MalaysiaVisits and short stays

Malaysia tourist visa and visa-free social visit pass

Short Term Social Visit Pass (visa-free entry for tourism)

In short

Most visitors do not apply for a tourist visa in advance: the immigration officer stamps a Short Term Social Visit Pass on arrival. Only nationalities on the Immigration Department list need an eVISA first. Everyone except a few exempt groups must file the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within three days before arrival.

checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Set by the immigration officer at entry; the usual period depends on nationality.
Fee
MYR 0No fee for the visa-free social visit pass or the MDAC. Visa-required nationals pay eVISA charges instead.
Processing time
Granted at the border on arrival.
Work
No paid work. Business meetings, conferences and similar short activities are allowed.
Family
Each family member enters on their own pass and files their own MDAC.
Where to apply
No application; pass issued at the immigration counter (MDAC filed online beforehand).

Who can enter Malaysia without a visa

The Immigration Department of Malaysia publishes a single list of nationalities that must hold a visa before travelling. It includes, among others, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Colombia, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia, Montenegro, Sri Lanka and a group of African states that may enter by air only; India is exempt until 31 December 2026. Nationals of countries not on that list receive a social visit pass at the border without applying beforehand.

ASEAN citizens other than Myanmar nationals need no visa for stays under one month. For longer stays they need a visa, except Bruneians and Singaporeans. For other nationalities the usual visa-free period differs by country and is shown in the entry requirement tables of Malaysian missions; the final decision rests with the immigration officer at the entry point.

What the pass covers

The Short Term Social Visit Pass is issued for tourism, visiting relatives, journalism, meetings and conferences, business discussions, factory inspections, auditing accounts, signing agreements, surveying investment opportunities, seminars, exams or goodwill missions by students, and sports competitions. Paid employment, freelance work for Malaysian clients and long courses require a different pass.

Your passport must be valid for more than six months on the day you enter. Travellers arriving from countries with yellow fever risk must show a vaccination certificate.

What to carry at the border

Officers can ask for a confirmed return or onward ticket, an address in Malaysia and proof that you can pay for the stay. The MDAC confirmation should be ready on your phone or printed. Cash or bearer instruments above the equivalent of USD 10,000 must be declared to customs.

Required documents

Travel

  • Passport valid for more than six months from the date of entry
  • Confirmed return or onward ticket

Other

  • MDAC registration completed within three days before arrival

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Money

  • Proof of funds such as a recent bank statement or credit card

Insurance

  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a risk country

Other

  • Hotel booking or the address of your hosts in Malaysia

Sabah, Sarawak and other practical points

Sabah and Sarawak run their own immigration control, so travellers flying there from Peninsular Malaysia pass a second check and receive a separate entry record. Check the end date of your pass and leave before it expires; overstaying is an offence under the Immigration Act.

Extending a social visit

Extensions are exceptional. The Immigration Department considers them on special grounds such as illness, an accident or war in the home country. You apply in person with your passport, form IMM.55, supporting evidence and a confirmed ticket home or to a third country you may enter. A tourist pass cannot be converted into a work, nomad or student pass inside Malaysia.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Check that your nationality is not on the visa-required list and that your passport has more than six months left.
  2. Within the three days before you land, file the MDAC on the Immigration Department site or the MyNIISe app.
  3. At the counter, present your passport, MDAC confirmation and, if asked, your return ticket and accommodation details.
  4. Check the permitted stay recorded for you and plan your departure before it ends.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Which nationalities need a visa for Malaysia?

Those on the Immigration Department's visa-required list, which includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, Colombia, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia, Montenegro, Sri Lanka and a group of African states; India is exempt until 31 December 2026. All other visitors receive a social visit pass on arrival, and the MDAC is compulsory for almost everyone.

Can I attend business meetings on a tourist entry?

Yes. The social visit pass explicitly covers meetings, conferences, business discussions, signing agreements and investment surveys, but not paid work.

Can I extend my stay as a tourist?

Only on special grounds such as illness, accident or war at home, by applying in person with form IMM.55 and a confirmed onward ticket.

Is the MDAC a visa?

No. It is a free arrival declaration. It does not replace a visa for nationalities that need one, and it does not guarantee entry.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Malaysia

Visits and short stays

  • Transit visa Processing time: Set by the Malaysian mission where you apply; apply at least three working days before the flight.

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Social visit pass: as stamped at entry. MEV: 30 days per entry.
  • Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: New: 1 year plus 1 renewal. Established: up to 5 years plus one 5-year renewal.
  • Investor visa Maximum stay: Six months, with a possible six-month extension.

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Pass duration follows the course, renewed as needed.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Each pass up to 60 months, following the employment contract; total tenure up to 10 years (Categories I and II) or 5 years (Category III).
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months per issuance; training at a factory or hotel up to six months.
  • Skilled worker visa Validity: Approved for 10 years; the ePASS is first issued for five years or the passport validity, then renewed to complete 10 years.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: 3 to 12 months, renewable for 12 more months; 24 months in total.

Family

  • Family reunification visa Validity: Follows the principal's Employment Pass, or the dependant's passport if shorter; LT-SVP approvals are for up to 12 months at a time.
  • Spouse and partner visa Validity: LTSVP for at least six months and up to five years, subject to approval.

Residence

Online travel permits

Protection

Malaysia visa guide