Malaysia Visa | A Step By Step Guide

Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that require visas to enter Malaysia are required to have a valid Malaysia Visa in order to enter the country.

Malaysian Visa
Malaysia

Holders of Malaysian visas are only permitted to travel within the country of Malaysia, where they will be subject to border inspections upon arrival.

This indicates that even if you have a visa, there is no ironclad guarantee that you will be permitted to remain in Malaysia for any reason. 

The Immigration Officer who is stationed at the point of entrance will determine whether or not you are permitted to enter Malaysia.

Every foreign passenger will receive a Pass from the Immigration Officer who is stationed at the entry gate. 

A Malaysia Pass is an endorsement that is placed in your passport and indicates that you are permitted to stay in the nation as well as the length of time that you are permitted to do so. 

Even if you are not required to obtain a Malaysian visa before traveling there, you will still be subject to immigration check at the entrance point and you will receive a Pass stamp on your passport.

As a result, obtaining a Malaysia Visa is only necessary as a prerequisite for admission; in order to enter the country, you will need the authorization of an immigration officer.


Do I Need to Obtain a Visa to Travel to Malaysia Prior to My Trip?

If you are a citizen of a nation that is not exempt from the requirements of a Malaysian visa, then you will be required to submit an application for one before you are permitted to go to Malaysia.

On the other hand, citizens of some nations do not require a visa to enter or remain in Malaysia for a predetermined amount of time. 

However, if you plan to stay in the country for a longer period of time than the visa-free travel period allows, you will need to apply for a visa.

If you are a citizen of a country that is a part of the European Union or the United States, for instance, and you only intend to stay in Malaysia for a maximum of ninety days, you are exempt from the requirement that you obtain a visa. 

You will, however, be required to submit an application for a Malaysia visa or the relevant Pass related to your trip plans if you intend to remain in the country for more than ninety days (work, study, family reunification etc).


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When Should One Apply for a Visa to Enter Malaysia?

You have up to one month before the date you want to travel to Malaysia to submit your application for a Malaysian visa.


How to Apply for a Visa to Enter Malaysia

There are two routes that non-Malaysian citizens can take in order to submit an application for a visa to enter Malaysia:


  • manually or
  • online.


However, the online visa application for Malaysia is only available to citizens of a select few countries at this time (see below). 

The vast majority of visa-required nationals are required to submit their applications at a Malaysian Representative Office Abroad or through a visa application agency that has been accredited.


Who is eligible to submit an application for a Malaysian visa online?

Through the use of the Malaysia eVisa, the Malaysian government gives selected citizens of other countries the opportunity to submit their visa applications electronically. 

If your application for a Malaysia eVisa is accepted, you will receive the visa electronically and will be required to print it; it will not be attached to your passport in the form of a sticker.

If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, you are eligible to submit an online application for a visa to enter Malaysia:

  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • China
  • India
  • Montenegro
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Serbia
  • Sri Lanka


Additionally, citizens of India and China are permitted to register for the eNTRI (Electronic Travel Registration and Information).

If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed above and are interested in applying for a visa to Malaysia online, you can find further information by checking on your embassy websites.


Instructions for Applying for a Visa to Malaysia

You will need to go through these easy procedures in order to apply for a visa to enter Malaysia:

  • Find a representative office for Malaysia in your area.
  • Obtain the application form.
  • Finish filling out the papers file.
  • Send in the application in addition to the required documentation.
  • Stay patient while the processing is completed.


Find a representative office for Malaysia in your area.

You will need to investigate whether or not your country is home to a Malaysian Representative Office or a visa application center, and if so, locate the location that is geographically closest to you.


Obtain the application form

You are need to obtain the Malaysia Visa application form from the website of the Immigration Department of Malaysia and then electronically fill it out before you can submit an application for a visa to enter Malaysia. 

You'll also need to have access to Adobe Reader and a computer. When you have finished filling out the application form, you will need to print two copies and sign each one.


Finish filling out the papers file.

When applying for a visa to enter Malaysia, you are need to provide a number of supporting papers, such as the following:

  • Form for applying for a visa to enter Malaysia, duplicated twice.
  • Your original passport.
  • Two copies of your passport's photo page are required.
  • Two photos in the size required by passports.
  • A printed copy of your flight itinerary, which must include a ticket to return home that has already been purchased.
  • Documentation demonstrating that you have a place to stay in Malaysia, such as a hotel reservation.
  • Please provide an invitation letter if you are going to be staying with friends or relatives.
  • The most recent three months' worth of bank statements.


