Shared container
Under roughly 300 cu ft · groupage or LCL
You pay for the space you occupy in a container shared with other shipments bound for Malaysia. Common for postings into furnished condominiums, and for people sending a few boxes ahead.
Moving to Malaysia
Malaysia is one of the easier moves in Asia for a British household. The plugs are the same, the cars drive on the left and English is widely spoken. What needs planning is the paperwork behind the duty exemption, and the access at the front door, which in Kuala Lumpur usually means a condominium management office.
Last reviewed:
The route at a glance
- Ships from
- Southampton, Felixstowe, London Gateway
- Arrives at
- Port Klang, Penang, Pasir Gudang (Johor)
- Typical transit
- 7–11 weeks door to door
- Air freight
- 4–7 days into KLIA
- Book by
- 8 weeks before you fly
UK plugsSame three-pin sockets and 240 volts, so your electricals simply work
ExemptionUsed household effects can come in free of duty and tax, with the right pass
CarsNeed an Approved Permit, and rarely make sense for foreign residents
Sabah & SarawakRun their own immigration, and ship through their own ports
A familiar move, with its own paperwork
Malaysia grants exemption from import duty and sales tax on used household effects to people genuinely transferring their residence: expatriates on an employment pass, participants in long-stay residence programmes, and Malaysians coming home. The exemption is applied for at clearance with your pass, your passport and an inventory, and the goods must have been owned and used before you moved.
Because the plugs and voltage are the same as in Britain, more of a British home is worth shipping here than to most Asian destinations. The limit is usually space, not compatibility. A Kuala Lumpur condominium is generous by Asian standards, but rarely holds everything from a three-bedroom house with a loft and a garage.
Kuala Lumpur · George Town · Port Klang
Four ways to ship, and how to choose
Volume decides it first, urgency second. We recommend one after your survey and show you the alternative price rather than quietly choosing the bigger box.
Sole-use 20ft container
Roughly 1,000 cu ft · one to two bedrooms
Yours alone, sailing when it is loaded. Right for most condominium moves, and it avoids waiting on a consolidation to fill.
Sole-use 40ft container
Roughly 2,200 cu ft · three to five bedrooms
Chosen by families moving into landed housing in Damansara, Petaling Jaya or Johor. Because UK appliances work here, a 40ft is more often justified than on other Asian routes.
Air freight
Priced by weight · 4–7 days
Widely used by people who start work before the container lands. Work equipment, documents and a first month of clothes are the usual contents.
What it costs to ship
Most movers make you fill in a form before they will discuss money. Here is the shape of it up front — and, unlike most published prices in this trade, an honest account of what these figures do and do not cover.
| Size of move | Shipping, port to port | Packing and UK collection |
|---|---|---|
| Small move, shared containerA flat, a student move, part of a house | Price on request — ask for a quote | Quoted per move |
| 20ft containerTypically a three-bedroom house | Price on request — ask for a quote | Price on request — ask for a quote |
| 40ft containerFour bedrooms and upwards | Price on request — ask for a quote | Price on request — ask for a quote |
The middle column is the shipping, and only the shipping. It is the cost of moving the container from a UK port to the destination port. The third column adds packing to export standard and collection from your home. Still to come on top of both: customs clearance at each end, quarantine or biosecurity inspection where the destination requires it, insurance, destination charges and delivery into your new home. Those are quoted per shipment, and every one of them is explained with published figures on what your quote doesn’t include.
We split it out this way because a shipping figure presented as the price of a move is how an advertised number ends up a couple of thousand pounds below what anybody actually pays. Ranges are indicative, move with sailing rates and the season, and depend on your actual packed volume — which is why we survey before we quote. The same figures for every destination, with a worked example, are on what an international move costs.
