How to Complete Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC): A Step-by-Step Guide

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What is Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)?

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is an online pre-approval form that replaces the paper-based arrival card. The MDAC is intended to simplify the entry process at the border. 

MDAC went into effect on 1 January 2024. Since then, all foreigners entering Malaysia are required to complete this digital arrival card. 

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Who is required to submit MDAC?

All foreigners traveling to Malaysia MUST submit MDAC.

Tourists: REQUIRED

Tourists traveling to Malaysia on Visa Exemption, Visa on Arrival, eVisa and TWOV are REQUIRED to submit MDAC before arrival. 

If you are a tourist and will clear immigration at any Malaysian airport, land border, or seaport, you must submit MDAC before arrival. 

If you are a tourist but aren’t sure whether you need a visa to enter Malaysia, check out this Malaysia Visa Guide to learn about visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.

Transit Passengers: NOT REQUIRED

Transit passengers staying airside (not clearing immigration) are NOT REQUIRED to submit MDAC

Transiting in Kuala Lumpur International Airport: 

In Kuala Lumpur International Airport, there are two terminals: KLIA 1 and KLIA 2. These two terminals are not connected airside. 

To transfer between these two terminals, you must pass immigration, claim bags, exit the airport and take a shuttle bus. 

If your flight arrives and departs from the same terminal (either KLIA1 or KLIA2), you will not pass immigration and therefore, you are NOT required to submit MDAC. 

If your flight arrives and departs from different terminals, you will pass immigration and therefore you are REQUIRED to submit MDAC. 

Others: NOT REQUIRED

The following are not required to submit MDAC when traveling to Malaysia. 

1. Singapore citizens
2. Malaysian Permanent Residents
3. Malaysian Long-Term-Pass holders
4. Foreigners holding Diplomatic and Official Passports
5. Brunei citizens holding General Certificate of Identity (GCI) 
6. Brunei citizens holding the Brunei Malaysia Frequent Travellers Programme (BMFTP)
7. Malaysia-Thailand Border Pass holders
8. Malaysia-Indonesia Cross-Border Travel Document Holders 

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When do you have to submit MDAC?

You must complete and submit MDAC within 3 days before arrival in Malaysia. 

The day of submission and the day of travel are included in these 3 days. For example, if your arrival date is Oct 3, you must submit your MDAC on Oct 1, Oct 2, or Oct 3 before arrival in Malaysia.

Keep in mind that you will have less than 3 days to submit your MDAC if you arrive in Malaysia early in the morning or have a long flight. Do not delay and submit your MDAC as soon as you are within the 3-day window. 

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Note of caution on scam MDAC websites

Submitting MDAC online is FREE of charge.

MDAC is just an arrival card. It is not a visa. Websites saying MDAC is a visa or asking you to pay for completing MDAC are SCAM websites.

Scam websites are showing up on the first page of Google search. Some of these websites are charging upwards of 80 USD to complete MDAC. Please do not fall prey to such scam websites.

The ONLY official Malaysian government website for MDAC is https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Any other website is a scam. 

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How to complete and submit MDAC?

Follow the steps below to complete and submit MDAC. 

Step 1: Start

• Navigate to the Official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card website
• If you see an announcements popup, read through the announcements and close it
• Click on the orange “REGISTER” button

Step 2: Registration

SECTION: Personal Information

• Name [Instruction: Enter your name as shown in your passport. Enter your first name followed by your last name]
• Passport No. [Instruction: Enter your passport number]
• Nationality/Citizenship [Instruction: Enter your nationality as per your passport]
• Date of Birth [Instruction: Enter your date of birth as per your passport]
• Sex [Instruction: Enter your gender]
• Date of Passport Expiry [Instruction: Enter your passport expiry date]
• Email Address [Instruction: Enter your email address where you would like to receive MDAC acknowledgment]
• Confirm Email Address [Instruction: Reenter your email address]
• Country/Region Code [Instruction: Enter the country code for your mobile phone number]
• Mobile No. [Instruction: Enter your mobile phone number]
• Confirm Country/Region Code [Instruction: Re-enter the country code for your mobile phone number]
• Confirm Mobile No. [Instruction: Re-enter your mobile phone number]

NOTE: If you have a middle name, enter your first name followed by the middle name and last name separated by a space. Example: First name: John, Middle name: Henry, Last name: Doe, then enter “John Henry Doe” in the Name field. 

