Malaysia Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Indian and Filipino passport holders can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism or short business trips. No visa application is required and no fee is charged. Entry is granted at the border or airport on arrival. The visa-free exemption for Indians and Filipinos has been in place and is currently valid until December 31, 2026.
Malaysia visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $0 — visa-free entry
- Official processing
- On arrival at border or airport
- Validity / stay
- Up to 30 days per entry
- Visa types
- 4
Do you need a visa for Malaysia?
But you must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before you fly — at least 3 days before arrival. Airlines may deny boarding without the MDAC confirmation. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Most other nationalities need a visa for Malaysia. Check the Malaysia Immigration Department visa requirements list for your nationality before traveling.
Malaysia visa types
- Visa-free entry
- Tourism, short business trips — Up to 30 days for Indian and Filipino passport holders
- Visa on Arrival (VOA)
- Tourism, business — 15 days at designated airports
- eVisa / eNTRI
- Tourism, business — 30 days, processed in 24–48 hours
- Multiple-entry visa
- Several visits within validity — 30 days per entry, 3–12 months validity
Who is eligible
Whether you need a Malaysia visa depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities (including India and the Philippines) can enter Malaysia visa-free for short stays — typically 30 days.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa, eVisa, or VOA for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Malaysia visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisa-free entry (Indian and Filipino passport holders) · 6+ months validity from date of entry, at least 2 blank pages.
- MDAC confirmationVisa-free entry (Indian and Filipino passport holders) · Malaysia Digital Arrival Card filed online at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my at least 3 days before arrival — free.
- Return ticketVisa-free entry (Indian and Filipino passport holders) · confirmed return or onward flight ticket within 30 days.
- Proof of fundsVisa-free entry (Indian and Filipino passport holders) · minimum $500 (~₹42,000) in cash or card — immigration may spot-check.
- Hotel bookingVisa-free entry (Indian and Filipino passport holders) · confirmed accommodation reservation.
- Valid passportTourist eVisa / VOA · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist eVisa / VOA · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist eVisa / VOA · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist eVisa / VOA · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist eVisa / VOA · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist eVisa / VOA · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Malaysia visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $0 — visa-free entry
- Expedify processing fee
- No visa application required
- Validity / stay
- Up to 30 days per entry
- Official processing
- On arrival at border or airport
- Visa-free entry
- On arrival at border or airport
- eVisa / eNTRI
- 24–48 hours online processing
- Multiple-entry visa
- 5–7 working days at embassy/consulate
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Malaysia visa
The official route, step by step.
File your MDAC
Go to imigresen-online.imi.gov.my at least 3 days before arrival. It is free. Save the confirmation.
Check your passport
Ensure it is valid for at least 6 months from your entry date with 2+ blank pages.
Book return travel
Have a confirmed return or onward flight ticket within 30 days.
Prepare proof of funds
Have at least $500 available in cash or card.
Reserve accommodation
Keep a confirmed hotel booking available to show if asked.
Arrive and clear immigration
Present your passport, MDAC confirmation, return ticket, proof of funds, and hotel booking. Entry is usually granted the same day.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Malaysia's entry rules yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your trip
Document check
- Apply yourself
- You verify your passport, ticket, funds, MDAC, and hotel
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before you travel
Other documents
- Apply yourself
- You arrange IDP, insurance, and permits separately
- With Expedify
- We handle IDPs and document preparation
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- $0
- With Expedify
- $0 — no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Malaysia is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- MDAC confirmation filed online at least 3 days before arrival.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Malaysia visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Malaysia visa questions, answered.
More for your Malaysia trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.