K8 Form in Malaysia: What It Is and How to Get One

The K8 Form, or Borang K8, is a specific shipping document used in Malaysia for scenarios related to the transit of goods.

This form is required by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) to help manage the movement and customs requirements of goods as they travel between different locations and methods of transport.

Malaysia has several customs declaration forms, including K1, K2, K3, and K9. Each of these forms has its own unique purpose in the customs process.

What is a K8 Form

The Malaysian Customs K8 Form is a declaration document used in specific customs procedures that do not involve the immediate clearance of goods for local use. It is typically used in scenarios where goods are being moved, held, or redirected under customs supervision, ensuring compliance without triggering import duties or full clearance.

It serves 3 main purposes: 

• To declare goods that are in transit without entering the Principal Customs Areas (PCA) for consumption.
• To allow partial shipments to be transported while keeping the rest under customs control.
• To document the transfer of goods between different modes of transport.

Here's what a K8 form looks like: 

Transit of Goods Through Principal Customs Area (PCA)

The K8 Form is required when declaring goods that are simply passing through Malaysia without entering the PCA for consumption. PCA refer to all areas of Malaysia except for Free Trade Zones (FTZ), Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman, and Pangkor. 

The owner or their agents must complete and submit the K8 Form to the customs office if they wish to transport goods in transit. This form is applicable in the following situations:

• Goods moving from one country to another without entering the PCA. 
• Goods transported by land from Free Trade Zones (FTZ) or other non-PCA areas to locations outside the PCA.

Examples of Transit Scenarios:

• Goods shipped from Singapore to Thailand.
• Goods moving from an FTZ to another country, or vice versa.
• Goods transported by land from one Free Trade Zone to another.
• Goods going from an FTZ to a licensed storage area, or vice versa.

Removal of Goods in Transit from Customs Control

K8 form is also used when the owner or their agent wants to take out some or all dutiable goods that are in transit from customs control. This allows exporters to send part of their shipment while keeping the remainder under customs supervision. To initiate this, the owner or their agent must submit the K8 form to the customs office at the station of departure.

This option for partial shipments applies specifically to goods in transit that are transported using multiple containers or trucks and is only valid within Malaysia.

It does not cover shipments coming directly from other countries into or through Malaysia.

Typically, these movements occur from customs ports, customs airports, free zones, and bonded areas to other locations for export by sea freight or air freight.

Conditions for Using Partial Shipments:

• Non-critical Goods Only: Partial shipments in transit can only involve non-critical goods. Critical goods cannot be transferred using this facility.
• Transport Modes: Goods must be moved by rail (train) or road (licensed carriers).
• Container Requirements: For road transport, an ISO container or licensed carrier is needed. For rail transport, the ISO container must be placed on a railway carriage.

Example of Transfer:

Transferring parts of the shipment from a customs airport to an inland clearance depot.

Transhipment of Goods by Sea or Air

K8 form is used to declare goods that are being transferred from one mode of transport to another during the transhipment process. This means that the goods are on their way to their final destination but need to switch transport methods.

When transshipping goods, the person in charge of the ship or aircraft, or their designated agents must complete and submit the K8 form to the Customs officer at the relevant location—such as a port or airport—where the goods are being unloaded or will be stored.

Examples of transhipment:

• Goods arrive by ship or aeroplane and are stored in a customs-approved warehouse.
• Goods moving from a customs warehouse onto a ship or aeroplane for export.

When is a K8 Form Required

The K8 form is required at the time of removal or loading of goods for export and must be submitted to the customs office that oversees the goods at the point they are removed.

The customs officer is responsible for reviewing your declaration and approving the removal of the goods from customs control before they can be transported to their final destination.

Examples:

• If goods arrive at an airport and will be stored in a warehouse, submit the K8 declaration form to the customs officer at the customs airport of arrival.
• If goods are already in a warehouse and you want to move them to an inland clearance depot, submit the K8 declaration form to the customs officer in charge of that warehouse.

How to Prepare a K8 Form

To submit a K8 form, you must work with a registered Customs agent who is authorised to make declarations through the Customs declaration portal.

You will need to include the necessary information and documents:

1. A commercial invoice that details the goods being shipped.
2. Proof of payment confirming that any applicable duties or taxes have been paid.
3. A permit or approval from the relevant agency if the goods being transported require such authorisation.
4. Any additional documentation that the Customs officer may request.

Customs Declarations Made Easy with DHL Express

As an international shipping company, we take the hassle out of customs declarations. Once you book your shipment, our team will handle all the necessary forms so you can focus on growing your business.

Please note that while we provide customs services for international shipments, such as those from a domestic Free Trade Zone (FTZ) to international destinations or from international FTZs to non-FTZ locations in Malaysia, we do not offer declaration and pickup services for domestic bonded arrangements between FTZs.