{"id":36489,"date":"2017-11-27T06:52:17","date_gmt":"2017-11-27T11:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=36489"},"modified":"2020-12-09T14:09:19","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T19:09:19","slug":"malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Malaysia<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that consists of thirteen states and three federal territories. It is located partly on a peninsula of the Asian mainland and partly on the northern third of the island of Borneo. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia<\/a> were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957.<\/p>\n

The country is multi-ethnic and multicultural. About half of the population is ethnically Malay, with large minorities of Malaysian, Chinese, Malaysian Indians, and indigenous peoples. The national and official language of Malaysia is Bahasa Melayu (Malay). Due to the country\u2019s diversity, there are also many other languages and dialects spoken, with English being quite prevalent.<\/p>\n

Malaysia\u2019s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is home to colonial buildings, shopping districts, and skyscrapers such as the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Malaysia has experienced a growing GDP of 6.5% per annum for almost 50 years. Their economic record is one of the best in Asia. The economy is fueled largely by natural resources. Science, tourism, commerce, and medical tourism are expanding sectors in Malaysia today.<\/p>\n

Malaysia has a tropical rainforest climate. It is located near the equator and the climate is considered equatorial, typically hot and humid throughout the year. The average rainfall is 98 inches (250 centimeters) in a year, and the average temperature is 80.6\u00b0F (27 \u00b0C).<\/p>\n

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Short-Stay Visa<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re considering visiting or moving abroad to Malaysia, there are a handful of ways to obtain legal documentation. First off,\u00a0U.S. citizens can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 90 days<\/i>. This short-stay visa is granted for touristic or family\/friend visiting purposes and generally does not allow for paid employment in the country. In some cases, this short-term visa can be extended or made into a long-stay visa upon government approval.<\/p>\n

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Working Abroad in Malaysia<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019d like to\u00a0work abroad in Malaysia<\/b><\/a>, you\u2019ll have to obtain an\u00a0Employment Pass<\/b>. The Employment Pass is applied for in conjunction with your new Malaysian employer, so you will need an employment contract and letter from your employer signing off on the permit. This is usually granted for higher-income workers, with significant experience in their fields and relevant degrees. There is currently no option for working holidays in Malaysia for U.S. or Canadian citizens looking to perform low-level work while travelling, though talks are in place to amend this down the road.<\/p>\n

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Permanent Residency<\/b><\/h2>\n

Permanent Residency in Malaysia<\/b><\/a> can be obtained after fulfilling a certain time required depending on your approved reasons for being in the country. You will also need to show some language proficiency and pass a physical exam.<\/p>\n

The Malaysian government lists the following categories under which permanent residency can be granted:<\/p>\n