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Malaysia · Entry rules

Who needs a visa for Malaysia?

Entry rules for Malaysia by nationality, for short tourist or business visits, from the Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked .

In brief

Citizens of 168 countries and territories can visit Malaysia without a visa. 29 need a visa before they travel.

Visa-free
168
On arrival
0
eVisa or ETA
0
Visa required
29

About 1.4 bn people (17% of the world's other nationalities by population) need a visa arranged before they travel to Malaysia: a visa, an eVisa or a visa only with another permit.

Checked 31 Oct 2026Source: Immigration Department of MalaysiaMyanmar: not verified (the source leaves it unclear)Report a change

Most commonIndiaUnited StatesPakistanHong KongVietnamSaudi ArabiaAll passports

Malaysia entry rules at a glance

GroupStayNationalitiesExamplesSource
Visa-freeLess than 1 month6Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, ThailandImmigration Department of Malaysia
Visa-freeNot stated3India, Singapore, BruneiImmigration Department of Malaysia
Visa requiredNot stated8Pakistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, NepalImmigration Department of Malaysia
Visa requiredNot stated20Nigeria, Ethiopia, DR Congo, AngolaImmigration Department of Malaysia
Visa requiredNot stated1AfghanistanImmigration Department of Malaysia
Visa-freeNot stated159United States, China, Brazil, RussiaImmigration Department of Malaysia

Visa-free for less than 1 month: Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and 3 more

6 nationalities

No visa is needed for stays of up to less than 1 month.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked Visa is not required for a stay of less than one (1) month for ASEAN nationals except Myanmar.

Visa-free: India, Singapore and Brunei

3 nationalities

Singapore and Brunei: no visa needed even for stays over 1 month.

India: until 31 Dec 2026.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked Visa is not required for a stay of less than one (1) month for ASEAN nationals except Myanmar. Visas required for duration of stay exceeds (1) month except for Brunei and Singapore nationals.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked India** citizen: visa exempts until 31st December 2026.

Visa required: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Colombia and 5 more

8 nationalities

Apply for a visa before you travel.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked Countries required to apply for a visa to enter Malaysia (List of involved countries)

Visa required: Nigeria, Ethiopia, DR Congo and 17 more

20 nationalities

Entry by air only.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked Countries required to apply for a visa to enter Malaysia (List of involved countries) ... For countries marked as (*) are allowed to enter Malaysia by air only.

Visa required: Afghanistan

1 nationality

Visa approval letter (VDR) needed before the visa application.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked ***Afghanistan nationals who wish to enter Malaysia for social visit purposes must obtain a visa approval letter before applying for a VTR.

Visa-free: the US, China, Brazil and 156 more

159 nationalities

Everyone not listed above: visa-free.

Nationalities not listed above: this follows from Immigration Department of Malaysia's own lists, which name the exempt nationalities.

Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked Countries required to apply for a visa to enter Malaysia (List of involved countries)

If you live in the UAE

Emirati citizens: visa-free.

UAE residents, any passport: No residence rule. By passport: India visa-free until 31 December 2026; Pakistan eVISA; Philippines visa-free (under 1 month). Visitors register on the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Source: Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked 1 Nov 2026. See Malaysia in the visa-free table for UAE residents, by passport.

Where to apply

Apply only on the official site, malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my. Look-alike sites charge extra for the same form. A visa is applied for at an embassy or consulate of Malaysia, or the visa centre it names, in the country where you live.

These rules cover ordinary passports and short visits; work, study and transit have their own rules.

Most searched passports

FAQ

Do I need a visa to visit Malaysia?

It depends on your passport: 168 nationalities are visa-free and 29 need a visa. Choose your passport above.

Do Indian citizens need a visa for Malaysia?

No, not for a short stay. Indian citizens can visit Malaysia visa-free (until 31 Dec 2026) (Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked 1 Nov 2026).

Do US citizens need a visa for Malaysia?

No, not for a short stay. US citizens can visit Malaysia visa-free (Immigration Department of Malaysia, checked 31 Oct 2026).

Can I apply for a Malaysia visa online?

Yes, where the official site offers it. Apply only at malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my.

Sources and changes

  1. Immigration Department: visa requirement by countryimi.gov.my · checked 1 Nov 2026
  2. Malaysia eVISA (official)malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my · checked 31 Oct 2026
  3. Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)imigresen-online.imi.gov.my · checked 31 Oct 2026
  1. All groups checked against Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia). No change since.

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Rules change without notice. Always confirm with the official source linked on each page before you travel.