Malaysia E-Visa Guide

Applying for a Malaysian eVISA is a convenient way for eligible travelers to obtain an entry visa online before their trip. This guide explains the available eVISA categories, eligibility requirements, required documents, photo specifications, application process, fees, processing times, and other important details you need to know before applying.

Table of contents

• Countries eligible to apply for Malaysian visa online
• Malaysia e-visa types
• Malaysia e-visa application process
• Documents required for Malaysia e-visa application
• Malaysia e-visa photo size and requirements
• Get a digital Malaysian visa photo online!
• Malaysia e-visa costs
• Malaysia e-visa validity
• How long does it take to get a Malaysian e-visa?
• How to check the e-visa status online?
• Malaysia e-visa rejection reasons
• FAQ

Countries eligible to apply for Malaysian visa online

Citizens of certain countries who require a visa to enter Malaysia can apply for a Social eVISA (Single Entry Visa) online through the official MYVISA portal. The current list of eligible nationalities includes:

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Colombia
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guinea-Bissau
• India
• Ivory Coast
• Liberia
• Mali
• Montenegro
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Rwanda
• Serbia
• Sri Lanka

Eligibility may vary depending on the purpose of travel and nationality. Some visa-exempt nationalities should not apply for a Social eVISA. For example, India and China have separate visa-free arrangements for certain social visits, while work, study, medical treatment and long-term stays require their own approval procedures.

Applicants travelling for study, employment, professional activities, medical treatment or certain dependent categories may need a prior approval document, such as a Malaysian VDR/eVAL or other authorization, before applying for an eVISA.

eVISA applications must be submitted while the applicant is outside Malaysia.

If you apply from a country other than your nationality country, you may need to provide proof that you are legally staying there.

Israel and North Korea are the countries whose citizens can only obtain a Malaysian visa in person at the consulate.

Malaysia e-visa types

Malaysia eVISA categories depend on the purpose of travel and whether the applicant already has prior approval from Malaysian authorities. The main eVISA routes are:

• Social eVISA (Visa Without Reference / VTR) — for tourism, family visits, meetings, conferences, and other short social visits. This category is available to eligible visa-required nationalities and does not require prior visa approval.
• Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) — for travelers who need to enter Malaysia multiple times. The current MYVISA FAQ states that MEV allows multiple journeys with up to 30 days of stay per entry, subject to eligibility.
• VDR/eVAL-backed eVISA (Visa With Reference) — for purposes such as study, employment, professional or temporary work, dependants, and certain approved social visits. Applicants must first obtain the required approval document, such as a Visa Approval Letter (eVAL) or VDR, before applying for the eVISA.
• Medical eVISA — for foreign patients travelling to Malaysia for treatment at a Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) member hospital. Applicants must have a hospital appointment letter and meet the relevant requirements.
• Foreign worker and domestic helper eVISA — for entry after the necessary Malaysian work approval has been obtained through the employer process.

It is important to note that an eVISA only allows entry into Malaysia. It does not replace a student pass, employment pass, residence pass, or other long-term permission. Applicants travelling for study or work must first obtain the relevant approval and complete the required procedures after arrival in Malaysia.

Malaysia e-visa application process

Follow these steps to apply for a Malaysian eVISA through the official MYVISA portal:

1. Visit the official MYVISA platform. Create an individual account if you are a first-time applicant or sign in as a returning user. During registration, provide your personal details, passport information, and email address, then complete the email verification process.
2. Select the appropriate eVISA category based on your nationality and purpose of travel. The available options may include Social eVISA, Multiple Entry Visa, VDR/eVAL-backed eVISA, or other categories requiring prior approval.
3. Complete the online application form. Enter your name, passport number, and other personal details exactly as they appear in your passport. Upload the required documents, including your passport biodata page, photograph, and supporting documents.
4. Review all information carefully before submitting the application. Incorrect details or missing documents may delay processing or affect the result of your application.
5. Pay the required visa fees online through the available payment methods. Keep the payment confirmation for your records.
6. Monitor your application status through your MYVISA account and email. The Immigration Department may request additional documents or further information if needed.
7. Once approved, log in to your account and download your eVISA under the “Actions” section. Print the eVISA note in A4 format (colour or black and white) or keep the digital version available for travel.

Applications must be submitted while you are outside Malaysia. The MYVISA portal does not accept applications submitted from Malaysia, Israel, or North Korea. If you apply while staying in another country, you may need to provide proof of your legal stay there. Applicants should also avoid using a VPN while submitting an application.

Documents required for Malaysia e-visa application

The documents required to apply for a general Malaysian e-visa are as follows:

• Digital passport-sized photo that meets the Malaysian eVISA photo requirements;
• Passport biodata page with at least six months of validity remaining from the intended date of arrival in Malaysia;
• At least three blank passport pages;
• Confirmed return or onward flight ticket, where applicable;
• Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking or documents confirming a stay with a host in Malaysia;
• Birth certificate for each minor applicant;
• Invitation letter, if applicable;
• Proof of legal residence or lawful stay in the country of application if you are applying from a country other than your nationality country;
• Additional supporting documents if requested, such as bank statements, sponsorship documents, host information, travel itinerary, or proof of the purpose of the visit.

If you are staying with a friend or relative in Malaysia, provide a letter addressed to the Immigration Officer. The letter should include your details, the Malaysian address where you will stay, and the host’s name, identity card number, and telephone number. Related host documents should be uploaded together with the letter in the accommodation section.

