5
Grab
Everyone starting life in Malaysia
Start hereTransport & ride-hailingBefore departureIn Japan store too
Apps to Install Before Moving to Malaysia
Compare 9 apps in total
These are the apps you can prepare from home before you travel. Grab, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Wise, Klook, iProperty, PropertyGuru, Google Translate and ChatGPT are all available in your home app store, and most let you register while keeping your existing phone number. Installing them and creating accounts before arrival means rides, maps, messaging and home-hunting all work from day one, making your first days far smoother. Wise in particular can take a few days for identity verification, so opening it before departure is recommended.
6
Google Maps
Everyone beginning life in Malaysia
Start hereTransport & ride-hailingBefore departureIn Japan store too
iProperty Malaysia
Anyone looking for accommodation before or after relocating to Malaysia
Housing & propertyBefore departure
PropertyGuru Malaysia
Anyone looking for housing before or after relocating
Housing & propertyBefore departure
Everyone starting life in Malaysia
Start hereChat, translation & remittanceBefore departureIn Japan store too
Google Translate
People who are uncertain about languages
Chat, translation & remittanceBefore departureIn Japan store too
ChatGPT
People who are uncomfortable with English and Malay communication
Chat, translation & remittanceBefore departureIn Japan store too
Wise
Anyone transferring funds between Japan and Malaysia
Start hereChat, translation & remittanceBefore departureIn Japan store too
FAQ
- Q. Which apps should I install at home before departure?
- A. Grab and Google Maps for getting around, WhatsApp for communication, Wise for transfers and Klook for booking tickets are the essentials to have first. If you want to start house-hunting, add iProperty and PropertyGuru; to prepare for local English and Malay, add Google Translate and ChatGPT. All are available in your home store, and creating accounts before arrival means they work from day one.
- Q. Can I register while keeping my home phone number?
- A. Most let you register with your existing number. WhatsApp, Grab, Wise and Klook can verify with a Japanese number, and you keep the same account after inserting a local SIM. Some apps are awkward to migrate if you change numbers, so it's safest to set them up with your home number first and add or switch to a local number later as needed.
- Q. Should I open Wise before departure?
- A. Opening it before departure is recommended. Wise runs identity verification (KYC) on first use, and document checks can take a few days. Opening it early and topping up a MYR balance means you can use it to fund e-wallets and bridge payments right after arrival, before you have a local account. Finishing the process while still at home saves you scrambling for cash flow after you land.