How long it takes
Door to door, from UK collection to delivery at your Malaysian address. Planning figures rather than guarantees.
| Destination | Shared container | Sole-use container |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur and the Klang ValleyKLCC, Mont Kiara, Bangsar, Petaling Jaya | 8–11 weeks | 7–9 weeks |
| PenangGeorge Town, Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi | 8–11 weeks | 7–10 weeks |
| JohorJohor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri | 8–11 weeks | 7–9 weeks |
| Melaka and Negeri SembilanMelaka, Seremban | 8–11 weeks | 7–9 weeks |
| East MalaysiaKota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri | 10–13 weeks | 9–11 weeks |
| Air freightInto KLIA, Kuala Lumpur | 4–7 days, plus clearance | |
The sea leg through Suez to Port Klang is around five weeks, and Peninsular Malaysia is well served by road from all three main ports. Sabah and Sarawak need a feeder vessel from the peninsula or Singapore, which adds time and cost.
What a Halo move to Malaysia includes
Quoted as one price, delivered as one service. Anything not on this list is named in your quotation rather than discovered later.
- Pre-move survey by video call or in person, with a written volume assessment
- A check of your pass and circumstances against the duty and tax exemption
- Export-standard packing and materials, including custom crating for fragile pieces
- A numbered inventory in the format the Royal Malaysian Customs Department expects
- Collection from any UK address, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Sea freight to Port Klang, Penang or Johor, or air freight for priority items
- UK export documentation and Malaysian import clearance
- The duty and tax exemption applied for on your used household effects
- Moving permits, lift bookings and deposits arranged with your building management
- Storage in the UK or in Malaysia where your tenancy start date does not line up
- Unpacking, furniture reassembly and removal of packing debris on the same day
- One named consultant, contactable directly, from survey through to final delivery
Malaysian customs, in plain terms
Clearance is generally orderly, and most British households have little to worry about. The items that cause trouble are mostly about agriculture, alcohol and permits.
What actually causes problems
None of this is unusual to own in Britain, which is exactly why it ends up in boxes. Tell us at survey and it is either left behind or declared properly.
- Plants, seeds and soilNeed import permits and phytosanitary certificates. Clean garden tools and outdoor furniture thoroughly, and leave potted plants behind.
- Food and meat productsMeat, dairy and many foodstuffs are controlled. Pack no food at all and you avoid the question.
- Alcohol and tobaccoNot covered by the exemption, dutiable on arrival and expensive. A wine collection needs a deliberate decision and a budget.
- Publications and mediaMaterial considered obscene, or offensive on religious grounds, is prohibited. Ordinary books and films are not an issue.
- Drones and radio equipmentNeed approval from the civil aviation and communications regulators. Declare anything with a transmitter rather than hoping it passes.
- Replica and imitation weaponsIncluding decorative swords and replica firearms. These are controlled and should stay in the UK unless a permit is arranged first.
Malaysian prohibited and restricted lists are published and do change. We confirm the current position at survey and give you a written list before packing.
Exemption, cars and the things people get wrong
- The exemption needs the right passRelief from duty and sales tax on used household effects is tied to your status: an employment pass, a long-stay residence programme, or returning as a Malaysian citizen. It is applied for at clearance, not granted automatically, and the documents have to match.
- Used means usedNew items, things still in their packaging, and quantities that look like stock can be assessed for duty and tax. Unbox recent purchases and use them before they travel.
- A car needs an Approved PermitMalaysia drives on the left, so a British car is the right way round, but private imports need an Approved Permit and attract steep duty and excise. Eligibility is narrow and mostly limited to returning Malaysians and some residence programmes. We check before anyone quotes for it.
- East Malaysia is a separate stepSabah and Sarawak keep their own immigration control, so a pass issued for the peninsula does not automatically cover living there. Check your permit covers the state you are moving to before the goods sail.
