia?

No, as long as you're not staying for more than 90 days and are travelling as a tourist.

If you want to stay for longer than the 90 day limit, you'll need to apply for a visa. You can get one from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission before you travel.

Medical care in Malaysia

Medical care in Malaysia is generally considered to be of a good quality.

The cost is often lower than Western countries, but you could still be left out of pocket without the right insurance. Before you travel, it's good to remember some of these basics about medical care in Malaysia:

999 is the emergency number to call for an ambulance.
Malaysia has a large network of private medical facilities. These are generally considered to be of a high quality, but they're expensive. Non-residents would need private medical insurance to use them.
Most people speak English in Malaysia, with some hospitals offering a translation services for other languages.

Malaysia travel tips

Language: The official language of Malaysia is Malay. It's useful to know basic sentences in local languages when travelling so you can ask for directions, or to say please and thank you.
Currency: The national currency is the Malaysian ringgit. You can exchange this in the UK.
Time difference: Malaysia is 7 hours ahead of the UK.
Safety: There are high rates of credit card fraud and ATM fraud in Malaysia. You should be careful when carrying your personal belongings and your passport around. Make sure any valuables are always secure in case of theft.

Local customs: Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, so you should be respectful of customs and traditions, especially during Ramadan.
Activities: Water sports are popular, but you should check the credentials of tour operators as safety standards can be low. Make sure you're covered by the appropriate insurance. You may want to take out specialist travel insurance with water sports cover or include optional extras on your travel insurance, like scuba diving cover.
Driving: You'll need a full UK licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP). Drivers don't always stop at traffic lights, so be careful when approaching them.

Do I need any vaccinations for Malaysia?

You might need some vaccinations if you're visiting Malaysia.

We often forget about vaccines when planning for a holiday, but it's important to research what jabs you'll need to get before you go. You can find more information on the vaccinations you need at Travel Health Pro.

Here are some of the vaccinations that are recommended if you're travelling to Malaysia:

Some travellers will need a certificate to say they've been vaccinated for yellow fever. This might be relevant to you if you're travelling from a country with a high risk of yellow fever. The Yellow Fever Zone provide a list of countries that will mean you require the yellow fever jab due to transmission risk.
Most travellers should also consider getting the Hepatitis A and Tetanus vaccines.
You might also want to consider getting vaccinated against cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, TB and typhoid.

It's recommended that you speak to your doctor well in advance of your trip to sort out any vaccines you may need.

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Page last reviewed: 20 November 2024

Reviewed by: Alvaro Iturmendi

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