Malaysia tourist visa requirements
As with other countries, an International Passport or valid travel documents recognized by the Malaysian Government and internationally, is required for any foreign nationals entering Malaysia. The passport must have enough pages for the embarkation stamp upon arrival and it has to be valid for at least 6 months at the date of entry.
A visa is an endorsement where the holder has applied for permission to enter Malaysia and that permission has been granted. If a visa is needed, you need to obtain this in advance.
Click here to check if you need a visa to enter Malaysia!
A visa is not necessary for travelers coming from certain countries. In most cases they get a tourist stamp for visa-free entry upon arrival. Depending on the country this stamp allows entrance for 14 days, 30 days or even 90 days. For example, all European Union citizens do not need a visa to visit Malaysia. They will normally be given permission to stay for 90 days on arrival.
For those who require visa, three types of visas can be obtained, whichever is applicable: single entry, multiple entry or transit visa. Visas have to be applied for in advance but the final decision for allowance of entry is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the entry point. Visas for longer stays or for non-tourist purposes must be obtained from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic office beforehand.
It is important to note that in certain cases tourists are required to produce financial status by showing bank account statements (to prove financial ability) and occassionally a check is done to verify if you possess a valid return ticket (or ticket to a next destination within the limits of the visa). In some cases travelers need to fill in the Arrival/Departure Card during their flight to Malaysia. These cards are usually also available right before going through Immigration.
Tips with Immigration
- Getting through Immigration is a serious matter. Do not fool around. Jokes are usually not the way to speed up the process.
- Pick the least crowded line, unless an immigration officer points you towards a line.
- Show your passport, flight ticket and - if needed - your Arrival/Departure Card.
- Dress appropriately (if possible).
- Make sure you are able to produce your return ticket or your ticket of your next flight out of Malaysia.
- If you travel frequently to Malaysia, make sure you do not work there and make sure you can prove this.
- Check the date of your stamp. It has occured that travelers get a 14 day stamp, instead of a 90 day stamp.
How to apply for your visa?
In each country citizens have their own ways to obtain a valid visa for Malaysia. Malaysia has many diplomatic offices throughout the world and each offer the option to get a visa. In many cases this is a tedious process, especially given the fact that for the same costs you can apply for the visa online through several trusted third parties. We would always recommend applying in advance through one of the online intermediaries.
One of the most popular online visa application services is iVisa.com, processing visas since 2013 and highly qualified to arrange your visa to Malaysia. The biggest advantage of getting your visa through a visa intermediary like iVisa is because of the simplicity of the online application, their 24/7 support in both English and Spanish and their extremely low rejection rate (they check and verify all documents before doing the application on your behalf). Should your Malaysian visa application be rejected, you will get a full refund!
Going for the online route means you save a lot of time and hassle. There is no easier way to obtain your visa. However, watch out for visa scams. If prices appear to good to be true, do not proceed with the application. There are hundreds of visa intermediaries, but not all have a many-year track record. Only work with trusted parties. If you do a quick Google search, you'll see that iVisa.com is highly rated and can therefore be trusted.
Tourist eVisa
Those that need to obtain a visa will get a Tourist eVisa that grants a stay up to 28 days in Malaysia. The eVisa was introduced in 2016 and are available to certain nationalities only. Previously they needed to visit a diplomatic office in their country, which usually implied a very time consuming process. The eVisa application is done online and payment can be done with PayPal (or credit card). Make sure you follow the procedure to the letter and don't forget to read the exact requirements. Currently, the following nationalities are eligible for an eVisa: China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Serbia and Montenegro.
eNTRI visa for Chinese and Indian nationals
The Electronic Travel Registration & Information (eNTRI) was launched back in 2017 and allows Indian and Chinese nationals to visit Malaysia for up to 15 days, perfect for short trips to the country. The online process is very easy and applicants will receive their eNTRI's via email, after filling the application form with the necessary information and after payment is completed (which, besides with a credit card, can also be done through PayPal). The major advantage of the eNTRI visa is that travelers can receive the document in just one hour if they select rush processing (issuance is this fast because it is approved automatically if you meet the visa requirements).
Important details of the eNTRI:
- The eNTRI must be applied for at least 48 hours before departure.
- Exceeding the eNTRI's allowed stay of 15 days is punishable by Malaysian law.
- eNTRI is for single entry only. A multiple-entry visit means you need to apply for a visa.
- Other Immigration requirements apply to eNTRI too.
- Applications need to be able to show a round-trip flight ticket.
- You may only enter and exit Malaysia from the most common used airports. Check the list of airport before buying your flight tickets.
- Upon arrival at Immigration you need to show your eNTRI, boarding pass, return ticket, sufficient balance, travel itinerary and a list of your hotel bookings (all in English).
Learn more on how to obtain an eNTRI.
Below we listed a few countries with their respective visa procedures.
Application for Visa: Citizens of India
Indian travelers that wish to visit Malaysia need to get a valid visa in advance. In most cases the previously mentioned eNTRI will suffice, but should you want to stay for a longer period of time (or you need a multi-entry visa) you need to obtain a Tourist eVisa, which can be done online here.
Application for Visa: Chinese citizens
Chinese travelers that wish to visit Malaysia also need a valid visa in advance. In most cases the previously mentioned eNTRI will suffice, but should you want to stay for a longer period of time (or you need a multi-entry visa) you need to obtain a Tourist eVisa, which can be done online here.
Application for Visa: U.S. citizens
A visa is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Malaysia for social, business or academic purposes (except for employment) for a stay of up to three months. A valid U.S. Passport is required. Application for visas should be made at the nearest Malaysian Embassy or Consulate General's office.
Application for Visa: United Kingdom citizens
A visa is not required for citizens of the United Kingdom as they are allowed to stay in Malaysia for 90 days (3 months) without the need for a Visa. Should they exceed their stay then they need to apply for a valid Visa up front.
Important information
- Citizens of Israel require a visa and an approval from the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs to be allowed into Malaysia.
- Always get a valid passport and valid flight tickets first, before applying for your visa.
- Many international airlines will not accept travelers that are unable to provide proof of a return flight (or a flight to a next destination).
- Do not overstay your visa!
- Visa related rules and requirements change occassionally. Always make sure you are familiar with the latest rules and updates. We maintain this page, but always check official sources.
- Do not fall for visa related scams, there are plenty abound.
- If possible, choose the online option for visa application, since this saves much time even if the costs are a bit higher.
More pages with information about Malaysia
- Climate and monsoon
- Country information
- Facts and details
- Flora and fauna
- Food and famous dishes
- Geography
- History and historical facts
- Hygiene and healthcare
- Newspaper headlines
- Politics and political system
- Population and demographics
- Public holidays and national festivals
- Top 10 highlights and attractions
- Tourism events
- Visa information