FurnitureCondominiums and landed homes, beds, dining sets, outdoor furniture
ElectricalsUK plugs and voltage, so appliances are worth considering
VehiclesOnly with an Approved Permit — ask us before you plan on it
Part loadsA single posting or a few boxes, in shared container space
Where we deliver
Most of our Malaysian moves go to the Klang Valley, but Penang and Johor are close behind. These are the places we deliver to most, and what to expect at each.
Kuala Lumpur city
KLCC, Mont Kiara, Bangsar
High-rise condominiums, the default for expatriates. Management needs a moving permit, booked service lift and usually a refundable deposit, and many buildings restrict moves to weekday hours.
Landed housing
Damansara Heights, Petaling Jaya, Subang
Terraces, semi-detached houses and bungalows in gated or guarded communities. Easier for volume, but guardhouses will want vehicle and crew details ahead of the day.
Penang
George Town, Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi
Heritage shophouses in George Town, with narrow frontages and steep stairs, and seafront condominiums along the north coast. Goods arrive through Penang’s own port or by road from Port Klang.
Johor Bahru and Iskandar
Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri
Popular with people working in Singapore and living across the causeway. Goods can land at Pasir Gudang or come up from Singapore, whichever works out better for your shipment.
East Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri
Sabah and Sarawak are reached by feeder vessel and have their own immigration rules. Allow extra time, and check your pass before the goods sail.
The wider region
Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam
We move households across Southeast Asia, and onward shipments from Malaysia are routine. Rules differ sharply by country — tell us where and we will confirm.
When to do what
Working backwards from your flight.
8 weeks out
Book the survey and confirm the quotation. Check that your pass is approved or in progress, and for which state.
5 weeks out
Confirm your Malaysian address and building management. Clean garden items and set aside anything on the restricted list.
2 weeks out
We complete your inventory and the exemption documents. Separate air freight and documents.
Packing day
We pack, inventory and load over one to two days, with humidity-sensitive items protected accordingly.
On arrival
We clear the shipment, book the service lift and deliver within your building’s permitted hours.
Moving to Malaysia: common questions
What does a move to Malaysia cost?
Volume first, then the port and the access at the door. Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor all have their own ports, so delivery costs on the peninsula are reasonably even; East Malaysia costs more. Use the volume estimator on our home page for a sense of scale, then let us survey and quote in writing.
Will I pay duty or tax on my belongings?
Usually not, if you are transferring your residence on an employment pass, a long-stay residence programme or as a returning Malaysian, and the goods have been owned and used. Alcohol, tobacco and new items are treated differently. We prepare the exemption application as part of the service.
Will my UK appliances work?
Yes. Malaysia uses the same three-pin plugs as the UK and runs at 240 volts, so your kettle, lamps and televisions simply plug in. That makes it one of the few Asian destinations where shipping appliances can make sense.
Can I bring my car?
Possibly, but rarely sensibly. Malaysia drives on the left, but private imports need an Approved Permit, eligibility is narrow, and duty and excise are steep. We check your eligibility before quoting, and will tell you if it is not worth it.
What should I not pack?
Food, plants, soil and anything that has been in the garden without a thorough clean. Alcohol in quantity, replica weapons and drones need decisions or permits in advance. We give you a written list before packing.
Can I live in Johor and work in Singapore?
Many people do. We can deliver into Johor through Pasir Gudang or by road from Singapore, and store goods on either side of the causeway while your tenancy or pass is confirmed.
Do you move people back from Malaysia to the UK?
Yes, and onward across Southeast Asia. Returning to Britain after twelve consecutive months abroad may qualify you for Transfer of Residence relief, which must be applied for before your goods arrive.
Get a quotation for Malaysia
Tell us where you're heading and roughly when. A consultant will come back within one working day to arrange a survey.
- Asia desk
- 07749 924755
- malaysia@halointernationalrelocations.com
- Not sure of your volume?
- Use the move estimator for an indicative figure in about thirty seconds, then send it through with your enquiry.
- Also considering Singapore or Thailand?
- Read our guide to moving to Singapore or to Thailand, or see every destination we serve.