Effective today (Feb. 1), citizens from Australia and New Zealand can skip the immigration line for foreign passports at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and head straight to the automated immigration gates and skip the hassle of queuing.
Kuala Lumpur is the key entry point for most Australians, with Malaysia Airlines offering direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to Kuala Lumpur.
KLIA’s e-gates were previously only accessible to Malaysian citizens. However, in order to alleviate peak-hour congestion at the busy hub, where up to 20 planes can land in a matter of minutes, the government has increased the use of automated gates.
Seven other countries have also received the same approval, namely Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, along with the United States, United Kingdom, Brunei and Saudi Arabia.
These countries have been deemed as ‘low risk’ and can utilise the KLIA e-gates, provided they fulfil the requirements of the country’s Social Visit Pass – an entry permit for stays up to 90 days for purposes such as business and tourism.
Malaysia’s Home Affairs Minister, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, confirmed the change in a Facebook post on January 26, along with the formation of a quick response team to assist immigration officers during peak times.
The e-gates are also available to travellers entering Johor Bahru from Singapore through the Tusa and Woodlands checkpoints.
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