Here is how to obtain the Malaysia e-visa and the documents needed to undergo the immigration process at the border. I have included application fees, visa-exempt countries, and also about e-visa extensions for both Indians and other nationalities.

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Malaysia’s geographical vastness allows it to profess beyond its inland; into fragmented islands that covet a vibrant marine richness in the ocean. The whole of this South-East Asian country is bifurcated into two major landmasses – Malaysian Peninsula and Peninsular Borneo, escorted by isolated dotted islands giving the Malay Map a curious shape.

If every other thing effaces your mind, just remember that Malay cuisine is really what they say – delicious and diverse, although highly fluctuated in a mash-up of multiple South-East Asian cuisines! Malay culture, be it food or wedding customs, has a varied inspiration from the Indian, Chinese (especially Peranakan or Baba Nyonya) and Malay sub-cultures; and with the tide of time the food expedition has been flanked by a portable cultural crossover.

In this article, I will go behind the process of obtaining the Malaysia e-visa, and the documents required to clear the customs, with a little overview on currency and SIM card. Without further ado, let’s hit the road!

Language Spoken: Malay

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Currency: Ringgit (MYR)

Documents Required to Get the Malaysia E-Visa

E-visa is the digital application platform that enables foreign nationals to apply for a permit to cross into the interiors of the country. According to the official portal of “The Immigration Department”, all countries except for Israel and South Korea, are eligible to apply for a Malaysian e-visa. You can apply here. Here are the scanned documents you have to submit along with the application:

• Passport-sized photograph
• A soft copy of your passport
• Confirmed onward ticket
• For minor applicants, you may also have to provide a Birth Certificate

However, two types of visas are generally issued by the Malaysian government – Single-Entry and Multiple-Entry.

Single-Entry

This is the entry document that I will elaborate on soon; the standard one that allows you 30 or 90 days in this country, as applicable as per your nationality.

Multiple-Entry

According to their official website, this entry permit is primarily for business or government-to-government matters. The validity period lies somewhat between 3 to 12 months from the date of issue. As you can enter the country multiple times, each entry is restricted to 30 days without the scope for an extension. To apply for a multiple-entry visa, you are expected to show proof of sufficient funds and a valid return ticket. Only tour groups are not eligible to apply for this.

Additionally, a Transit Visa is, of course, the permit required in case you are in transit, through Malaysia, to other countries. For Malaysia, you do not require a Transit Permit as long as you don’t leave the airport premises and continue with your journey on to the next outbound flight.

These regulations are ever-changing, and it’s pointless to state the logistics for each and every country; the information being administratively volatile; like, for residents of Israel, visas are required, and also permission must be granted from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Over time this may change and it’s good practice to keep yourself updated on the current changes.

Documents Needed to Clear Immigration at the Checkpoints

1. The Documents You Officially Need

Like most countries in the world, at immigration, you are expected to carry the following documents:

• A copy of your visa (if applicable)
• A copy of your passport with a six-month validity
• Sufficient proof of funds
• Onward ticket
• Hotel reservations
• Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)
• Boarding Pass

In case you don’t know what an onward ticket is, it’s a return ticket, either directing you to your own country, or any other destination; basically a ticket that ensures your liabilities around leaving the country in due time, without overstaying the given time frame. And this is possibly the only document that they will actually ask for.

Nevertheless, it is always better to keep all the documents under your sleeves, just to be on the safe and secure side. There’s no limit to the ‘Sufficient Fund’, as they term it, but a moderately substantial amount that can cover your expenses in Malaysia should very well do.

As soon as your e-visa application gets confirmed, you are likely to receive an email from the High Commission/Embassy/Consulate General with the confirmation and the fill-out form for the Arrival Card. Once you fill it in, again, in a few hours, they will send an email with a digital copy of all the details you provided for the MDAC.

It’s better to take printouts of all your documents, because in some countries, they only look at the physical copies, not the soft copies. That happened to me while exiting India for Sri Lanka.

2. What I Was Actually Asked for As An Indian

The short answer is, nothing; not even for the Arrival Card. The immigration officer was really smushy and sweet as honey; we even chatted away at Kuala Lumpur Airport over travelling as a woman and her desires to save up enough money to travel. The only question I was asked was, ‘You are going on a vacation, right?’ I even shared with her how I work and travel together, more like a ‘digital nomad’, not really like a vacationer. And she could only be delighted. She took my passport and stamped it, with a snap of the fingers, without any questions, but with a pleasant welcome smile.

