Detailed instructions for acquiring a visa for Malaysia

Foreign nationals from countries that require visas and who want to enter Malaysia are issued a Malaysia visa.

Only Malaysia is accessible with a Malaysian visa, and border procedures must be completed upon entry.
As a result, obtaining a visa does not ensure that you will be able to stay in Malaysia for any reason.
Whether or not you are allowed to enter Malaysia is a decision made by the immigration officer at the entry point.

Every foreign visitor will receive a Pass from the immigration official at the entry point.
A Malaysia Pass is an endorsement in your passport that specifies how long you are permitted to stay in the nation.
Even though you are exempt from needing a visa for Malaysia before travelling, you will still get a Pass in your passport and have to go through immigration at the entrance point. 

As a result, obtaining a Malaysia visa is merely a pre-entry requirement; you must first obtain the immigration officer’s approval before entering. 

Do I Need to Get a Visa Before Going to Malaysia?

You must apply for a visa in order to travel to Malaysia if you are from a nation that is not excluded from this need.

However, citizens of a number of nations are exempt from obtaining a visa to enter Malaysia for limited periods of time.
However, you will need to apply for a visa if your trip will be longer than the permitted amount of time without a visa.

For example, if you are a citizen of a member state of the European Union or from the USA, you don’t need to get a visa if you only intend to stay in Malaysia for a maximum of 90 days. But if you intend to stay for longer than 90 days, you do need to apply for a Malaysia visa, or the appropriate Pass related to your travel (work, study, family reunification etc).

When to Apply for a Malaysian Visa?

You can apply for a Malaysian visa up to 1 month before the date you intend to travel.

How to Apply for Malaysia visa?

There are 2 methods through which foreign nationals can apply for a Malaysia visa:

However, Malaysia only offers the online Malaysia visa application option to a handful of countries (see below). Most visa-subject nationals have to apply at a Malaysian Representative Office Abroad or through an authorized visa application agency.

Who can submit a Malaysian visa application online?

Certain foreign nationals have the option of applying for a visa online through the Malaysia eVisa, according to Malaysian authorities.
If your application for a Malaysian eVisa is accepted, you will be given a link to print out your visa; it won’t be placed as a sticker on your passport. 

You can only apply for a Malaysia visa online if you are a national of the following countries:

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

Additionally, Indian and Chinese nationals are eligible for the eNTRI (Electronic Travel Registration and Information).

If you are a national of the above-mentioned countries, you can learn more about the Malaysia visa online application here.

Online Malaysia visa applications have been available to nationals of a select few nations since 2017.

Malaysia now offers two online methods for applying for visas: Malaysia eVisa and Electronic Travel Registration and Information (Malaysia eNTRI visa).

Since you can apply from home and skip all the line-waiting, the Malaysia Online Visa streamlines the application procedure.
However, not everyone can apply for a Malaysian visa online.

Receiving the Malaysia eVisa

If your Malaysian eVisa is approved, you will receive it via email. Then, you can print it on an A4 page and bring it with you when you travel to Malaysia.

The Immigration Officers will also accept the digital version of the visa (such as on your phone or laptop) when you arrive at the Malaysian port of entry. However, it is still advisable to have a printed version as well.

 

How Long is the Malaysia eVisa Valid For?

An eVisa for Malaysia is valid for three months, and allows the holder to stay in the country only up to 30 days within this time frame.

If you are an Indian national, you can apply for either a Multiple Entry Visa or a Single Entry Visa. The eVisa is still valid for three months and you cannot stay longer than 30 days in any trip.

If you are from any of the other countries eligible for the Malaysian eVisa, you are only allowed to apply for a Single Entry Visa and stay up to 30 days.

In either case, it is not possible to extend a Malaysian eVisa.

How Can I Enter Malaysia if I am an eVisa Holder?

If you have a Malaysian eVisa, you can enter the country through any entry point (sea, air, or land).

Who is Eligible for a Malaysia eNTRI Visa?

eNTRI, which stands for Electronic Travel Registration and Information, is an online registration facility available only to nationals of China and India.

The eNTRI Malaysia works under the Visa Waiver Programme, making it easier for passport-holders of those two countries to enter Malaysia.

Please note that only mainland Chinese nationals are eligible for the Malaysia eNTRI – Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are excluded.

Additionally, you can apply for the eNTRI from anywhere in the world (except Singapore and Malaysia), therefore you are eligible even if you are an expatriate.

How to Apply for a Malaysia eNTRI Visa?

To obtain an eNTRI visa for Malaysia, you should follow these steps:

  1. Access the online visa facility.
  2. Create your account.
  3. Print the eNTRI Note.

Access the online visa facility

You can submit a Malaysia eNTRI visa application through www.malaysiavisa.org.my

Create your account

You have to create an account by clicking on the “I’m New” option and filling in your information once you are redirected to the registration page.

Print the eNTRI Note

After you register, you must print the eNTRI Note which serves like a visa, allowing you to travel to Malaysia.

However, unlike with the Malaysian eVisa, you cannot apply for an eNTRI at any time you want. You must wait at least three months from the last time you entered Malaysia with an eNTRI before you can apply for another one.

 

How Can I Enter Malaysia if I Have an eNTRI Visa?

If you are a Malaysia eNTRI visa holder, you can enter by one of the following entry points:

If travelling by air:

  • Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah
  • Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang (KLIA and KLIA 2)
  • Kuching International Airport, Sarawak
  • Labuan International Airport, Sabah
  • Langkawi International Airport, Kedah
  • Melaka International Airport, Melaka
  • Miri International Airport, Sarawak
  • Penang International Airport, Pulau Pinang
  • Senai International Airport, Johor

If travelling by land:

  • Bukit Kayu Hitam Checkpoint, Kedah
  • Padang Besar Checkpoint, Perlis
  • Sultan Abu Bakar Checkpoint, Johor
  • Sultan Iskandar Building Immigration Checkpoint, Johor
  • Sungai Tujuh Immigration Checkpoint, Sarawak
  • Tedungan Immigration Checkpoint, Sarawak

 

How Long is a Malaysia eNTRI Visa Valid for?

You can only stay in Malaysia for up to 15 days with an eNTRI and you can only enter the country once. You cannot apply for an extension of your eNTRI visa.

If you want to stay for longer than 15 days, you will have to apply for a Malaysian eVISA as described above.

 

Will I be Allowed to Enter Malaysia With a Malaysian Online Visa?

No, the online visa serves like any other visa in regards to the fact that it does not guarantee entry to Malaysia.

It only allows the holder to travel to Malaysia, where they will present themselves at the Immigration Officers at the point of entry.

The Immigration Officer then decides whether you are eligible to enter the country or not – if you are granted permission, you will receive a Stamp on your passport which states the number of days you are allowed to stay.

 

What Will You Need After You Arrive in Malaysia?

Once you arrive in Malaysia, you must go through border control at the point of entry, where you must present the following documents to the Immigration Officers:

  • Your eVisa / eNTRi printout.
  • Your boarding pass.
  • Your valid passport.
  • Proof of accommodation, such as hotel booking.
  • A booked return flight ticket.
  • Sufficient funds to cover the duration of your stay