In the event that you are seeking for a visa to enter Malaysia with Reference: Original letter of permission issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia or similar governing body.


Send in the application in addition to the required documentation.

At the Malaysian Representative Office or visa application office, you will be needed to hand over the original copy of your passport in addition to the copies of the Malaysia visa application form that you have made. 

You might be allowed to submit the application in person or over the mail, but this will depend on the laws of the nation in which you live.

You are required to include a photo of yourself to the application form, and that photo needs to meet the criteria set forth by the Malaysia visa photo requirements.

There, you will also be required to pay the application fee for the Malaysia visa.


Stay patient while the processing is completed.

It is possible that you will be able to monitor the progression of your application through the use of an online system, however this will be contingent on the nation in which you reside and the institution to which you are applying.

If your application for a visa to enter Malaysia is accepted, you will be required to collect your passport in order to have the visa affixed to it. After that, you are free to go to Malaysia as you like.

Keep in mind that even if you are granted a visa for Malaysia, the decision on whether or not you will be permitted entry into the country will be made by an immigration officer at the port of entry after you have traveled there. 

They will issue you the appropriate Pass, which will specify the maximum number of days that you are permitted to remain in Malaysia in accordance with the reason for your trip. 

For instance, in order to obtain a "Short Term Social Visit Pass," you will need to demonstrate that you want to travel to Malaysia for the purposes of tourism (see a list of Malaysia Passes below).

Even though your visa is good for thirty days, that does not necessarily mean that your passport will be issued for the same amount of time as your visa.


Time Required to Process Applications for a Malaysia Visa

The amount of time it takes to obtain a visa for Malaysia is determined by a number of factors, including the country from which you are applying, the application process you choose, the season, and whether or not you have all of the necessary paperwork.

The application process for an electronic visa (eVisa) should not take more than one hundred hours, which is equivalent to four days.

If you submit your application through eNTRI, the processing time for your visa should be between 48 and 72 hours.

The amount of time it takes to complete your application if you submit it manually is determined by the department or office that is responsible for it. Nevertheless, the processing time for a Malaysia visa is typically between seven and ten working days.


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What are the key differences between a Pass and a Visa for entering Malaysia?

The holder of a Malaysian Visa is granted permission to enter Malaysia, but the bearer of a Malaysia Pass is required to state the reason for their visit. 

Some passes, such as an Employment Pass, are given to you at the port of entry upon arrival, while others, such as a Transit Pass, must be obtained before you can submit an application for a visa. 

As a result, the Malaysia Passes can be broken down into the following categories:

Malaysia Transit Visas. If you need to enter Malaysia in order to connect to another airline on your journey to a third country, you are required to submit an application for a transit visa.


Malaysia Tourist Visa. If you intend to enter Malaysia for the purpose of tourism and are subject to Malaysia's visa regime, you will be required to apply for and acquire a tourist visa before entering the country.


You will be given a Short Term Social Visit Pass (Visitor Card) as soon as you land in Malaysia. This Pass will be given to you if you are traveling for a short-term purpose, such as going on a vacation, paying a visit to family or friends, going on a business trip, participating in a seminar, taking an exam, competing in a sporting event, or any other similar activity.


Employment Pass is a document that grants you permission to work for a firm or organization in Malaysia. Before you are allowed to apply for the post, your position in the company must first be approved by the Expatriate Committee (EC) or another Malaysian body.


Dependant Pass is a pass that is granted to individuals who are financially dependant on Employment Pass holders (spouses, children under 18, or elderly parents)


Ticket for Visitors (Temporary Employment). If you have an employer waiting for you in Malaysia and you wish to work there in an authorized sector or as a Foreign Domestic Helper, you are required to submit an application for this pass before you depart for the country.


Ticket for Visitors (Professional). If you wish to give professional services in Malaysia for a limited amount of time or if you want to receive training there, you are required to submit an application for this Pass.


Long Term Social Visit Passes are granted to non-Malaysian citizens who meet the necessary criteria and aspire to reside in Malaysia for an extended period of time (more than six months). 

Having this Pass does not, however, allow you to work or start your own business. You are eligible to acquire this Pass for a period of up to 5 years if your partner is a Malaysian citizen, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Spouse Visa for Malaysia. 

