Malaysia entry requirements, by passport
Malaysia visa requirements at a glance: 167 of the 198 passports VisaRadar tracks can enter Malaysia without arranging a visa beforehand: visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an electronic travel authorisation. The other 31 must obtain a visa before they travel.
Which passport do you hold?
We'll take you straight to the entry requirements for Malaysia for your nationality.
What we've verified for Malaysia
Beyond the yes/no matrix, we've checked these against an official primary source (last checked 22 August 2026). The specifics depend on your nationality: open your passport's row in the table for the detail that applies to you.
- Typical processing time
- Required documents (3)
- Required vaccinations
- Health-insurance rules
- Customs limits (cash, alcohol, tobacco)
- Overstay penalties
- Stay and transit rules
Sources: imi.gov.my (Immigration Department of Malaysia: official MDAC announcement, free and single-entry; "Frequently Committed Offences" page for the official overstay penalties under Section 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/63: fine up to RM10,000, imprisonment up to 5 years, and a RM3,000 compound); customs.gov.my (Royal Malaysian Customs Department: official "Traveler's Guide", last updated 25 May 2023: 1-litre alcohol allowance, express exclusion of cigarettes/tobacco from the allowance, USD 10,000 cash declaration threshold via Form No. 7) (checked 22 August 2026).
Malaysia sets its entry regime by nationality: most passports from the Americas and Western Europe enter visa-free for up to 90 days, while other nationalities need a visa or the electronic eNTRI registration. Every foreign visitor has to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online up to 3 days before arriving. It is free, covers a single entry and replaced the former eNTRI system used by India and China.
This table summarises the exact entry mechanism for every passport we track. The difference between entering visa-free, with an electronic authorisation, with an e-Visa, or with a traditional visa is explained in visa, e-Visa, and electronic authorisation: what's the difference. How we verify every row before publishing it is on methodology.
Base entry rules refreshed 2 November 2026. Published: 22 August 2026.
| Passport | Requirement | Max. stay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | ||
| Albania | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Algeria | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Andorra | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Argentina | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Armenia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Australia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Austria | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Azerbaijan | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Bahamas | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Bahrain | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Barbados | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Belarus | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Belgium | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Belize | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Benin | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Bolivia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Botswana | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Brazil | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Brunei | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Bulgaria | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Cambodia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Canada | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Cape Verde | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Chad | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Chile | Visa-free | 30 days |
| China | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Comoros | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Costa Rica | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Croatia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Cuba | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Cyprus | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Czech Republic | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Denmark | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Dominica | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Dominican Republic | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Ecuador | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Egypt | Visa-free | 90 days |
| El Salvador | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Estonia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Eswatini | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Fiji | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Finland | Visa-free | 90 days |
| France | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Gabon | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Gambia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Georgia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Germany | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Greece | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Grenada | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Guatemala | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Guinea | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Guyana | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Haiti | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Honduras | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Hong Kong | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Hungary | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Iceland | Visa-free | 90 days |
| India | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Indonesia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Iran | Visa-free | 14 days |
| Iraq | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Ireland | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Italy | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Jamaica | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Japan | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Jordan | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Kenya | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Kiribati | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Kosovo | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Kuwait | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Laos | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Latvia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Lebanon | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Lesotho | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Libya | Visa-free | 14 days |
| Liechtenstein | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Lithuania | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Luxembourg | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Macao | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Madagascar | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Malawi | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Maldives | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Malta | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Marshall Islands | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Mauritania | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Mauritius | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Mexico | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Micronesia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Moldova | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Monaco | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Mongolia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Morocco | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Myanmar | Visa-free | 14 days |
| Namibia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Nauru | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Netherlands | Visa-free | 90 days |
| New Zealand | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Nicaragua | Visa-free | 30 days |
