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Malaysia visit visa: visa-free for Indians
Here is the good news: Indian travellers do not need a visa for Malaysia for short visits. Visa-free entry for up to 30 days has been extended until the end of 2026, for tourism, business, social visits, or transit. The one catch is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, which is free but mandatory before you arrive. For longer stays there is the eVISA.
Data current as of June 2026
What you need to visit Malaysia
For most Indian travellers, Malaysia is one of the easiest destinations right now. You do not need a visa for a short visit, but you do need to complete one free online form before you fly.
Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free entry to Malaysia for up to 30 days per visit, a policy extended until 31 December 2026, covering tourism, business, social visits, and transit. There is no visa application and no visa fee for a short visit. The one requirement everyone must meet is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, the MDAC, a free online registration submitted within three days before arrival.
The visa-free entry is a single-entry social visit pass that cannot be extended or converted to a work permit. If you need to stay longer than 30 days, or to work or study, you apply for an eVISA or another visa before you travel. This page is a full guide: the visa-free rules, the mandatory MDAC, the eVISA and eNTRI options, the conditional visa on arrival, the fees, the documents, and the process.
Visa-free and the MDAC are two different things
The single biggest cause of delays at Kuala Lumpur airport is assuming that visa-free means no paperwork. These are two separate things, and you need to understand both.
Your permission
Visa-free entry
Your legal permission to enter Malaysia and for how long. For Indians this is automatic for short visits until the end of 2026, with no application.
No visa needed, up to 30 days
Your advance notice
The MDAC
Your advance notice that you are arriving, registered online within three days before arrival. It is free, mandatory, and separate from the visa.
Free, but you must submit it
Source: High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi, and the Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my), current for 2026. Visa-free entry is your permission to enter for up to 30 days, while the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is a separate, free, mandatory registration submitted within three days before arrival. Visa-free does not remove the MDAC. Use only the official site, as fraudulent copycat MDAC sites exist. Rules can change, so confirm before you travel.
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The visa-free window has an end date
The visa-free entry for Indians is a temporary measure. It is worth knowing the deadline so you can plan, especially if you are travelling late in the year.
Indian nationals are visa-free for up to 30 days per visit until 31 December 2026. After that date, unless it is extended again, you would need an eVISA or another visa. If you travel close to the deadline or want certainty, an eVISA is the safer choice.
Source: High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi, and the Malaysian Immigration Department visa-requirement listing (imi.gov.my), current for 2026. The visa-free entry for Indian nationals is extended until 31 December 2026 for stays up to 30 days. It is a temporary measure and may or may not be extended again. Confirm the current status before you travel, and consider an eVISA if you are travelling near the deadline.
Do you even need a visa?
Most Indian travellers do not need a Malaysia visa at all right now. This quick decision guide shows when the visa-free entry is enough and when you need an eVISA.
Not sure which path is yours?
Get a free assessment and we will confirm whether you are visa-free or need an eVISA for your Malaysia trip.
If you need a visa: eVISA, eNTRI, or visa on arrival
If the visa-free entry does not fit your trip, there are three routes. Here is when each one makes sense for Indian travellers.
eVISA
Best for longer or flexible trips
- Stay of up to 30 days.
- Single or multiple entry.
- Valid for land and air entry.
- Applied online before travel.
eNTRI
Best for a quick, cheap KL trip
- Stay of up to 15 days.
- Cheaper and simpler.
- Kuala Lumpur airports only.
- Not valid at land borders.
Visa on arrival
Conditional, third-country entry
- Only from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, or Brunei.
- You must hold a valid visa for that country.
- Short stay, about 200 ringgit.
- Not on a direct flight from India.
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department eVISA portal (malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my) and published guidance, current for 2026. The eVISA allows up to 30 days, single or multiple entry, the eNTRI allows up to 15 days for air arrival at the Kuala Lumpur airports only, and the conditional visa on arrival is available only when arriving from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, or Brunei with a valid visa for that country. The Transit Without Visa facility is currently suspended. Rules can change, so confirm before you apply.
