How to Enter Malaysia ? Quick Answers
- Do I need special permission to enter Malaysia? Only if you hold a passport that is included in this list. If you are a citizen of the countries listed at the bottom of this page, you are required to present a yellow fever certificate as well.
- Do I need a visa to enter Malaysia? Apart from the 38 countries listed above, all other travellers are visa-exempt.
- Do I need proof of onward travel? While this is not a legal requirement, the immigration officer reserves the right to check. Read more about onward travel out of Malaysia here.
- Do I need proof of COVID-19 vaccination? No, travellers do not need
- to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
- Do I need travel insurance? No, but visitors are strongly advised to have it. Read about popular travel insurers here.
Malaysia Visa Summary
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Malaysia offers visa exemption for the vast majority of passport holders for up to 90 days. This period cannot be extended so if you find it too hard to say goodbye to Malaysia, you can obtain a new visa by leaving and re-entering the country on a border run.
Citizens of Israel and North Korea have to apply for a visa through the Ministry of Home Affairs, Malaysia.
If you are a citizen of one of the 38 countries that are not visa-exempt, be mindful that your visa could come with additional requirements, such as only entering the country by air or being able to show proof of a yellow fever certificate.
Malaysia: COVID-19 Requirements
COVID-19 Vaccination Status
- Vaccinated travellers: Proof of vaccination is no longer required.
- Non-vaccinated travellers: Proof of vaccination is no longer required.
Entry Requirements & Documents
- A passport with six months validity and a minimum of one blank page
- A valid visa (if applicable)
- Yellow fever certificate (if applicable)
Travel Insurance Requirements
- Insurance is not a requirement for foreigners to enter Malaysia. However, in case of emergencies, travel insurance is a good idea for visitors.
Are you covered?
Members of our Southeast Asia Backpacker Community choose SafetyWing, World Nomads and TrueTraveller as their favourite travel insurers!
Malaysia: Visa Exemption
The majority of passport holders are visa exempt. If your country is not listed here, you are free to enter Malaysia without a visa. A maximum of 90 days is permitted without the right to extend.
Malaysia: Type of Visas
Single Entry: (Non-Electronic)
- What is a Single-Entry Visa (Non-Electronic)? This single-entry visa is for passport holders that are not visa-exempt and who are not eligible to apply online. It is valid for 14-30 days depending on your citizenship (listed countries here) without the option to extend. Only social/leisure visits are allowed on this visa.
- How to apply: Through the nearest consulate/embassy.
- Cost: There are two charges. A processing charge of RM 105 and then the actual fee for the visa, depending on your nationality. Visa fees can be viewed here. Please note: if your country is not listed, you’re required to pay RM 20. (Subject to change.)
What do you need to apply?
- A current passport with six months validity and a minimum of one blank page
- Passport-sized studio photo
- Proof of return ticket
- Birth certificate (minor applicants only)
- Proof of paid accommodation
- Other supporting documents
eVisa (Single & Multi-Entry):
- What is an eVisa? A single or multi-entry visa that is valid for 3 months and 12 months respectively. Each entry allows travellers to stay in Malaysia for up to 14 or 30 days depending on your citizenship. The visa can also be used for the purposes of studying, employment and medical treatment.
- How to apply: You can apply online (official website here) or at the nearest embassy/consulate.
- Cost: There are two charges for this visa. A processing charge of RM 105 and then the actual fee for the visa depending on your nationality. Visa fees can be viewed here. Please note, if you are from a country that is not listed, you need to pay an additional RM 20. (Subject to change.)
What do you need to apply?
- A current passport with six months validity and a minimum of one blank page
- Passport-sized studio photo
- Confirmed return ticket
- Birth certificate (minor applicants only)
- Proof of paid accommodation
- Other supporting documents
- Letter of Invitation from a local entity (applicable for those who apply for a Multi-Entry Visa [MEV])
Good to know!
Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo may be one country but some laws still differ between them. This is especially true in Sarawak, which is considered the most ‘sovereign’ part of Malaysia. When you enter the country (for most people, this will likely be in Kuala Lumpur, Peninsular Malaysia), you will get the 90-day visa exemption. If you then choose to travel to Sarawak, your passport will be stamped again. This stamp says “entered Sarawak on (date)”. Bear in mind that this is NOT a new 90-day stamp into the country. The duration of your stay is based on the stamp you received when you first arrived in Malaysia. If you want to extend your stay (let’s face it, you could spend three months in Borneo alone!), you’ll need to do a visa run.
Malaysia: Extending your Visa
In Malaysia, visas will only be extended in exceptional circumstances, such as for business. Permission to stay longer in Malaysia may be granted through the immigration office/embassy/consulate in Malaysia. All other travellers must leave Malaysia by the date shown on their entry stamp/visa.
Border Runs from Malaysia
If your time in Malaysia is coming to an end, you may want to do a ‘border run’. There are several border crossings close to Malaysia.
Read more about border runs and how to arrange them here.
Borneo Visa Runs!
From Borneo, you can only cross borders via air or by bus from Kuching to West Kalimantan (Indonesia). Keep in mind that the latter hasn’t been running frequently since COVID-19.
How many times can you re-enter Malaysia via a border run? Currently, there is no law against border runs. You can attempt this process as often as you need, so long as you follow the local immigration laws and do not overstay or misuse your visa.
Malaysia: Overstaying your Visa
Penalties for Overstaying in Malaysia
Overstaying a visa in any country is a serious offence and Malaysia is no different. From fines to detention and a ban on future entry, it is highly advisable to leave Malaysia by the date shown on your visa.
If you end up overstaying, below are the official penalties, as outlined on the immigration website. Please note, these can change at any time. Depending on the officer that is responsible for your case, they could also vary in practice!
- A fine not exceeding RM 10,000 and/or the following…
- Imprisonment not exceeding five years
- A compound of RM 3,000
Louis Wilhelm
Life on Earth has way too many facets and adventures readily available to be wasting time working in an office 50 hours a week! With this mindset, Louis eventually quit his poor work/life balance job and headed off to Southeast Asia. Passionate about languages, wildlife and the beauty of this planet, he has been on the road ever since. Taking notes on his journey to support like-minded people on similar adventures and also capturing amazing memories with his camera, has become the missing piece of the puzzle.
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