How to migrate to UK from Malaysia: Everything you need to know

The UK is a popular destination, with more than 156,000 visits from Malaysians in 2023. With a bustling and vibrant city life, coupled with picturesque and relaxing countrysides, It’s not hard to see its appeal.

If you’re considering moving to UK from Malaysia. We’ll share more about what to expect, and other nitty gritty details like how to manage your money. We’ll also introduce the Wise account as a great option for Malaysians looking to migrate to the UK from Malaysia, with low, transparent fees, and the mid-market exchange rate.¹

How to migrate to UK from Malaysia

Depending on where you choose to move to, life in the UK can be quite different. Moving to the capital of London, for example, would mean a wider variety of jobs and entertainment options than a smaller town in the countryside. With English being the main language used, there shouldn’t be any major communication issues either.

Other popular cities include places like Manchester and Bristol in English, as well as Belfast in Northern Ireland and Glasglow in Scotland.

Facts about UK

Here’s what you’ll need to know about the UK before you move there.

*Information correct as of 8 September 2024

Visa requirements to migrate to UK from Malaysia

There are plenty of visas available for Malaysians who are looking to migrate to the UK, but the right one will depend on your circumstances. There’s a handy visa checker tool provided by the UK government that will allow you to ascertain which visa is best for your specific situation.

Here are 3 popular UK visas which may be applicable for Malaysians:

Student Visa⁶:

• When to apply: Up to 6 months before start of course
• Costs and fees: 490 GBP application fee
• Validity period: Up to 5 years for degree-level courses and up to 2 years for below-degree-level courses, in most cases
• Any other things to note? Partners and dependents may be able to be brought along, and you may be able to work in certain jobs

Skilled Worker Visa⁷:

• When to apply: Online application only, up to 3 months before first day of work
• Costs and fees: Variable application fee depending on situation, starts from 551 GBP per person
• Validity period: Up to 5 years, with option to apply to settle permanently after 5 years
• Any other things to note? Visas must be updated for job or employer changes, partners and dependents must apply separately

Scale-up Worker Visa⁸:

• When to apply: Online application only, up to 3 months before first day of work
• Costs and fees: 822 GBP application fee
• Validity period: Up to 2 years, with ability to extend by 3 years each time
• Any other things to note? After 5 years in total, visa holders will be able to apply to settle permanently. Visa must be updated if the employer changes in the first 6 months of work. Partners and dependents must apply separately

How to get a job in the UK as a Malaysian

One of the easier ways to move to the UK as a Malaysian would be to get a UK job. Most of the work visas available require a confirmed job offer from a UK employer or an approved business for a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.

Wondering what are some UK jobs for Malaysians? Here are some online job platforms that will make searching slightly easier.

• LinkedIn - Hugely popular employment networking site
• Indeed - Umbrella website with jobs all over the globe
• Otta - Job platform that’s predominantly focused on tech and start up companies
• Reed - One of the leading job sites in the UK
• CV Library - Popular job board for all industries across the UK

Getting residency in the UK for Malaysians

If you’re looking to make your stay in the UK permanent, you’ll most likely have to obtain UK’s “settlement”, otherwise known as indefinite leave to remain⁹, before applying for British citizenship.

Here are some popular routes to settlement in the UK:

What else do I need to know before I migrate to UK from Malaysia?

Before you start applying for jobs in the UK, here are some other things that you’ll need to know before you decide whether you want to move to the UK from Malaysia.

Cost of living in UK

If you’re planning on moving to the UK, you’ll have to prepare for a much higher cost of living compared to Malaysia. This shouldn’t come as a shock to most people, but the cost of living in the UK can range anywhere from 104% to 206% higher than in Malaysia, depending on the city.

• Excluding rent, life in London is around 133.9% more expensive than in Kuala Lumpur¹⁰
• Including rent, life in London is a massive 205.7% more expensive than in Kuala Lumpur, on average
• Excluding rent, Manchester is 86.6% more expensive than Kuala Lumpur¹¹
• Including rent in Manchester, the cost of living is 104.3% higher than in Kuala Lumpur on average

For a single person living in the UK, here are the average prices you can expect to pay for rent, utilities, groceries, transportation and food¹²:

Housing in the UK

Rent will likely eat up a large chunk of your monthly budget, so it’s imperative to find a place that not only fits your personal requirements but won’t leave your wallet in a tight spot. Depending on whether you’re looking to just rent a room or an entire flat, here are a few popular sites in the UK that offer plenty of options:

• Spare Room
• Zoopla
• Rightmove

Manage your money after moving to the UK from Malaysia with Wise

Opening a bank account is probably one of the top priorities after moving to the UK from Malaysia, but it might take a bit of time to get everything set up. Before that, a Wise account is an excellent choice to manage your GBP conversions and spending. Not only will you be able to hold over 40+ currencies including MYR and GBP in the account, you’ll be able to convert between currencies at the mid-market rate as needed and make payments with low, transparent fees.

You’ll also get account details for 8+ currencies including GBP, so you can send and receive money with Wise even before you land in the UK. And if you order a linked Wise card, you’ll be able to start paying for necessities in the UK, and even use it to take the Tube so you can get around without any hassle.

For convenience that begins before making your move

🚀 Get started with Wise

Sources:

1. Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
2. Worldometer - UK Population
3. Migration Observatory - UK expats
4. Office for National Statistics - UK average salary
5. Gov UK - Income Tax
6. Gov UK - Student Visa
7. Gov UK - Skilled Worker Visa
8. Gov UK - Scale-up Worker Visa
9. Gov UK - Indefinite leave to remain
10. Numbeo - London v Kuala Lumpur
11. Numbeo - Manchester v Kuala Lumpur
12. Numbeo - London v Manchester