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Malaysia visit options compared
The ways to visit Malaysia differ in stay, entry, and where you can use them. This table compares the main ones for Indian travellers.
| Option | How you get it | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | Automatic, until 31 Dec 2026 | Up to 30 days |
| eVISA | Online at malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my | Up to 30 days |
| eNTRI | Online, KL airports only | Up to 15 days |
| Visa on arrival | From a third country, conditional | Short stay |
| MDAC | Free, all travellers | Required either way |
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my) and the High Commission of Malaysia, current for 2026. Visa-free entry covers up to 30 days until 31 December 2026, the eVISA up to 30 days, the eNTRI up to 15 days at the Kuala Lumpur airports only, and the conditional visa on arrival a short stay from a third country. The MDAC is free and required on every route. None allow paid work. Categories can change, so confirm current details before you travel.
For most Indian tourists the visa-free entry plus the MDAC is all you need. We confirm the right option for your trip.
Documents you need for Malaysia
Even visa-free, you carry a few key documents that an officer can ask to see. This table shows what to have ready.
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | All travellers | Valid at least 6 months from arrival |
| MDAC confirmation | All travellers | Submitted free within 3 days before arrival |
| Return or onward ticket | All travellers | Confirmed booking |
| Proof of accommodation | All travellers | Hotel booking or host address |
| Proof of funds | All travellers | About 1,000 to 1,500 ringgit per person |
| Printed eVISA | eVISA holders | Carry a printed copy, not just a phone |
Source: High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi, and the Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my), current for 2026. The passport must be valid at least six months from arrival, the MDAC is mandatory and free, and travellers should carry a confirmed return ticket, accommodation proof, and proof of funds, often suggested as around 1,000 to 1,500 Malaysian ringgit per person. eVISA holders carry a printed copy. Travel insurance is recommended, not required. Confirm the current checklist before you travel.
Carrying these documents keeps your arrival smooth, even on visa-free entry. We build and check your full document set so nothing is missing.
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Malaysia visit costs
Visa-free entry and the MDAC cost nothing. You only pay if you need a visa. The table shows the main charges as a guide.
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | Free | No visa fee for short visits |
| MDAC | Free | No charge, submitted online |
| eVISA | About 3,500 to 6,500 rupees | Including fees, single or multiple entry |
| eNTRI | A little cheaper | Up to 15 days, KL airports |
| Visa on arrival | About 200 ringgit | Cash, conditional, from a third country |
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department eVISA portal (malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my) and published guidance, current for 2026. Visa-free entry and the MDAC are free, the eVISA commonly costs around 3,500 to 6,500 rupees including fees, the eNTRI is a little cheaper, and the conditional visa on arrival is about 200 Malaysian ringgit in cash. Fees are non-refundable, and the rupee cost depends on the exchange rate. Amounts can change, so confirm before you apply.
For a short visit your only real cost is the trip itself, since the entry and the MDAC are free. We give you a clear, current cost picture if you do need a visa.
The process, step by step
There are two simple paths, depending on whether you are visa-free or need an eVISA. Both end with the same MDAC step before you fly.
- Confirm visa-free. A short tourism, business, social, or transit visit, up to 30 days.
- Get your documents. Passport valid 6 months, return ticket, accommodation, funds.
- Submit the MDAC. Free, online, within 3 days before arrival.
- Fly and enter. An officer checks your MDAC and documents and decides entry.
- Apply online. On the official portal, choose eVISA or eNTRI, upload and pay.
- Get approval. Usually about 2 working days; print your eVISA.
- Submit the MDAC. Free, online, within 3 days before arrival, the same as everyone.
- Fly and enter. Carry your printed eVISA, and an officer decides entry.
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my), the eVISA portal (malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my), and the High Commission of Malaysia, current for 2026. Visa-free travellers complete the MDAC and carry their documents, while eVISA or eNTRI travellers apply online first, usually about two working days, then complete the MDAC. The MDAC is required on both paths. A visa or visa-free status does not guarantee entry. Confirm current details before you travel.
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Malaysia visit dos and donts
Visa-free travel is easy, but a few simple mistakes still cause problems at the airport. These dos and donts keep your arrival smooth.
Do the right things
- Submit the free MDAC within 3 days before arrival.
- Use only the official MDAC and visa websites.
