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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 for Malaysia
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.
EVISA for Malaysia: Country list
Bangladesh
Bhutan
- China
Montenegro
- Myanmar
Nepal
- Pakistan
Serbia
Sri Lanka
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.
Malaysia 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.
Malaysia Embassy or Consular Visa Required: Country list
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
American Samoa
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Aruba
Bermuda
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Congo
Cook Islands
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guernsey
Guinea Bissau
Isle of Man
Israel
Ivory Coast
Jersey
Liberia
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Montserrat
Mozambique
New Caledonia
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Reunion
Rwanda
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Tokelau
Turks and Caicos Islands
United States Virgin Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Visa Not Required for Malaysia
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.
Visa Not Required for Malaysia: Country list
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Cape Verde
Chad
Chile
Comoros
Costa Rica
Croatia
See AlsoMalaysiaCuba
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Namibia
Nauru
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
Oman
Palau
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Korea
South Sudan
Spain
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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