SECTION: Traveling Information

• Date of Arrival [Instruction: Enter your date of arrival in Malaysia]
• Mode of Travel [Instruction: Select your mode of travel from the options]
  • AIR
  • LAND
  • SEA
• Date of Departure [Instruction: Enter your date of departure from Malaysia]
• Last Port of Embarkation before Malaysia  [Instruction: Enter the country you will travel from]
• Flight / Vessel / Transportation No. [Instruction: Enter the flight number (if flying) or car number plate (if driving)]
• Accommodation of Stay [Instruction: Select the accommodation type from the options]
  • HOTEL/MOTEL/REST HOUSE
  • RESIDENCE OF FRIENDS/RELATIVES
  • OTHER
• Address (In Malaysia) [Instruction: Enter your accommodation address in Malaysia]
• State [Instruction: Select the state of your accommodation]
• City [Instruction: Select the city of your accommodation]
• Postcode [Instruction: Select the postal code of your accommodation]

Click on the “SUBMIT” button.

Step 3: Submission Successful

A successfully registered message will be displayed.

You will also receive an email acknowledgment that you have successfully submitted your MDAC.

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How to check and download the submitted MDAC?

Step 1: Start

• Navigate to the Official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card website
• If you see an announcements popup, read through the announcements and close it
• Click on the “CHECK REGISTRATION” button from the top menu bar

Step 2: Search

• Passport No. [Instruction: Enter your passport number]
• Nationality/Citizenship [Instruction: Enter your nationality as per your passport]
• PIN [Instruction: Enter the PIN received in your MDAC acknowledgment email]

Check the “I’m not a robot” box and click on the “SUBMIT” button

Step 3: View MDAC

Your submitted personal and travel information will be displayed. You can only view these details. You cannot change them. 

If you need to change any of these details, you will have to submit a new one. 

Step 4: Download

You can click on the PDF icon within “Traveling Information” to download your submitted MDAC. 

Showing the email acknowledgment or the downloaded PDF of the submitted MDAC is not required for check-in or immigration in Malaysia. 

Your submitted MDAC is linked to your passport. Malaysian Immigration can see whether you have submitted MDAC or not by scanning your passport. 

Immigration will not see an MDAC associated with your passport if you haven’t or have forgotten to submit one. They will ask you to submit your MDAC and come back. If you have WiFi, you can submit your MDAC on your smartphone and join the immigration line.  

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How to check the Malaysia Visit Pass?

After you have entered or left Malaysia, a Visit Pass is generated, which you can view using the same MDAC website.

Follow the steps below to view your Visit Pass. 

Step 1: Start

• Navigate to the Official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card portal
• If you see an announcements popup, read through the announcements and close it
• Click on the “CHECK VISIT PASS” button in the top menu bar

Step 2: Search

• Passport Number [Instruction: Enter your passport number]
• Nationality/Citizenship [Instruction: Enter your nationality as per your passport]
• Email Address [Instruction: Enter your email address used to submit MDAC]
• Country/Region Code [Instruction: Enter the country code of the mobile phone number you have mentioned in your MDAC]
• Mobile Number [Instruction: Enter the mobile phone number you have mentioned in your MDAC]
• PIN [Instruction: Enter the PIN received in your MDAC acknowledgment email]

Check the box for “I’m not a robot” and click on the “SUBMIT” button.

Step 3: View Visit Pass

Your entry and exit information will be displayed. This information is only for your records. There is no practical usage of this information. Also, only the last 3 months’ information is displayed. So if you search for the visit pass after 3 months of your trip, you may not see any information. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I also need to complete MDAC when departing from Malaysia?

No. MDAC is not required for departure from Malaysia. MDAC is an “arrival” card, so you must complete it only before arrival. 

Do I need to print MDAC?

No. You don’t have to print your submitted MDAC. Your submitted MDAC is linked to your passport. When the immigration scans your passport, they will see that you have already submitted your MDAC. 

The airline check-in staff may ask you if you have submitted MDAC. If they ask for proof, you can show your email acknowledgment or the downloaded PDF on your smartphone. 

Can I submit MDAC at the airport on arrival?

Yes. You can submit MDAC at the airport on arrival if you have access to the internet. That said, the airline staff may not allow you to board the flight if you haven’t submitted your MDAC. 

Can I edit an already submitted MDAC?

No. Editing an already submitted MDAC is not possible. If you need to change any information, you must submit a new one. 

What if I made a mistake?

If you have made a mistake in your submitted MDAC, you must complete and submit a new one. 

What if my travel dates changed?

If your travel dates have changed, you must complete and submit a new MDAC.

What if I cannot travel?

You cannot delete an already submitted MDAC. If you can’t travel, you can simply ignore/abandon your submitted MDAC. 

What if I’m traveling as a family or group?

MDAC is linked to an individual’s passport. Therefore, each person must submit one MDAC. 

If you are a family of 5, then each person in your family must submit their own individual MDAC.

What if I’m traveling with children?

Children are also required to complete MDAC. Parents can complete the MDAC for children on their behalf.