Malaysia visa & passport guide
Everything Indian passport holders need to visit Malaysia — visa type, fees, processing time, documents, and the step-by-step application process.
Malaysia Visa for Indian Passport Holders
Indian passport holders can currently enter Malaysia visa-free for tourism for up to 30 days, under the visa exemption Malaysia introduced from 1 December 2023 and has since extended. You do not pay any visa fee, but you must fill the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within three days before you land, and carry proof of return ticket, hotel bookings and funds. If the exemption lapses or you need a longer stay, the eVISA and eNTRI options through Malaysia's authorised visa portal remain available.
Visa Type
Visa-free (30 days) for tourism, with mandatory online Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). eVISA/eNTRI available as backup or for longer stays.
Visa Fee
Free (visa exemption and MDAC both carry no fee). If you apply for an eVISA instead, budget roughly ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 including portal and service charges.
Processing Time
No visa processing needed. MDAC is submitted online and confirmed instantly or within a few minutes. eVISA, if used, typically takes 2-5 working days.
Stay Duration
Up to 30 days per visit under the visa exemption. Extensions are not routinely granted for tourists.
Passport Validity
Minimum 6 months validity from the date of arrival, with at least 2 blank pages. Damaged or hand-amended passports are refused at Kuala Lumpur immigration.
Documents Required
- Passport valid at least 6 months with 2 blank pages
- MDAC confirmation (submit within 3 days before arrival, print or keep a screenshot)
- Confirmed return or onward air ticket out of Malaysia within 30 days
- Hotel bookings or host address for the full stay
- Proof of sufficient funds: recent bank statement, forex card or cash (immigration officers often look for the equivalent of USD 500 or more for a week-long trip)
- Travel insurance (not mandatory but frequently asked for at counters)
- Itinerary or tour voucher if travelling on a package
How to Apply
- 1Book your flights and hotels first, since the MDAC requires flight numbers and your Malaysian address.
- 2Go to the official MDAC portal (imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac) no earlier than three days before arrival and fill passport, flight and accommodation details.
- 3Submit and save the MDAC acknowledgement; there is no fee and no approval wait.
- 4Carry printouts of MDAC, return ticket, hotel vouchers and bank statement in your hand baggage.
- 5At KLIA, KLIA2, Penang or Johor immigration, present your passport for the visa-exempt stamp or use the autogate if eligible.
- 6If you need more than 30 days or are travelling for a non-tourism purpose, apply for an eVISA through Malaysia's authorised portal before departure instead.
Good to Know
- Beware of copycat MDAC websites that charge a fee. The government portal is free.
- A one-way ticket is the most common reason Indians get questioned or offloaded. Always have a confirmed exit ticket, including onward flights to Bali or Bangkok if you are continuing.
- Passengers holding only an onward ticket by bus to Singapore or Thailand are sometimes questioned; carry the booking confirmation.
- Malaysia's visa exemption is reviewed periodically. Check the High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi or the Immigration Department site about a week before you fly.
- If you are transiting Kuala Lumpur for under 120 hours without leaving the airside area, you do not need to clear immigration, but MDAC is required the moment you exit.
- Carry medicines in original packaging with prescriptions. Malaysia is strict on controlled substances and the penalties for narcotics are severe.
- Sabah and Sarawak have their own immigration checks even on domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur, so keep your passport handy when flying to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching.
- Peak Indian travel months are April to June and the Deepavali and Christmas weeks; hotel rates in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi rise sharply, so book 6-8 weeks ahead.
Visa rules and fees change — verify with the official embassy or immigration website before booking travel.
