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Visas & Passports for Langkawi, Malaysia: Langkawi is a group of islands that belongs to the state of Kedah of Malaysia. All visitors coming to Langkawi from overseas countries will be required to carry the same travel documents as applicable for any other country. Check with your local Embassy for any Visa requirements.
Types of Visas: There are three types of visas issued by the Malaysian Government.
Single Entry Visa: A single Visa entry into Malaysia is normally valid for a period of 3 months from the date of issue. It is generally relevant for those who wish to make a short social visit.
Multiple Entry Visas: Usually meant for business visits a Multiple Entry Visa can have a validity period of 3 to 6 months. Nationals of India and China can apply for multiple entry Visas even for social/tourism related visits. Such Visas usually have a validity of 1 year from the date of issue. However, each entry cannot be for more than 30 days.
To get a multiple entry visa as a tourist, you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to sustain your stay in Malaysia and also have a return ticket.
Visa requirements by country: Depending on your home country (nationality) and period of stay in Malaysia, you may or may not need to get a visa prior to your travel to Langkawi or any other part of Malaysia. Some nationals would always require Visas even if their stay is a short one, while some would require visa if their intended stay is beyond a specified period.
Countries that always requires a visa to enter Malaysia: Afghanistan (Visa with reference), Angola, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo Democratic Republic, Congo Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong (C/I or D/I), India, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar (ordinary passport), Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Serbia & Montenegro, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (15 days without visa), United Nations (Laissez Passer), Western Sahara.
Visa requirement for other countries: Citizens of USA do not require a Visa to enter Malaysia (except for those who come for employment) Except for Myanmar, nationals of other Asian countries will not require a visa for Malaysia as long as the stay is for less than 1 month. Beyond that it will be required for all except for Singapore and Brunei.
If you are arriving directly into Langkawi from your home country, then depending on your place of arrival (i.e. international airport, cruise terminal, ferry terminal at Kuah etc), you will need to pass through the customs and immigration procedures when you land. However, if your initial port of arrival in Malaysia were elsewhere (for example in Kuala Lumpur where you would have cleared the customs & immigration), then no further formalities will be required in Langkawi.
Voltage: We found that electricity supply to the island was excellent and never experienced an outage. Power supply is 220 to 240v. Most outlets use the three-pin flat-pronged plugs and most hotels also have 110v-shaving sockets. Hotels almost always offer international conversion sockets/plugs and it’s always a good idea to purchase a universal converter as, depending on the time of year, hotels usually don’t have enough to go around. Converters can be purchased in all airports or from many shops around the island.
Currency: The Malaysian dollar is the Ringgit (RM). One Ringgit = 0.30 USD (US Dollar), 0.38 SGD (Singapore Dollar), 0.22 EURO (European Dollar). Bank notes come in several denominations: RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100.
There are nine major banks available in Langkawi: Maybank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, CIMB Bank, AM Bank, EON Bank Perwira Affin Bank, Bank Islam and Bank Simpanan Nasional. ATM’s are linked to international banking networks allowing withdrawal from overseas accounts easy. ATM’s are available island wide and banks and most hotels provide money-changing facilities, though prices for the convenience are considerably higher.
All major credit cards are accepted throughout the island, though it’s best to carry some cash as many of the small eateries and local markets don’t accept them.
Language: The official language is Bahasa Malaysia, however English is commonly used and spoken by everyone we encountered. Besides the two languages, there are also Chinese, Tamil and Thai making visiting by all enjoyable and quite easy. The locals are very friendly and are very willing to help tourists communicate.
Internet Access/E-mail: Internet cafés are conveniently available island wide and we noticed that they are happy to let you use their access for free. If they do charge fees range from RM3.00 to RM10.00 per hour. Most hotels provide Internet access; many for free.
Time Difference: Langkawi has the same local time as Singapore; it is 8 hours ahead of GMT, and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Standard time.
Weather: Langkawi is very hot and humid. Temperatures rang from 77° F (25°c) to 95° F (35°c). Prickly heat sometimes happens – avoid this by keeping cool, bathing often, or resorting to air-conditioning.
