Receiving International Gift

Yes, food items are accepted by Malaysian customs, but they must meet the following requirements:

Packaging Requirements:

Food items must be commercially packed with a clear ingredient list and expiry date.

Weight and value Limit:

The total weight of food items should not exceed 5kg and the total (CIF) value should not exceed RM500.

Shipment Type and Quantity:

The quantity and type of food should be reasonable and appropriate for gifting, not for commercial purposes.

Documentation Details:

• Import license is not required
• A detailed list of contents with their actual retail prices is required on the commercial invoice.
• Clearly label the shipment as "GIFT" or "SAMPLE" on all shipping documents.
• Include a note stating that the items are personal gifts.

Yes, items that cannot be sent as gifts to Malaysia, including firearms, drugs, items violating intellectual property rights, and those that may offend religious beliefs, disrupt peace, or are considered pornographic materials (such as sex toys and illicit prints like books and magazines).

If you're receiving an electronic item as a gift, you need to apply for a Special Approval and Clearance Letter (SACL) from SIRIM for customs to release your shipment.

No, sending corporate gifts to Malaysia follows the same process as regular gift shipments.

Documentation:

A detailed list of the contents and their actual retail prices on the commercial invoice is required.

Shipment label:

Clearly label the shipment as "GIFT" or "SAMPLE" on all shipping documents.

Import Permit:

Depending on the nature of the gift, certain items may require special permits or permissions from local customs (e.g electronics)

Import duty:

Standard import duty and taxes apply to gifts imported into Malaysia with total CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) value above RM500.

The customs clearance process for gifts in Malaysia typically takes 1 to 3 days, similar to normal parcels. 

However, if there is a delay in customs approval due to reasons like physical inspection, paperwork, or permits, the shipment may be held at Customs for up to 5 working days upon arrival.

Gifts entering Malaysia are generally exempt from import duty and sales tax, as long as their total CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) value does not exceed RM500 per gift. 

This exemption applies to gifts from family or friends for personal use, not for commercial purposes.

Gifts that are more than RM500 will be subject to the standard import duty and sales tax rates.

No customs duty will be imposed on shipments with a CIF value (cost, insurance, and freight) below RM500.

To help customs officers quickly recognize a shipment as a gift and expedite clearance, shippers should:

1. Label the shipment as "gift" or "sample" on the commercial invoice and other relevant shipping documents.
2. Include a note confirming that the items are personal gifts and not for commercial purposes.

Not all shipments will be inspected. Customs inspections are done randomly.

However, shipments with the following characteristics are more likely to be inspected:

1. Value over RM100
2. Suspicious packaging
3. Unclear content declaration
4. Contain powdery substances

The required documents for customs clearance of gifts in Malaysia include:

1. Commercial invoice with the correct declared value
2. Air waybill
3. Transaction or spurchase receipts

Yes, when shipping with DHL Express, pre-clearance is part of the standard process.

All shipments are cleared before arrival.

All necessary documents will be transmitted from the origin to the destination country as soon as the shipment is picked up. 

Upon arrival, the shipment will undergo a pre-clearance process with local customs.

Customs may choose to proceed with local customs clearance, conduct a physical inspection, or request an import license.

Physical inspections are only don    e at the officer's request, along with the necessary paperwork and permits (e.g., SIRIM or OGA application).