Transit Through Malaysia: MDAC and Visa Rules for Connecting Flights
For a connection at KLIA in the same terminal without passing immigration, the Immigration Department highly recommends the MDAC; if you pass immigration, change terminal or change airport, the MDAC is required. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and on whether you leave the airport.
Verified: October 28, 2026
Passing through Malaysia?
Do you need the MDAC in transit?
| Your connection | MDAC |
|---|---|
| Same terminal at KLIA, without going to the immigration counter | Highly recommended, in case you need to enter Malaysia in an emergency |
| Land at Terminal 1, leave from Terminal 2 | Required |
| Land at KLIA, leave from another airport, such as Subang | Required |
| International arrival with a domestic connecting flight | Required, because you pass immigration at your first airport in Malaysia |
| Long layover with a hotel or a visit outside the airport | Required, because you enter Malaysia |
The first three rows come from the official MDAC FAQ. The last two follow from the rule that foreign citizens who enter Malaysia complete the MDAC, and from the airport's own transfer instructions. The exempt groups, such as Singapore passport holders, are listed in who needs the MDAC.
How to fill in the MDAC for a transit
Keep to the 3-day window
Submit the MDAC within 3 days before you land in Malaysia. The day you submit counts as the first day.
Enter your flights
Give the flight that brings you to Malaysia. The date of departure is the date you leave Malaysia for another country.
Address for a same-terminal transit
The official FAQ says to choose OTHERS as the accommodation of stay and to enter In Case of Emergency – Transit Only followed by your flight number as the address in Malaysia.
Address for a stay outside the airport
If you leave the airport, for example for a hotel night, enter the real address where you stay. The field-by-field form guide explains each field.
Do you need a transit visa?
The Immigration Department issues a transit visa to foreign nationals who need a visa to enter Malaysia and who pass through Malaysia to another country. It also says that travelers who do not leave the airport premises and who continue their journey to the next destination with the same flight do not need a transit visa. Malaysia Airports adds that all passengers need valid travel documents, such as a passport and a visa, for entry into Malaysia.
| Your situation | Visa |
|---|---|
| Your nationality does not need a visa for Malaysia | No visa. The normal visa-free rules apply if you enter. |
| You need a visa for Malaysia, stay in the airport and continue on the same flight | No transit visa |
| You need a visa for Malaysia and pass immigration, for example to change terminal, take a domestic flight or stay at a hotel outside the airport | A visa is needed. See the Malaysia eVISA guide. |
| Chinese citizen with an ordinary or public affairs passport | International transit is a visa-free purpose under the mutual visa exemption |
| Indian citizen | The visa waiver covers transit purposes, until 31 December 2026 |
The MyVISA FAQ also covers a short layover without an overnight stay in an eVISA application: enter the address of the Malaysian international airport, and upload a cover letter that explains the layover. To see who may visit without a visa and for how long, read visa-free entry to Malaysia.
At the airport: which way to go
- International to international, with a boarding pass: go straight to the departure hall.
- No boarding pass for the next flight: go to your airline's check-in counter.
- International to domestic: go through immigration and customs.
- Long transit with a hotel outside the airport: go through immigration and customs first.
- Sama-Sama Express hotel in the satellite building: go straight there.
- Your own choice: you may also pass immigration, collect your bags and clear customs, then check in again at the right terminal.
Changing terminal or airport
The official MDAC FAQ treats a change from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 as a case that needs the MDAC. Malaysia Airports describes this route: pass immigration, collect your bags, clear customs, then check in at the terminal of your next flight. A free shuttle bus links the terminals 24 hours a day, every 15 minutes, and the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit trains link them in a few minutes. Details are in KLIA to Kuala Lumpur.
If your next flight leaves from another airport, such as Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, you enter Malaysia and need the MDAC. Eligible travelers can use the autogates; see the autogate on arrival.
Transit checklist
- A passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry, if you will enter Malaysia.
- The MDAC, submitted within 3 days before landing, if your connection requires it or if you want the emergency option.
- A visa or eVISA, if your nationality needs one and you will pass immigration.
- Your onward boarding pass or booking, and the terminal of your next flight.
- Enough time to change terminal, including immigration and baggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the MDAC if I do not leave the airport?
For a connection in the same terminal at KLIA without going to the immigration counter, the official FAQ says the MDAC is highly recommended, in case you must enter Malaysia in an emergency.
Do I need the MDAC to change from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2?
Yes. The official MDAC FAQ says you need the MDAC if you land at Terminal 1 and take off from Terminal 2, or from another airport such as Subang.
Do I need a transit visa for Malaysia?
Only if your nationality needs a visa for Malaysia. The Immigration Department says no transit visa is needed if you stay in the airport and continue with the same flight. If you pass immigration, a visa is needed.
What address do I enter on the MDAC for a transit?
For a same-terminal transit, choose OTHERS as the accommodation of stay and enter In Case of Emergency – Transit Only with your flight number. If you leave the airport, enter the real address where you stay.
Can I leave the airport during a long layover?
Only if you meet the entry rules: the MDAC, a passport valid for at least 6 months, and a visa if your nationality needs one. You pass immigration and customs on the way out of the airport.
Sources checked
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: MDAC frequently asked questions (PDF) · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: types of visas · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: MyVISA frequently asked questions · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: Malaysia-China mutual visa exemption FAQ (PDF) · October 28, 2026
- High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi: entry requirements for foreigners · October 28, 2026
- Malaysia Airports: KLIA Terminal 1 visa information · October 28, 2026
- Malaysia Airports: KLIA Terminal 1 flight transfer · October 28, 2026
- Malaysia Airports: KLIA Terminal 2 flight transfer · October 28, 2026
- Malaysia Airports: inter-terminal transfer · October 28, 2026
Passing through Malaysia?
EntryCardMalaysia is an independent paid service, not the government. Our guided form checks your MDAC entries, including the transit address, our team reviews each traveler, and we file inside the official window.