Your First Week in Malaysia: A 7-Day Checklist for International Students

Learn what to complete during your first seven days as an international student in Malaysia, from housing move-in to campus registration. Your first week in Malaysia is easier when you complete urgent tasks in the right order. Focus first on your accommodation, phone connection, immigration documents, and university registration.

Before you leave for Malaysia

Keep original documents in your hand luggage, not checked baggage, and save encrypted digital copies to a cloud folder.

• Essential Documents: Passport (valid for stay), visa/eVAL, university offer letter, EMGS approval documents, housing confirmation, travel insurance, passport photos, and emergency contact details
• Airport Arrival: The EMGS International Student Arrival Centre (ISAC) operates a welcome desk at KLIA. Confirm your university's pickup or arrival instructions prior to flying. 

Your 7-day arrival checklist

Day 1: Arrive and reach your accommodation

• Travel directly to your accommodation with local cash and an international card enabled for foreign transactions.
• Inspect lights, AC, locks, and water before unpacking. Take photo/video evidence of pre-existing damage and notify your landlord immediately.

Day 2: Get a local SIM card

Register a local SIM card (Maxis, CelcomDigi, U Mobile) in person at an official store.

Malaysia tightened prepaid SIM registration rules under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in 2026. As a non-Malaysian, expect the following when registering:

• You must register the SIM yourself, in person, using your original passport (and visa, if applicable) — photocopies or scans are not accepted.
• Registration now uses biometric/passport-reader verification for non-Malaysian users at telco stores.
• Non-Malaysians are currently limited to two prepaid SIM cards per telco.

Day 3: Contact your university and check student pass steps

• Contact your university's international student office to confirm registration, orientation, health checks, and immigration steps.
• Confirm if you need a post-arrival medical exam and when to submit your passport for Student Pass endorsement and i-Kad processing (managed via EMGS STARS).

Day 4: Complete university registration

• Complete registration using your passport, offer letter, and payment receipts.
• Collect your student ID and campus portal logins, and attend orientation to learn key campus services and transport routes.

Day 5: Start your bank account process

• Visit a preferred bank with your passport, student ID, university letter, Malaysian phone number, proof of address, and Student Pass documents.
• Set up official mobile banking apps; never share PINs or OTPs.

Day 6: Review your housing and daily travel plan

• Review lease terms (rent dates, utility bills, deposit terms) and save emergency contacts.
• Test your commute to campus during peak hours to verify travel times and payment methods.

Day 7: Check your progress and prepare for classes

• Confirm all essentials: active SIM card, working housing keys, class timetable, student portal access, and verified transit routes.
• Follow up directly with the international office on any pending immigration or medical appointments.

Important safety reminders

Keep your passport, Student Pass documents, bank cards, and phone secure. Use strong passwords and turn on two-step verification where available — this adds a second security check when you sign in.

Be careful with payment requests from unknown people. Confirm rent, deposits, and university payments only through official contacts. If you lose your passport, phone, bank card, or immigration document, report it to the correct authority and tell your university.

Save local emergency contacts before you need them:

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do next

Your first week does not need to be perfect. Complete the urgent tasks first, keep your documents organised, and ask your university for help when rules are unclear.

Contact your university's international student office and ApplyBoard counsellor to confirm your student pass steps, registration schedule, housing documents, and banking requirements.