So the immigration went well, I would say.

Updated on August 2024: I entered Malaysia for the second time through the Padang Besar land border with Thailand. I was not asked for anything but my passport this time as well. But as an Indian passport holder, I am often taken to the ‘special room’ whenever I cross by land (not at the airport). This time too I was asked additional questions such as how many days, my purpose of travelling and my profession. But I wasn’t asked for any extra document. They just like to waste my time (perks of having an Indian passport). I actually have a funny story for this particular border crossing, but maybe I will tell you some other time.

Read more – How to Cross the Malaysia-Thailand Land Border by Train

Do Indians Need A Visa for Malaysia?

No, the Indian passport-holders are eligible for visa-free entry up to 30 days within the time interval of 1st December 2023 to 31st December 2024. The same Exemption Policy was set up for the Chinese Nationalities to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations. Further along, ‘In June, Malaysia agreed to extend its visa exemption for Chinese tourists until the end of 2026, according to a joint statement between the two countries’, as per VN Express’ new reports.

How Long Can You Stay in Malaysia on A Tourist Visa?

While the Indian and Chinese Nationalities can stay for a month in Malaysia; the citizens of the UK, most European countries, Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand get up to 90 days. Only Greece and Portugal citizens get a 30-day stay.

Of course, the rest of South-East Asia doesn’t need a visa to enter this country, except for Myanmar, and that includes countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, and others.

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No, the Indian passport-holders are eligible for visa-free entry up to 30 days within the time interval of 1st December 2023 to 31st December 2024.

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Again, mind that the requirements are subject to admiral changes, and it’s always better to stay up-to-date with the recent changes. The official website sometimes is not readily updated, so do a bit of research around more recent updates specific to your Nationality.

Malaysia Tourist E-Visa Fees (For Indians & Others)

You can check your respective country-fees on their official website. The fee varies often between 10 RM and 30 RM. For some countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, or Portugal, it can also be less than 10 RM. Indians do not need a permit till the end of 2024, so there’s no question of a fee anymore. But before the exemption, the Indian passport-holders were expected to pay around 50-100 RM, with a provision for a visa-on-arrival. But that is of no avail now.

Also read – Malacca, the Way It Happened, in Street Art And Flipped Pages

Can You Apply for A Visa Extension?

No, officially a Malaysia tourist e-visa cannot be extended beyond the designated period, although you may visit the immigration office in Kuala Lumpur and get better clarification on this. As far as the information goes, the only way to earn some more months is to get a renewal (I.e. apply for a new visa altogether), but from outside the country. So you do have to leave the country anyhow.

You Might Want to Get A SIM Card in Malaysia

Although I myself wanted to be totally numberless (No, I didn’t buy a SIM card), some of the most convenient network providers are Hotlink, CelcomDigi, and U Mobile. Or, virtual SIM Cards (travel ESIMs), if supported on your smartphone, can be the way to go!

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Again, mind that the requirements are subject to admiral changes, and it’s always better to stay up-to-date with the recent changes.

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Malaysia’s public Wi-Fi services are quite commendable, with its free network zones on some public roads and train or bus stations. My first visit was shared between hostels in Malacca and Cameron Highlands, so I could access the hostel Wi-Fi without worrying about work. And the second time I volunteered at a Kombucha brewery in Langkawi Island, and Wi-Fi was on the house!

Quick Information on Navigating through Malaysia

• To book accommodations anywhere across the country, use Booking.com or Hostelworld.

• To book cabs, hit the buttons on Grab! Grab is the way to go anywhere in South-East Asia, with both motorbikes and four-wheelers available for short and long distance travels.

• Looking for vegetarian food? Find it on GoVeggie Malaysia, with 2000+ vegetarian vendors and details of the area, working hours, food-type, and price.

• Book bus, train or ferry services across the country through Easybook & 12GoAsia. Also, I have found cheaper prices and more local short-distance bus and train services on busonlineticket.com. 

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With that, I hope I could clear the immigration queries on what documents to keep and the process of getting a Malaysian tourist e-visa, which is as easy as pie.

How was your visa and immigration experience at the border?

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