- Keep your passport valid 6 months from arrival.
- Carry a confirmed return ticket and accommodation.
- Carry proof of funds for your stay.
- Apply for an eVISA early if you need one.
Do not do these
- Do not assume visa-free means no paperwork.
- Do not skip or delay the MDAC.
- Do not use copycat MDAC or visa sites.
- Do not overstay your 30 days.
- Do not work on a visit or visa-free entry.
- Do not rely on the suspended transit facility.
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my) and the High Commission of Malaysia, current for 2026. The MDAC is mandatory and free, only official sites should be used, and the visa-free stay of up to 30 days cannot be extended. Overstaying is a serious offence with fines and possible bans. The Transit Without Visa facility is currently suspended. Rules can change, so confirm current details.
What you can and cannot do
A visit, visa-free or on an eVISA, lets you do plenty as a tourist or short business visitor, within clear limits. Here is what is and is not allowed.
You can
- See the Petronas Towers and Batu Caves.
- Relax in Langkawi and Penang.
- Visit Genting Highlands and Malacca.
- Visit family and friends.
- Attend meetings and conferences on a business visit.
- Transit through Malaysia within your 30 days.
You cannot
- Take up paid employment in Malaysia.
- Study a long program on a visit.
- Convert the visa-free pass to a work permit.
- Stay beyond 30 days without leaving.
- Skip the MDAC and still expect smooth entry.
For work you need an Employment Pass, and longer stays need a student pass, a long-stay visa, or another route. We explain the rules and the right path for your plans.
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my), current for 2026. A visit, whether visa-free or on an eVISA, is for tourism and business visits only, does not allow paid work, which needs a work pass such as an Employment Pass, and the visa-free pass cannot be converted to a work permit. Overstaying is a serious offence. Rules can change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
Stay, validity, and the rules
A visit is a short stay, and the visa-free pass cannot be extended. This table explains the stay, extension, and entry rules for Indian travellers.
| Item | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free stay | Up to 30 days | Per visit, single entry |
| Visa-free window | Until 31 Dec 2026 | Temporary, may change |
| eVISA stay | Up to 30 days | Single or multiple entry |
| Extension | Not available | Leave before your days end |
| MDAC | Always required | Free, within 3 days before arrival |
Source: Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my) and the High Commission of Malaysia, current for 2026. Visa-free entry allows up to 30 days per visit until 31 December 2026, the eVISA up to 30 days single or multiple entry, and neither the visa-free pass nor the eVISA is normally extendable, so you leave before your days end. The MDAC is always required. Rules can change.
The visit is for short stays, not for settling. If you want to work, study, or stay longer, a separate pass is needed. We explain the rules and the right path for your plans.
What officers look for at the border
Visa-free entry is easy, but an officer at the checkpoint still decides whether to admit you. Arriving prepared, with the MDAC done and your documents ready, is what keeps it smooth.
Common reasons for being refused entry include a passport with less than six months validity, no completed MDAC, no confirmed return or onward ticket, no proof of accommodation, weak proof of funds, or a purpose that does not fit a visit, such as intending to work. Frequent back-to-back entries can also be questioned. Many issues can be avoided with the right preparation.
Indians can visit Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, extended until 31 December 2026, for tourism, business, social, or transit. There is no visa application or fee for a short visit, but the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is mandatory within three days before arrival. For longer or other stays you apply for an eVISA or eNTRI. The visa-free pass cannot be extended or used for work, and an officer still decides entry.
Factual overview, verified against the High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi, and the Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my, malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my), current for 2026. The visa-free window, the MDAC rule, fees, and stay periods are set by the Malaysian authorities and can change at any time. Entry is decided by an immigration officer.
Meeting the requirements keeps your arrival smooth, but the final decision rests with the Malaysian authorities and the officer at the checkpoint. We give you a realistic view and help you arrive fully prepared.
Speak with BestMigrationConsultant.com about your Malaysia visit
Our immigration experts guide Indian travellers through visiting Malaysia, from the visa-free entry and the mandatory MDAC to the eVISA and eNTRI options, the fees, and the documents. Call +91-7670800002 or visit BestMigrationConsultant.com, and start with a free assessment today.

