Kuching - Clearance
For full details on clearance into and out of Malaysia see Formalities.
Clearance is required at the Harbour Master, Customs, Immigration – in that order.
Staff from the Kuching marina office will help with getting you to CIQ for clearance formalities, which is a short drive away at the old Pending port.
Note the new update to the restrictions on visas. See Immigration.
Harbour Master
The Harbour Master’s Office is now at the Kuching marina, next to the Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching. It is a short dinghy ride to the ferry terminal (in the view from the marina docks and then medium walk around fences OR a very long walk back to Pending Port to complete formalities with Immigration and Customs from here.
You should be given “Form Marina 28 MSS 1” (Merchant Shipping Ordinance – 1960, Arrival Form). Most of the form is irrelevant, so fill out what you think applies, but check with the officer that all that is required is submitted, or struck out. Take your copy for submission to Customs.
Check out is the same but uses “Form Marina 28 MSS 2” (Departure Form). It is possible that you can complete both forms at the same time, which saves another journey back to the office.
Immigration
The Immigration Office is located inside Pending Port and can be clearly seen through the fence. Making your way around the perimeter fence, enter the Main Port Entrance (about 1 km). Drive straight to the first roundabout and turn left (passing the garage for all the forklift trucks etc.), drive straight on until you reach the perimeter fence, then turn right, following the fence until you see the building. Immigration is on the right-hand side of this building and is clearly marked.
Tel: 082-331-495
Visas for Indonesia
Even though you can apply for a 60-day visa for Indonesia online, you can go to the Indonesian Consulate here and staff will help you with the process if it is proving difficult.
Customs
The Customs Office is located on the concrete platform at the Security Check Point as you enter the Port. Port Security may stop you and check the vehicle. Climb onto the end of the platform; Customs is the first door into a very small office. Note: they have no photocopier here.
Clearing Out
Note: If you are going to Labuan after leaving Kuching, you must still clear out here and then clear in at Labuan as the latter is considered a Malaysian Federal Territory and treated differently to Sarawak.
Last updated: November 2023
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Next Section: Profile: Docking
Related to following destinations: Kuching, Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo (Sarawak)
Port Navigation
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Courtesy Flag Discounts
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We do not recommend Mr Ng as listed in the comment below. He will tell you it is 25RM for the taxi to get your gas bottles filled. Not until you are in the taxi will he explain that it is 4 rides x 25RM. Better to use Google Maps and get your own car or taxi (or use Ahmad as listed in our other comment). s/v Migration
Posted on behalf of SV Migration – LPG Gas Fills
We are only aware of one location in Kuching that can fill LPG bottles that have US-style valves. Be aware that you will have to leave your bottles and pick them up a couple of hours later. Cost is reasonable at 8 RM / kilo + 6% GST.
ICSCB
The Industrial & Scientific Co. Sdn. Bhd.
No.53, Lee Chong Lin Industrial Estate
2 1/2 Mile Jalan Pending
93450 Kuching
+60 82 333 926
+60 82 333 700
Mobile: +60 19 805 7288
Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/nkeo7
Of course, if you have the correct fittings, you can always decant from local gas bottles which are available practically everywhere.
Bruce Balan & Alene D. Rice
s/v Migration
Posted on behalf of SV Migration: KUCHING, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA
Transportation from the Santubong River Anchorage
For those anchoring in the Santubong River when visiting the Kuching area, here are a couple of good transportation options.
TAXI
The Santubong anchorage is quite far from Kuching. You can pick up the little minivan buses at the main road near the roundabout. However, it can be difficult to get a bus back in the afternoon, and it can take a long time because they stop in every small town on the way.
A taxi is about 50RM. However, Hasim is a taxi driver who lives in Santubong and comes back around 1700 each day. He charges only 30RM if you go back with him. You can also go into town with him but he leaves around 0700. His number is 0138008345.
Hasim also knows how to find Immigration, Customs, and the Harbour Master if you would like to use him for clearing in.
RENTAL CARS
Ahmad lives about halfway between Kuching and Santubong. He has several cars for rent – including a nice 7- or 8-person van and a very inexpensive small Perodua. The best part is that he will deliver the car you rent to Santubong. You have to take him back to his house.
but it is well worth it for the convenience. You can also pick him up on the day you are finished with the car and he will drop you off in Santubong. He’s a very nice guy. His number is 0135788131.
Ahmad also knows where you can fill LPG tanks with US-style valves. (For more information about LPG, see our comment above).
If you visit during the Rainforest World Music Festival (highly recommended – more info. at rwmf.net), we found that hitchhiking the 4km to the site was very easy. We were usually picked up within 5 or 10 minutes. We were 5 people and split into 2 groups to make it even easier.
Coming back from the festival was a bit more difficult. Sometimes we got a ride and sometimes we took a shuttle van (about 7-10RM/person). We sometimes offered those who picked us up 5 or 10 RM for petrol. So don’t worry about Festival transport – it works out.
We also found it was easy to hitchhike a couple of kilometres to the National Park trailhead. The hike up to the top of Mount Santubong is challenging but well worth it.
Bruce Balan & Alene D. Rice
s/v Migration
http://migrations.brucebalan.com
A handy taxi driver is Mr Ng he knows where to get gas filled for non-Malaysian bottles and where you can find someone with a heavy duty sewing machine ph 0138028119