Moving to Malaysia from Australia
Moving from Australia means sorting a visa (usually MM2H or DE Rantau), your money and banking, where to live, and the tax side — with Australia-specific items around the Age Pension's portability and your tax residency. Malaysia shares Perth's time zone, which makes it one of the easier moves. Here's the journey, in order.
Figures verified June 2026 · MOTAC framework; cross-checked vs Wise, Golden Visa Map, IMI Daily (MM2H 3.0, June 2024)
The short version
Why people move from Australia to Malaysia
Lower cost of living, world-class affordable healthcare, year-round warmth and the same time zone as Perth — close enough to keep Australian ties easily. We make the full case on our MM2H for Australians guide.
Step by step
The relocation journey, in order
Choose your visa
For most movers from Australia it's MM2H (a long, renewable base) or DE Rantau (remote workers). The full Australia-specific breakdown — tiers, the money side and the catches — is on our MM2H for Australians page.
MM2H for AustraliansBudget the cost of living
A comfortable life in Malaysia costs a fraction of most high-cost cities. Size your own monthly budget against home before anything else.
Cost-of-living comparisonChoose where to live
Penang for island life, KL/Selangor for amenities and healthcare, Johor for space and Singapore access. Start from your priorities, then read the neighbourhood guides.
Best places to retire & liveSort money & banking
Open a local account, set up the MM2H fixed deposit, and bridge with a multi-currency account until your account is live.
Banking in MalaysiaPlan tax & money
The Australia-specific items: Age Pension portability, your tax-residency change (and possible CGT on departure), and Malaysia's exemption on remitted foreign income. Confirm with an adviser.
Australia tax & money detailArrange healthcare & insurance
Private cover in Malaysia is excellent and a fraction of most home-country private rates — arrange it before you arrive.
Healthcare in MalaysiaSchools, if you're bringing children
A deep network of British, IB and American international schools at competitive fees — apply earlier than you'd expect.
International schoolsHandle the logistics
Shipping or replacing your home, your pet, your driving licence and document legalisation — the Australia-specific practicalities are below.
Australia practicalitiesThe one to plan first
Age Pension portability and tax residency
Two Australia-specific items matter. First, the Age Pension is payable overseas but the rules (and supplements) change once you are a long-term non-resident — check your position with Centrelink/Services Australia before you go. Second, becoming a non-resident for Australian tax has consequences, including potential capital-gains 'deemed disposal' on certain assets. Neither blocks the move; both reward planning with an Australian cross-border adviser.
The Australia-specific bits
Shipping, pets, licence & documents
Shipping your home
Sea freight from the eastern states or Perth to Port Klang typically runs several weeks; many movers ship a part-load and rebuy locally, where furniture and electronics are cheaper.
Bringing pets
Requires an import permit from Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), microchipping, up-to-date vaccinations and the right paperwork. Quarantine requirements depend on your country's rabies category — confirm the current DVS rules and start months ahead.
Driving licence
Drive short-term on an Australian licence with an International Driving Permit; an Australian licence can generally be converted via JPJ. Confirm the current process.
Document legalisation
Your country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so civil documents (birth, marriage, police certificate) can usually be apostilled at home for use in Malaysia. Confirm the current requirement for each document with your MM2H agent.
Flights & time zone
Perth–KL is roughly 5.5 hours nonstop; Sydney and Melbourne run ~8 hours direct. Malaysia is UTC+8 — identical to Perth and 2–3 hours behind the eastern states.
Community
Australians fold easily into the broad expat communities in KL (Mont Kiara, KLCC) and on Penang island; the Perth–KL link keeps home close.
Timeline & budget
How long does it take — and what does the move cost?
How long it takes
Plan on 3–6 months end to end. A realistic order:
- Months 1–2: decide the visa, budget, and a shortlist of areas
- Months 2–4: MM2H application + fixed deposit; bank and property
- Months 3–5: shipping, pets, schools, and notifying home-country bodies
- Months 5–6: fly out, settle in, finalise the local account
Indicative — MM2H processing times vary, so start the visa early.
What the move itself costs
Separate from living costs — the one-off move (indicative, for a couple):
- Sea-freight shipping (part-load to full container): ~AUD 4,000–12,000
- One-way flights, per person: ~AUD 400–1,200
- Pet relocation, per pet all-in: ~AUD 3,000–6,000
- MM2H agent & application fees: see the MM2H guide
- Plus the refundable fixed deposit — your capital, not a cost
Indicative ranges; many movers ship light and rebuy locally. Size living costs with the cost-of-living comparison.
Before you fly
The Australia → Malaysia pre-departure checklist
The Malaysia side (everyone)
- · Confirm your visa route (MM2H tier or DE Rantau)
- · Line up the MM2H fixed deposit and a local bank account
- · Choose your area and secure housing (renting first is wise)
- · Arrange private health insurance before you arrive
- · Apply to international schools early (if bringing children)
- · Book shipping and set up bridging funds (Wise / local e-wallet)
The Australia side (Australia-specific)
- · Check Age Pension portability with Centrelink / Services Australia
- · Confirm your tax-residency change and any CGT impact with an adviser
- · Notify the ATO and review your super arrangements
- · Tell Medicare and your private health fund
- · Apostille birth, marriage and police-clearance documents
- · Sort an International Driving Permit / licence conversion
Bringing a spouse or children? They join your MM2H application as dependents — see the MM2H for Australians guide and schools guide.
Get the free relocation checklist (PDF)
Our 50-point Malaysia Relocation Readiness Checklist — emailed to you instantly.
How we help: we coordinate the visa, property and the cross-border referrals so you’re not stitching it together from two time zones — and we represent you, not developers. — Marcus Tan, ExpatMove Editorial Team.
Common questions
Moving from Australia: FAQ
Can I still get the Age Pension if I move to Malaysia?
The Age Pension can be paid overseas, but the amount and supplements can change once you are a long-term non-resident, and there are residency-history rules. Check your specific entitlement with Centrelink/Services Australia before committing.
Will I pay tax in both Australia and Malaysia?
Generally no double taxation — Australia and Malaysia have a tax treaty, and Malaysia exempts most remitted foreign income. But becoming an Australian non-resident has tax consequences (including possible CGT events), so confirm your position with an adviser.
Can I bring my pet from Australia to Malaysia?
Requires an import permit from Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), microchipping, up-to-date vaccinations and the right paperwork. Quarantine requirements depend on your country's rabies category — confirm the current DVS rules and start months ahead.
How far is Malaysia from Australia?
Perth to Kuala Lumpur is about 5.5 hours nonstop; Sydney and Melbourne are around 8 hours direct. Malaysia shares Perth's time zone (UTC+8), which makes staying in touch easy.
Can I use my Australian driving licence in Malaysia?
Short-term with an International Driving Permit, and an Australian licence can generally be converted via JPJ. Confirm the current process before you travel.
In 15 minutes, you’ll know your next move
A free discovery call — not a sales call. You walk away with a clear, honest read of your situation, even if that read is “not yet, and here’s why.”
- Which MM2H tier your numbers actually reach — and the gap if they don't
- The 2–3 neighbourhoods that fit your budget, schools, and commute
- Your real all-in cost, and the one or two mistakes people in your situation make