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Touch 'n Go eWallet
Everyone beginning life in Malaysia
Start herePayment & e-walletRight after arrival
Essential Living Apps in Malaysia
Compare 46 apps in total
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4
BigPay
Frequent travellers / people in early stages of relocation who want a card
Payment & e-walletAfter settling in
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Grab
Everyone starting life in Malaysia
Start hereTransport & ride-hailingBefore departureIn Japan store too
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Google Maps
Everyone beginning life in Malaysia
Start hereTransport & ride-hailingBefore departureIn Japan store too
7
inDrive
Those who want to keep ride-hailing costs down
Transport & ride-hailingAfter settling inIn Japan store too
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9
SOCAR
People who want to drive occasionally without owning a car
Transport & ride-hailingAfter settling in
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GrabFood
People already using Grab, those who want to switch between Malaysia's two leading delivery services
Delivery & e-commerceRight after arrivalIn Japan store too
Lazada
People who want to buy authentic products and electronics with confidence
Delivery & e-commerceAfter settling in
SHEIN
Those wanting to buy clothing and accessories cheaply
Delivery & e-commerceAfter settling inIn Japan store too
Lalamove
People who need furniture transportation or moving services
Delivery & e-commerceAfter settling in
Setup order for relocation (before departure to after owning a car)
Before departure (in Japan)
- Register WhatsApp with your Japanese numberAll communication with schools and real estate is via WhatsApp. Use it to book viewings before departure too.
- Register Grab with your Japanese numberReady to use for the ride from the airport on arrival day. Pay by credit card for now.
- Open a Wise account and complete identity verificationVerification can take a few days, so finish it while still in Japan.
- Install Google Translate and KlookKlook is also handy for airport transfers and outing tickets in your first week.
- Research housing on iProperty / PropertyGuruGetting a feel for areas and rent levels makes viewings after arrival smoother. Viewing appointments are usually arranged via WhatsApp.
First week after arrival
- Get a SIM card (obtain a local number)This is the starting point for everything. A local number is required to register for TNG and banking.
- Set up your carrier's official appInstall your carrier's app — CelcomDigi, Hotlink or MyUMobile — so you can handle top-ups and add data entirely within the app.
- Register TNG eWallet via passport eKYCRight after getting a local number. Useful from day one at hawker stalls, parking, and transit.
- Set GrabPay/card as your Grab payment and register foodpandaGet both delivery giants ready to get through the setup-your-life phase.
- Register with ShopeeStart sourcing furniture, appliances, and daily goods. Register your delivery address.
After settling in
- Open a bank account, then set up the bank app and DuitNowAfter opening the account, switching your TNG top-up method to the bank is also cheaper on fees.
- Manage utilities in-app with myTNB and Air SelangorWater-outage notifications directly affect quality of life.
- Add inDrive, eatigo, GSC/TGV and others as you likeOnce life is stable, expand into money-saving and entertainment apps.
After getting a car
- Setel, Waze, and parking apps (by state)Parking apps are Flexi Parking for KL and Smart Selangor Parking for Selangor.
- Set up TNG RFID, MyEG, MyBayar Saman, and BjakMove all car upkeep into apps: tolls, road tax, saman fines, and insurance.
Frequently asked questions
- Q. Can I use TNG eWallet without a bank account?
- A. Yes. TNG eWallet can be registered with passport eKYC verification, and you can top up with a credit card or via convenience-store and cash reloads. Since you can start a cashless life before opening a bank account, setting up TNG first is recommended in the early days of relocation.
- Q. Can I top up and pay with a Japanese credit card?
- A. It works in many apps, but some card issuers block overseas online payments. Grab and Klook usually work fine with Japanese cards, whereas TNG top-ups vary in fees and card compatibility, so if it fails, try another card or a cash reload.
- Q. Which apps should I install in Japan before departure?
- A. Five: WhatsApp, Grab, Wise, Google Translate, and Klook. WhatsApp and Grab can be registered with a Japanese phone number and used from arrival day. Wise verification can take a few days, so it goes smoothly if you finish opening the account while still in Japan.
- Q. Should GrabPay or TNG be my main wallet?
- A. The standard is TNG as your main wallet with GrabPay alongside. TNG has overwhelmingly broad coverage—hawker stalls, parking, and public transit—while GrabPay's strength is earning points on Grab rides and delivery. In Malaysia it's common not to stick to one wallet but to use two or three for different purposes.
- Q. Which app should I install to pay for street parking?
- A. The designated app differs by area. Flexi Parking is used within Kuala Lumpur, Smart Selangor Parking in Selangor state including Petaling Jaya, and JomParkir in places like Penang and Johor. Installing two to match your home and travel range is the safe bet.
- Q. Can foreigners use the MyJPJ app?
- A. Yes. A 2025 update opened registration to foreigners, so you can upload licence documents for verification and check or renew road tax digitally in the app. Note that vehicles registered under a foreigner still need to display a physical road tax sticker. MyEG and JPJ counters remain available as alternatives.
- Q. Can I register for the apps while keeping my Japanese phone number?
- A. WhatsApp and Grab can be registered with a Japanese number, but apps that become central to daily life, such as TNG eWallet and bank apps, require a Malaysian phone number. It's most efficient to get a SIM as soon as possible after arrival and set up your apps around the local number.
- Q. Is LINE not used in Malaysia?
- A. It's barely used. WhatsApp is the standard means of contact in Malaysia, and communication with schools, lessons, real estate, and shops all happens on WhatsApp. Using LINE for family and friends in Japan and WhatsApp locally—a two-track setup—is the typical style for Japanese relocators.
