So here you are, moving (perhaps with your family) to a new country, an unfamiliar culture – maybe a different language, too – and leaving your comfort zone truly behind.

Something many expats worry about before making the big move to Malaysia is culture shock, but there isn’t much cause for concern. Malaysia may be diverse but the people are mostly friendly and welcoming. Communication shouldn’t be too much of a problem either as most people speak English.

You’ll also be glad to know that the cost of living in Malaysia is far cheaper than most Western countries and other Asian countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore. If you are being lured to move to Malaysia for work, there is a good chance that your employer might compensate you for the translocation.

All foreigners wishing to live and work in Malaysia will need an employment pass. The permit approves the expat to work for a specific company. If they wish to change company they have to follow certain procedures and apply for another permit.

Before finding a more permanent residence in Malaysia, you will most likely be on the lookout for some temporary accommodation. You may be lucky enough to have housing or a hotel organised before you arrive, but if not, there are plenty of options for temporary accommodation in and around Kuala Lumpur and other large cities.

If you’re a parent, you’re no doubt concerned about your children’s reactions to living in Malaysia; moving away from social support systems can be tough. Also, there are certain guidelines you will have to adhere to before you can bring your pets to Malaysia.

This is all written about in depth in this guide; click on of the buttons below to begin.

The ExpatGo Guide to Moving to Malaysia – Index

See Also: 10 Reasons to Move to Malaysia and 8 tips on Moving to Malaysia