A Malaysia tourist visa is required for non-visa-exempt nationals traveling to Malaysia. These nationalities are also eligible for eVisa, which is easier, faster and straightforward. But if you decide to apply for a tourist visa at your nearby Malaysian embassy, this article will help you with the required documents and application process.
QUICK SUMMARY:
- Required for: 33 countries
- Allowed stay: 30 days
- Validity: 6 months
- Entries: Single or multiple
- Visa fee: Varies
- Extensions: Not allowed
If you haven’t already, read the Malaysia Visa Guide for information on various visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Malaysia Tourist Visa
Tourist visa validity
The Malaysia tourist visa is valid for 6 months, regardless of whether it is a single or multiple entry.
Duration of stay
The allowed duration of stay for Malaysia tourist visa is 30 days for each entry.
Allowed number of entries
It depends if you plan to apply for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. Single-entry visas are only valid for 1 entry. With a multiple-entry visa, you can enter Malaysia as many times as you want.
Allowed ports of entry
With a Malaysian tourist visa, you can arrive through any international border. Some countries are required to arrive via air only.
When to apply
You can apply for your Malaysia tourist visa up to
Tourist visa extension
Extensions are generally not allowed although one may be granted under extenuating circumstances like illness, accident, war in home country, etc. You must produce evidence and present a confirmed return ticket to your home country or a third country.
You must apply for extensions in person at an immigration department and supply the following:
- Your passport
- Form IMM.55
- Supporting documents (if relevant)
- Confirmed ticket to home country or a visa and ticket to a third country
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Malaysia Tourist Visa Requirements
Who requires a tourist visa
The following countries require a tourist visa from the embassy to travel to Malaysia.
- Afghanistan
- Angola (A)
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso (A)
- Burundi (A)
- Cameroon (A)
- Central African Republic
- China*
- Colombia (A)
- Congo, Dem. Rep. of (A)
- Congo, Rep. of
- Djibouti (A)
- Equatorial Guinea (A)
- Eritrea (A)
- Ethiopia (A)
- Ghana (A)
- Guinea Bissau (A)
- India*
- Ivory Coast (A)
- Kosovo
- Liberia (A)
- Mali
- Montenegro
- Mozambique (A)
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niger (A)
- Nigeria (A)
- Pakistan
- Rwanda (A)
- Serbia
- Sri Lanka
*India and China are temporarily visa-exempt until 31 December 2024.
(A) The countries marked with (A) must arrive in Malaysia by air.
The above 33 countries are also eligible to apply for Malaysia eVisa, which is a much easier visa option. Malaysian embassies usually refer applicants to eVisa where available.
India and China passport holders are also eligible for Malaysia Visa on Arrival and TWOV.
North Korean and Israeli passport holders can only obtain the visa with special permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia. It is nearly impossible for North Koreans and Israelis to travel to Malaysia as tourists.
Documents required
The following documents are required for Malaysia tourist visa.
- Original passport
- 2 photocopies of passport biodata page
- 2 photocopies of the completed visa application form (Form IMM.47)
- 2 passport-size photographs
- Proof of round-trip flight tickets
- Proof of paid accommodation
- Bank statement
- Invitation letter (if any)
Other documents may be required on an individual basis.
Passport requirement
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when entering Malaysia. Your passport must also have at least 2 blank pages for visa sticker and stamps.
Visa application form
The visa application form is available at the embassy or consulate or you can also download it online. You must print the visa application on two sides of an A4 sheet.
Photo requirements
The passport-size photograph must meet the following requirements.
- Must be in color on a white background without frames or borders
- Must be of size 3.5 cm x 5 cm
- Must be of high quality with no ink marks, staple marks or creases
- Scanned copies or photocopies are not accepted
- Head and top of the shoulders must be visible with the face taking up 60%-70% of the photograph.
- Face must have a neutral expression with the mouth closed
- Must not have caps, hats, or headgear, unless for religious reasons (the whole face must be visible, including the chin, nose, eyes, and eyebrows)
Tourist visa fee
The tourist visa fee depends on the nationality. It’s between 13 and 50 MYR.
| Nationality | Visa Fee |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 20 MYR |
| Angola | 20 MYR |
| Bangladesh | 20 MYR |
| Bhutan | 20 MYR |
| Burkina Faso | 20 MYR |
| Burundi | 20 MYR |
| Cameroon | 20 MYR |
| Central African Republic | 20 MYR |
| China | 30 MYR |
| Colombia | 20 MYR |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. of | 20 MYR |
| Congo, Rep. ofDjibouti | 20 MYR |
| Equatorial Guinea | 20 MYR |
| Eritrea | 20 MYR |
| Ethiopia | 20 MYR |
| Ghana | 20 MYR |
| Guinea Bissau | 20 MYR |
| India | 50 MYR |
| Ivory Coast | 20 MYR |
| Kosovo | 20 MYR |
| Liberia | 13 MYR |
| Mali | 20 MYR |
| Montenegro | 20 MYR |
| Mozambique | 20 MYR |
| Myanmar | 20 MYR |
| Nepal | 20 MYR |
| Niger | 20 MYR |
| Nigeria | 20 MYR |
| Pakistan | 20 MYR |
| Rwanda | 20 MYR |
| Serbia | 20 MYR |
| Sri Lanka | 15 MYR |
Processing time
The processing time depends on the embassy/consulate where you are applying from. In most cases, it’s 4-5 working days.
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Tourist Visa Application Process
Begin by gathering the required documents and checking with the nearest Malaysian embassy.
Some embassies only accept submissions through approved Malaysia Visa Application Centres (Malaysia VACs). This will add more to the total visa fees but will make the process somewhat easier. You will have to find the list of approved VACs and then contact one to start the application.
Either the embassy or the VAC will inform you about the next steps.
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Entry Procedure at the Border
Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online up to 3 days before your arrival.
At immigration, present the following documents to the officer.
- Original passport with a validity of at least 6 months
- Valid Malaysia tourist visa in your passport
You may be asked to show additional documents, such as:
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Proof of accommodation booking
You may also be asked to show the completed MDAC code on your phone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum bank account balance required for a Malaysian visa?
Malaysian embassies usually don’t state a minimum amount but aim to have at least a 500 USD balance on the bank statement you submit.
Can I get a Malaysia visa online?
Yes. Malaysia offers eVisa to non-visa-exempt nationalities. The eVisa process is easier and can be applied from anywhere in the world. The eVisa issued is identical in parameters to the tourist visa from the embassy.
