Visa-Free Entry to Malaysia: Who Qualifies and How Long You Can Stay
Only the nationalities on the Immigration Department's visa list need a visa for a social visit to Malaysia; the length of a visa-free stay depends on your nationality. Chinese and Indian citizens have special 30-day arrangements, and the Indian one is time-limited.
Verified: October 28, 2026
No visa needed? The MDAC is next
Do you need a visa?
The Immigration Department of Malaysia publishes a list of the nationalities that must have a visa to enter Malaysia. The official eVISA portal names 31 nationalities for which an eVISA is compulsory for a social visit, such as tourism, family visits or short business trips. If your nationality is not on that list, you do not need a visa for a social visit.
The full list, and how to apply, is in the Malaysia eVISA guide. Some travel documents also need a visa whatever the holder's nationality, for example a Laissez Passer, a Certificate of Identity or a Titre de Voyage.
How long you may stay without a visa
Visitors receive a short-term social visit pass on arrival, and entry is subject to the approval of the immigration officer. The table shows the limits that official pages state for some groups. Malaysia's embassies and high commissions publish the rule for their own country.
| Group | Stay without a visa | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| ASEAN citizens, except Myanmar | Less than 1 month. A longer stay needs a visa, except for citizens of Brunei and Singapore. | Immigration Department |
| Myanmar | Up to 14 days for a social visit, since 1 October 2025 | MyVISA portal |
| China (ordinary and public affairs passports) | Up to 30 days per entry, at most 90 days in any 180 days | Immigration Department |
| India | Up to 30 days, until 31 December 2026 | High Commission in New Delhi |
| United Kingdom | Up to 3 months on arrival | High Commission in London |
| Ireland | Not more than 90 days, for business or social visits | Embassy in Dublin |
| Other nationalities | Check the Malaysian embassy or high commission for your country | Your Malaysian mission |
Chinese citizens: the mutual visa exemption
- In force since
17 July 2025, for an initial 5 years, extended automatically for 5 more unless either country decides otherwise
- Passports
Ordinary and public affairs passports of China, valid for at least 6 months
- Stay per entry
Up to 30 days, counted from the date of entry
- Total stay
At most 90 days in any 180-day period
- Purposes
Tourism, visiting family or friends, business, cultural exchanges, personal affairs, medical treatment and international transit
- Extension
Not possible. In an emergency or force majeure, visit the nearest Immigration Department office.
The official FAQ says that the 30 days end at 00:00 on the 30th day. Stays before 17 July 2025 do not count toward the 90 days. Border officers may check the purpose of your visit, so carry your return or onward ticket, proof of paid accommodation and, for business or personal visits, an invitation letter. A longer stay, work, study or residence needs a visa in advance. The MyVISA portal adds that, from 1 September 2026, Chinese citizens do not need a Multiple Entry Visa for these visits.
Indian citizens: a time-limited exemption
On 28 October 2026, the Immigration Department lists India among the countries that need a visa, with the note that Indian citizens are visa-exempt until 31 December 2026. The High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi says the visa waiver allows a stay of up to 30 days for business, tourism, social or transit purposes. It lists these requirements:
- A passport valid for at least six months.
- A confirmed return flight ticket.
- A confirmed hotel booking.
- The MDAC, submitted within three days before the arrival date.
ASEAN neighbours and Myanmar
Citizens of ASEAN countries, except Myanmar, do not need a visa for a stay of less than one month. Citizens of Brunei and Singapore do not need a visa for longer stays either. Singapore passport holders are also exempt from the MDAC.
Myanmar is on the eVISA list, but since 1 October 2025 Myanmar passport holders may enter visa-free for a social visit of up to 14 days, under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption. Myanmar citizens who obtain a visa may stay up to 30 days.
What every visa-free visitor still needs
- A passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry, as the MyVISA portal states.
- The MDAC, submitted within 3 days before arrival, unless you are exempt.
- Proof of your onward or return journey, accommodation and enough money for the stay. Details are in Malaysia entry requirements.
- A yellow fever certificate if you come from a country at risk of yellow fever.
Staying longer than allowed
The Immigration Department extends a short-term social visit pass only on special grounds, for example illness, an accident or war in your home country. You apply with evidence and a confirmed return ticket. The Chinese exemption cannot be extended. If you need more time for another purpose, apply for the right visa or pass before you travel.
Overstaying is an offence in Malaysia. The penalties are described in Malaysia entry requirements. To see the record of your entry, use the official Check Visit Pass page, as explained in after you submit the MDAC.
Frequently Asked Questions
My country is not on the visa list. Do I need a visa for Malaysia?
Not for a social visit, such as tourism or visiting family. You still need a valid passport and the MDAC, and the immigration officer decides on your entry. For work, study or other purposes, check the visa rules before you travel.
Can Chinese citizens stay 90 days in one trip?
No. Under the mutual visa exemption, each entry allows up to 30 days. The 90 days are the total of all visa-free stays in any 180-day period.
Is the visa exemption for Indian citizens still valid?
On 28 October 2026, official pages say it runs until 31 December 2026, for stays of up to 30 days. Check the Immigration Department's visa page again before a trip after that date.
Can I extend a visa-free stay in Malaysia?
Only on special grounds, such as illness or an accident, with evidence and a confirmed return ticket. Chinese citizens under the mutual exemption cannot extend their stay.
Does visa-free entry mean I do not need the MDAC?
No. The visa and the MDAC are separate. Most visa-free visitors still submit the MDAC within 3 days before arrival. See who needs the MDAC for the exempt groups.
Sources checked
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: visa requirement by country · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: MyVISA frequently asked questions · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: MyVISA portal announcements · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: FAQ on the Malaysia-China mutual visa exemption · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: Malaysia-China mutual visa exemption FAQ (PDF) · October 28, 2026
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: short-term social visit pass · October 28, 2026
- High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi: entry requirements for foreigners · October 28, 2026
- High Commission of Malaysia, London: entry requirements for foreigners · October 28, 2026
- Embassy of Malaysia, Dublin: entry requirements for foreigners · October 28, 2026
No visa needed? The MDAC is next
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