If you are the spouse or partner of a Malaysian citizen, you can apply for this Pass.


The Student Pass, or the Malaysia Student Visa, is another name for this document. You are need to submit an application for a Student Pass before to entering Malaysia if you intend to attend school there.


The Residence Pass is granted to non-Malaysians with exceptional credentials who intend to work in Malaysia for a period of up to ten years. If you have already been employed in Malaysia for a period of at least three years prior to making your application for a Residence Pass, you are eligible to do so.


Malaysia Through the My Second Home Program, foreigners are given the opportunity to retire in Malaysia.

Additionally, there is a distinction between the Malaysia Visa Without Reference and the Malaysia Visa With Reference when it comes to Malaysian visas.


What sets a visa with reference in Malaysia apart from a visa that does not require a reference?

The reason for travel is what determines whether a traveler needs a Visa Without Reference or a Visa With Reference when applying for a Malaysian passport.

  • The High Commission of Malaysia is the only entity authorized to grant applicants the Malaysia Visa Without Reference. This visa does not require any prior authorization from a Malaysian authority agency. This visa is typically valid for a single entrance and is granted for short-term stays for the purpose of social visits or tourism.
  • Before the Malaysia Visa With Reference may be issued, the applicant must first have prior authorization from the Immigration Department of Malaysia. If you wish to travel to Malaysia for the purposes of furthering your education, visiting relatives, or working, you will be required to obtain this particular sort of visa.


When I arrive in Malaysia, would I be able to apply for a visa?

If you are a citizen of India or China and you match the following requirements, you may be eligible for the Malaysia Visa On Arrival, which is valid for a maximum of 7 days and allows you to enter the country:

  • You are traveling directly from Indonesia, Singapore, or Thailand, and you will arrive at your destination today.
  • You are in possession of a visa that is still active from one of those nations, and
  • You have a roundtrip flight ticket and at least one thousand dollars in US currency each person.


When I have a visa, how many times am I allowed to enter Malaysia?

The government of Malaysia grants the following kinds of visas, each of which can have a different number of entries:

The Malaysia Single Entry Visa is a type of visa that allows the holder to only make one trip to Malaysia and is valid for a maximum of three months beginning on the date it was issued. In most cases, a social visit or tourism is the reason for obtaining this sort of visa.


A Multiple Entry Visa for Malaysia typically has a validity period of between three and twelve months beginning on the date the visa was issued. The holder of this visa has the ability to re-enter Malaysia an unlimited number of times while it is still valid. This category of Malaysia visa is typically granted for official business or by the Malaysian government. However, your stay on any entrance can be no longer than thirty days at a time.


How Can I Extend My Stay in Malaysia on a Visa That Only Allows One Entry?

A visa that is only good for a single entry into Malaysia is only good for a maximum of 30 days, and it cannot be extended. A Social Visit Pass is not exempt from this rule either.

You are required to depart the country and submit an application for the relevant Malaysian Visa or Pass if you wish to remain in Malaysia for a longer period of time than the one for which your Pass was issued.

On the other hand, an extension of a Social Visit Pass is only likely to be granted in exceptional circumstances and only after careful evaluation of each individual situation. 

For instance, if you have fallen ill, been in an accident, or if there is a situation in your home country (such as a war) that could put your life in risk if you returned, you may be eligible to request an extension for your Social Visit Pass.

If this happens, you will be required to produce evidence to support your claim and show proof that you have a ticket to travel back to your native country.


Covid 19 Tips

Many nations still have entry restrictions and closed borders. If you need assistance planning your travels, please visit the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Centre website. Before leaving for the airport, you are encouraged to check with your airline or travel agency to make sure that your flight routes are still operating because the measures implemented could cause flight cancellations and a decrease in flight frequency.


For further travel details regarding the locations, you can also consult the MFA Travel Information pages.


Information for Incoming and Outgoing Travellers

  • Under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF), all countries/regions will be classified under the General Travel or Restricted Category and accord border measures by individual traveller’s vaccination status. Currently, all countries/regions come under the General Travel Category. There are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category at the moment.
  • Advisory for Foreign students studying overseas can be found on the MOE website and the Travel Advisory on the MOH website. Common concerns pertaining to the advisory have been addressed here. FAQs on the MOH website (under Border Measures) also provide information for students on overseas studies.
  • Updates on Malaysia's border control measures in response to COVID-19 can be found on the ICA website. Information on the SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration can be found here.

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