Everything You Need to Know About Malaysia Tourist Requirements and Visas

Updated: on 25 January 2024

A country often described as a kaleidoscope of cultures, Malaysia tourist requirements are relatively simple for some nationalities, there are however a few exceptions, so it is best to read the following guidelines to enter Malaysia carefully and refer to the advice from the Malaysian Embassy in your home country. For most nationals with a valid passport, permission to travel in Malaysia for up to 90 days is granted on arrival for travellers arriving by air. For those crossing into the country by land or by sea however, immigration officials typically grant 30-days of travel in Malaysia unless expressly asked for a longer stay – so be sure to ask for a longer stay, if required, before getting your passport stamped at a land or sea border crossing. If you are a passport holder from one of the countries that has a visa-free agreement with Malaysia then there are 2 requirements you must meet for entry to Malaysia.

• Firstly, an undamaged passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from your intended date of departure.
• Additionally, the passport should have 2 clean and empty pages available for stamps. Immigration officials may also ask to see proof of return or onward travel and sufficient funds for the intended period of stay, but this is not usually a prerequisite for Malaysian tourist entry requirements.

If you hold a passport from a country that does not have an agreement with Malaysia for visa-free travel, you will need to apply online for a Malaysia tourist e visa. Once an application has been approved, the visa will be sent to you via your email address and this visa must be printed out and kept with your passport for presentation to the immigration authorities on your arrival to Malaysia.

Malaysia Tourist Entry for Visa-Free Travel

Malaysia tourist entry for holders of full passports from the UK, most EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States allows visa-free travel for up to 90days. Note passport holders from Greece and Portugal are only granted 30days visa free on arrival. For visitors holding passports from an ASEAN country, visa free travel for up to 30days is granted on arrival with the exception of Myanmar passport holders who are required to obtain a visa before travelling to Malaysia.

As is the case with most tourist entry requirements, travellers will be expected to present a full clean passport, with no damaged or missing pages, your passport must be valid for at least 6months after your intended departure date from Malaysia, and you must have at least 2 clean and empty pages available for stamps. In addition all visitors (with the exception of Singapore passport holders) to Malaysia are required currently to complete the online arrival card or Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC): https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main?registerMain.

Your MDAC must be completed prior to arrival, and it is recommended to complete the MDAC within 96hours of your arrival in Malaysia – the airline may also ask to see proof of your having completed the MDAC prior to allowing you to board the flight too. It is also important to note that if you are planning to visit Malaysian Borneo during your trip, additional travel and entry requirements may apply according to the passport you hold as Malaysia’s eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak maintain semi-autonomous immigration controls. Note also that even while travelling domestically, you will be required to show your passport when entering and exiting Sabah and Sarawak.

For holders of passports from countries not from an ASEAN nation or a country mentioned in the list above, there are two main ways to apply for a Malaysia tourist visa that don’t involve any complicated paperwork, and the flexibility of the Malaysia tourist visa requirements makes it easy for travellers to explore the neighboring nations of Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand while on holiday in the region.



To apply for an e-visa you must register and apply online here – https://malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my/evisa/vlno_register.jsp?type=register

Visitors from Russia, and a few neighboring nations as well as most countries in Africa, and Central and South America are permitted visa-free access to Malaysia but will only be permitted to stay for up to 30 days. For longer stays than 30 days visa free travel, citizens of these countries will need to apply for a visa from a Malaysian Embassy. If you are travelling with an Israeli passport, entry requirements for Malaysia mean you will need to apply to Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs for written permission to visit.

How to Use Your Malaysia Tourist e Visa

If you are a national permitted to apply for a Malaysia tourist e Visa (see above), and you have received your approval document via email, you are ready to travel. It is advisable to print out a copy of your approval document, although you may be able to show the Immigration Officer at your port of arrival a digital copy on your phone or laptop. A Malaysia tourist e Visa is valid for 90 days but will only allow the bearer to stay in the country for a maximum of 30 days after the date of arrival. Indian nationals are permitted to make a Malaysia multiple entry visa application which allows the holder to reenter the country, but only for a maximum of 30 days each time. It is important to note that Malaysia e Visas cannot be extended. Holders of a Malaysia tourist e Visa are permitted to enter the country at any recognized port of entry.

In addition to the Malaysia e-visa, Nationals of India and China are allowed to apply for a Malaysia eNTRI visa (Electronic Travel Registration and Information), which is an online service that is part of the Visa Waiver Program implemented especially for citizens of India and China who are travelling on a valid passport.

There are three easy steps to apply for a Malaysia eNTRI visa for Chinese and Indian nationals:

• Create an account at: www.windowmalaysia.my.
• Register for your Malaysia eNTRI visa.
• Print out your eNTRI note and keep it with your passport.

Note: Applicants for eNTRI visas must leave Malaysia for at least three months following a visit before a subsequent visa can applied for.

Holders of a Malaysia tourist e Visa or Malaysia eNTRI visa are required to present the following documents to the Immigration Officer when arriving in Malaysia:

• A printout of your e Visa or eNTRI Visa.
• Valid passport and boarding pass.
• A confirmed return or onward flight out of Malaysia.
• Proof of accommodation in Malaysia.
• Proof of sufficient funds while in Malaysia.

How to Apply for a Malaysia Tourist Visa

If you are not eligible for visa-free entry to Malaysia, then you are required to apply for a Malaysia tourist visa at a Malaysian Representative Office. This is done by downloading the application form here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BqejsVPuSGnwYxKh4ADj0R04Rc0GqBe1/view?usp=sharing

You will need to complete two copies, print them out and sign them. As well as the completed application forms needed to apply for a Malaysia tourist visa, you will need the following supporting documents:

• A valid passport that is valid for at least six months after you plan to enter Malaysia.
• Two copies of the ID pages of your passport.
• Two passport photos that have been taken within the past six months.
• A copy of your travel itinerary including proof of return or onward travel.
• Proof of accommodation in Malaysia such as a confirmed hotel booking.
• If you are planning to stay with friends or family, proof of address will be required.
• Bank statements for the last three months as proof of sufficient funds.

Depending on the country you are in when you apply for a Malaysia tourist visa, you will either have to submit your documents at the Malaysian Representative Office in person or by mail. Remember to attach a passport photo that adheres to all the usual rules - such as taken against a white background, facing the camera with no glasses or headwear taken in the last six months – to the top right-hand corner of your application form. You will also be required to pay the Malaysia visa application fee along with your application. Once approved, you will be asked to collect your passport with a Malaysia tourist entry visa attached. When you arrive in Malaysia, the Immigration officer at the airport or other point of entry will confirm how many days you are allowed to spend in the country and issue you with a “Short Term Social Visit Pass”. This will allow you to enter Malaysia for travel and tourism.

Travel to Malaysia is easy for those with a valid passport who are eligible for visa-free entry. However, if you have any enquiries concerning entry requirements for Malaysia, please feel free to contact a member of the Secret Retreats team at dream@secret-retreats.com.