| North Macedonia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Norway | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Oman | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Palau | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Palestine | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Panama | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Papua New Guinea | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Paraguay | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Peru | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Philippines | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Poland | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Portugal | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Qatar | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Romania | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Russia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Saint Lucia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Samoa | Visa-free | 30 days |
| San Marino | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Saudi Arabia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Senegal | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Seychelles | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Sierra Leone | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Singapore | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Slovakia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Slovenia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Solomon Islands | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Somalia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| South Africa | Visa-free | 90 days |
| South Korea | Visa-free | 90 days |
| South Sudan | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Spain | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Sudan | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Suriname | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Sweden | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Switzerland | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Syria | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Taiwan | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Tajikistan | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Tanzania | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Thailand | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Timor-Leste | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Togo | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Tonga | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Tunisia | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Turkey | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Turkmenistan | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Tuvalu | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Uganda | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Ukraine | Visa-free | 30 days |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa-free | 90 days |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free | 90 days |
| United States | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Uruguay | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Uzbekistan | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Vanuatu | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Vatican | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Venezuela | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Vietnam | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Yemen | Visa-free | 90 days |
| Zambia | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Zimbabwe | Visa-free | 30 days |
| Visa required | ||
| Afghanistan | e-Visa | — |
| Angola | e-Visa | — |
| Bangladesh | e-Visa | — |
| Bhutan | Visa required | — |
| Burkina Faso | e-Visa | — |
| Burundi | e-Visa | — |
| Cameroon | e-Visa | — |
| Central African Republic | e-Visa | — |
| Colombia | e-Visa | — |
| Djibouti | e-Visa | — |
| DR Congo | e-Visa | — |
| Equatorial Guinea | e-Visa | — |
| Eritrea | e-Visa | — |
| Ethiopia | e-Visa | — |
| Ghana | e-Visa | — |
| Guinea-Bissau | e-Visa | — |
| Israel | Entry not permitted | — |
| Ivory Coast | e-Visa | — |
| Liberia | e-Visa | — |
| Mali | e-Visa | — |
| Montenegro | e-Visa | — |
| Mozambique | e-Visa | — |
| Nepal | e-Visa | — |
| Niger | e-Visa | — |
| Nigeria | e-Visa | — |
| North Korea | Visa required | — |
| Pakistan | e-Visa | — |
| Republic of the Congo | e-Visa | — |
| Rwanda | e-Visa | — |
| Serbia | e-Visa | — |
| Sri Lanka | e-Visa | — |
Malaysia rules for every passport
Vaccinations, customs limits and penalties are the same for every traveller.
Vaccinations
- No mandatory vaccines for general entry. A yellow fever certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from (or having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of) a country with risk of transmission.
Customs limits
- Cash
- Declare to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (using Customs Form No. 7) if entering or leaving with USD 10,000 or more in cash and bearer negotiable instruments (BNI); there's no limit on the amount of foreign currency that can be imported.
- Alcohol
- 1 litre total of wine, spirits, beer, or malt liquor, duty-free, per adult traveller (not combinable between companions).
- Tobacco
- Cigarettes and other tobacco products are expressly excluded from the duty-free allowance: any amount brought in is taxable.
Overstay penalties
Under Section 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/63: a fine of up to RM10,000, or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both; in practice the Immigration Department typically settles overstays with a RM3,000 compound (an administrative fine that avoids court proceedings).
Grounds for refusal
- Arriving at the immigration counter without a completed MDAC: the border officer validates passport and MDAC together before letting you through, and since 1 January 2024 it is required of every foreign traveller not expressly exempt.
Travel insurance
Each destination decides whether to require insurance, and some check it at the border. If yours does, make sure the policy covers the whole trip.
See IATI's international site →IATI sells its policies according to the country you live in. Where do you live?
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Sabah and Sarawak: what changes
Sabah and Sarawak have kept their own immigration control since the formation of Malaysia, under the Immigration Act 1959/63. Travelling from Peninsular Malaysia you have to carry your passport, pass through immigration control and collect entry and exit stamps, even on a domestic flight. The visit pass for foreign nationals is issued at the immigration counters in the arrival halls of both states.
Source: imi.gov.my, Endorsement of Exemption Section 66; FCDO, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malaysia/entry-requirements (comprobado 18/09/2026)
Do you need a different visa for Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or Johor Bahru?
No. Malaysia sets the requirements, so entering through Kuala Lumpur asks for the same as entering through Penang or Johor Bahru. If you're arriving overland or through a small border post, check that separately: some countries apply their own rules to specific crossings.
With one exception, explained above: the rules for Sabah and Sarawak are not the rules for the rest of Malaysia.
What does change is where you file the application when a visa is needed, and that depends on the country you live in rather than the city you're travelling to.
What draws travellers to Malaysia
Malaysia is split into two halves separated by sea. The peninsula gathers Kuala Lumpur, with the Petronas Towers, and the historic cities of Melaka and George Town (Penang), both World Heritage for their five centuries of Malay, Chinese, Indian and colonial blending: and for their street food. The Cameron Highlands and the island of Langkawi round out that part. Malaysian Borneo, in Sabah and Sarawak, is rainforest and biodiversity: Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage site, with the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, and the orangutans. Malaysia has 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites, two cultural and two natural. Ten days cover the peninsula plus a few days in Borneo. It can be visited year-round, with caveats: the peninsula's east coast and Borneo have their rainy season from November to February.
Sources for this section: malaysia.travel (Tourism Malaysia); UNESCO World Heritage List (whc.unesco.org, 4 sites in Malaysia); UK FCDO travel advice for Malaysia. Accessed 31 August 2026.
Things to see and do in Malaysia
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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Where can Malaysia passport holders travel visa-free? →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.