Malaysia Visa Policy

Familiarize yourself with the Malaysian visa policy and discover visa requirements for your nationality.

Visa Policy for Malaysia

On this page you will be able to check Malaysia visa policy and verify the visa requirements for your nationality to travel to the country.

Malaysia’s visa policy is a set of regulations that determines the requirements that a citizen of another country must meet in order to obtain a Malaysian visa.

A visa for Malaysia may either be issued through an embassy or consulate, or through a simple online application. The Malaysian Immigration Department does not offer a visa on arrival.

Therefore, all foreign citizens who require a Malaysian visa are required to obtain a visa before departure, whether a government office visa or an electronic visa (eVisa).

Most travelers who have the option of obtaining a visa online opt for this method since it is more convenient and faster than applying for a visa at an embassy.

There are also around 70 countries that do not require a visa to travel to Malaysia for varying periods of short stay. Travelers that are visa-exempt for Malaysia can visit for tourism, business, or transit for between 14 and 90 days depending on their nationality and the purpose of the visit.

Visa-free or eVisa citizens who wish to visit Malaysia for longer stays or other purposes are must obtain a visa through a Malaysian government diplomatic office, whether a work visa, a student visa, or other available embassy visa type.

Below you will find a full list of Malaysian visa regulations to travel to Malaysia from your residence country.

Tourist Visa Policy for Malaysia

The tourist visa policy for Malaysia states that the majority of foreign citizens who wish to visit the country for tourism must obtain a visa to do so.

There are currently under 70 nationalities who are able to visit Malaysia visa-free for tourism, with the period of stay permitted varying by nationality.

All other foreign nationals must obtain a tourist visa in advance of travel to Malaysia, either through an embassy or consulate or through an online application,

Passport holders from 10 different countries are currently eligible to apply for a tourist eVisa for Malaysia online, which, once approved, is sent by email, removing the need to submit a paper visa application in person at a diplomatic mission.

An approved Malaysian online visa permits a stay of up to 30 consecutive days for tourism and is valid to enter Malaysia for 3 months from the day the eVisa is issued.

There are more than 160 visa-required nationalities not eligible for the eVisa, who must apply for an embassy visa from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic office to visit the country as a tourist.

Find further information about the different types of visa valid for tourist travel to Malaysia below.

EVISA

The Malaysian eVisa is an electronic travel visa issued by the government of Malaysia, which travelers can obtain in advance of travel through an online application, eliminating the need to apply in person at an embassy or consulate.

An approved eVisa for Malaysia is a single entry online visa which allows a stay of 30 consecutive days in the country. The eVisa has a validity of 3 months to enter Malaysia from the date of issue and is valid for purposes of tourism.

There are currently around 10 nationalities that are able to obtain an eVisa to travel to Malaysia. In order to apply for an electronic visa, the foreign traveler must fill out an online form with personal and passport information to receive an approved eVisa sent by email.

Malaysia eVisa requirements state that the traveler must have a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months in order to apply. Children under 12 must also have a birth certificate.

It is also necessary to provide some additional supporting documentation to submit an eVisa form, including confirmed return flight tickets, proof of accommodation in Malaysia, and proof of residence if the applicant lives in a place different from their nationality.

A Malaysian visa online is usually processed within 48 hours, and, once approved, the holder of an approved eVisa is required to print a copy to present up on arrival in Malaysia.

Holders of tourist eVisas who wish to visit Malaysia for a longer period of permitted stay, or for purposes other than tourism, must apply for a visa from a government diplomatic office.

Below you can find a complete list of all the nationalities for which an eVisa for Malaysia is currently available.

Apply Online

Malaysian eNTRI

People’s Republic of China passport holders and citizens of India traveling to Malaysia for short stays are required to pre-register for a Malaysian eNTRI before departure.

eNTRi stands for Electronic Travel Registration & Information. This online registration system facilities the entry of Indian nationals and Chinese citizens to the country. Once approved, an eNTRI registration permits the holder to spend up to 15 days in Malaysia.

Once an eligible applicant completes the simple eNTRI online registration and receives approval, they are sent an eNTRI Note which must be printed.

The printed eNTRI note can then be used to enter Malaysia at any of the following select ports of entry:

Air

Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kuching International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Labuan Airport
Langkawi International Airport
Malacca International Airport
Miri Airport
Penang International Airport
Senai International Airport

Land

Bukit Kayu Itam Checkpoint
Sultan Abu Bakar Complex
Sultan Iskandar Checkpoint
Sungai Tujoh Checkpoint
Padang Besar Checkpoint
Tedungan Immigration Checkpoint

It should be noted that eNTRI holders are unable to submit a new application until at least 90 days have passed since the last visit to Malaysia, as a 3-month “cooling period” applies to applicants.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

Malaysia’s visa laws state that citizens of over 160 countries must apply for a visa in person from a Malaysian government diplomatic office before traveling, regardless of the purpose of visit and the duration of the intended stay.

The protocol of applying for an embassy visa involves first making an appointment at the nearest Malaysian embassy or consulate.

It is usually necessary to bring a completed embassy application form, filled in with the traveler’s personal data and passport information. Additional documentation must also be provided depending on the type of embassy visa required, whether a work visa, business visa, transit visa, student visa, or other visa option.

The period of stay permitted and period of validity of an embassy visa for Malaysia also depends on the purpose of the intended travel.

Those who need a visa from an embassy are advised to initiate the application process well in advance of the expected arrival date in Maysalisa, as it may take several weeks or more to receive visa approval.

See the list below to discover the nationalities that require an embassy visa to visit Malaysia.

Get Embassy Info

Visa Not Required

Although Malaysia’s visa laws includes a large number of passport holders for which a visa is required, there are also roughly 70 nationalities that do not require a visa to visit the country.

The Malaysian visa policy states that a number of travelers can stay in the Southeast Asian nation visa-free for short periods between 14 and 90 days depending on nationality. Visa-exempt travel is usually permitted for purposes of tourism, business, or transit.

Additionally, holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of Bangladesh, China, or India do not require a visa for stays between 30 days and 3 months. However, these travelers must first request for entry permission at any port of entry in order to enter Malaysia.

The only restrictions to entry to Malaysia for visa not required nationals apply if the traveler has certain criminal convictions with jail time served, if they have been removed or deported from any country, or if they are a member of a group designated as a terrorist entity.

If a Malaysia visa-free foreign citizen wishes to visit the country for longer periods, or for purposes other than those discussed above, they must apply for a visa from a Malaysian embassy or consulate.

Find below a full list of the countries whose citizens do not require a visa to travel to Malaysia.

Get Embassy Info

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