Applicants who do not have an invitation letter may provide an English cover letter explaining the purpose of their visit, if accepted by the portal.

For VDR/eVAL-backed eVISA applications, applicants must first obtain the relevant approval document, such as a Malaysian Visa Approval Letter (eVAL) or VDR. Medical eVISA applicants must also provide an appointment letter from a Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) member hospital.

All uploaded files must be clear and readable. If multiple pages belong to the same document type, combine them into a single file before uploading.

Malaysia e-visa photo size and requirements

To be accepted, your digital photo for Malaysian e-visa must meet the following specification:

• The required Malaysia visa photo size is 35mm wide by 50mm high;
• You must be looking straight into the, with a neutral expression;
• No headgear, except for religious ones like the hijab, is allowed. However, it may not obscure your face;
• You may wear glasses, but they must not obscure the face;
• The photo must be of decent quality so you may be easily recognized: good contrast and lighting, clear, not blurred, not pixelated, no scanned photos;
• Your photo must not be older than six months;
• The background must be plain white with no shadows nor extraneous objects;
• The photo must not have borders;
• The photo must show the shoulder up to the crown.

Here is an example of a Malaysia evisa photo:

Get a digital Malaysian visa photo online!

To ensure your photo fulfills the requirements we mentioned above, you may trust this task to professional online visa photo editors. Visafoto has been processing photos for visas, passports, and other documents since 2013, and it can also take care of your Malaysian e-visa application photo!

Simply follow the posing and dress code instructions explained in the requirements listed above, take a portrait picture in decent lighting, with any background, then upload it to our tool below.

Take an image with a smartphone or camera against any background, upload it here, and instantly get a professional photo for your visa, passport, or ID.

Visafoto will then adjust the parameters according to the Malaysian electronic visa requirements, such as size, background color, and proportions, even down to the subtler things, such as head tilt, and improve the overall image quality. The service applies additional automatic enhancements, such as studio-style lighting improvement, resolution enhancement (including for lower-quality images or scans), and framing adjustments to create a clearer and more professional-looking result.

First, take a photo of yours like this one:

You will have two types of photos. Digital photography is suitable for electronic applications, while the other is designed for printing.

Malaysia e-visa costs

The total cost of a Malaysian eVISA depends on your nationality and the type of visa you apply for. The final amount includes:

• Visa fee based on your nationality;
• RM 105 processing fee;
• Payment convenience fee charged by the payment provider.

The current convenience fees are 0.8% for card payments and 1.7% for payments made through Alipay or WeChat Pay. All payments are non-refundable, including cases where the application is rejected or withdrawn.

Malaysia e-visa validity

The validity period of a Malaysian eVISA refers to the period during which you can use the visa to enter Malaysia. It is different from the permitted length of stay after arrival.

According to the current MYVISA FAQ, an eVISA is generally valid for six months from the date of issuance. Foreign worker eVISAs have a shorter validity period of three months.

The permitted stay in Malaysia depends on the visa category and conditions granted:

• Multiple Entry Visa (MEV): allows stays of up to 30 days per entry.
• Single Entry Visa (SEV): the allowed stay depends on the applicant’s nationality and the conditions specified in the issued visa.

Always check the issue date, expiry date, and entry conditions shown on your approved eVISA document before travelling.

How long does it take to get a Malaysian e-visa?

The standard processing time for a Malaysian eVISA is usually 2–7 working days after the complete application has been submitted and payment has been confirmed.

The processing period does not include weekends, Malaysian public holidays, holidays at the relevant approving office, interviews, or periods when additional documents are requested. If Immigration asks for new documents, the processing period may restart from the date of resubmission.

Applicants are advised to submit their application at least 14 days before their planned travel date. Medical eVISA applicants should apply at least 14 working days before travel and consider the timing of their hospital appointment.

How to check the e-visa status online?

To check your Malaysian visa application status, log in to your account on malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my and study your application details on the screen it provides.

Malaysia e-visa rejection reasons

A Malaysian eVISA application may be rejected for several reasons, including incomplete information, missing documents, or failure to meet the requirements for the selected visa category. Common reasons include:

• Incorrect or inconsistent personal information, passport details, or travel information provided in the application;
• Documents uploaded in the wrong format, incomplete files, or unclear document scans;
• A passport photo that does not meet Malaysian eVISA requirements;
• Insufficient passport validity or missing required blank passport pages;
• Missing supporting documents required for the selected visa category, such as an approval letter, invitation letter, or medical appointment confirmation;
• Insufficient proof of accommodation, travel plans, financial support, or purpose of visit;
• Failure to provide additional documents or information requested by Immigration within the required timeframe;
• Applying for an incorrect eVISA category or using eVISA for a purpose that requires a different approval or pass;
• Unclear or unconfirmed travel arrangements, where such documents are required.

In some cases, Malaysian Immigration may request additional information, documents, or an interview before making a final decision on the application.

If an application is rejected, applicants should review the reason provided by Immigration and submit a new application only after addressing the identified issues.

FAQ

Is a Malaysian eVISA the same as a work or student visa?

No. A Malaysian eVISA is an entry visa that allows eligible travelers to enter Malaysia. It does not replace a student pass, employment pass, residence pass, or other long-term permission. Applicants travelling for study or work must first obtain the required approval, such as an eVAL or VDR, and complete the relevant procedures.

Can I apply for a Malaysia eVISA while I am already in Malaysia?

No. eVISA applications must be submitted while the applicant is outside Malaysia. The MYVISA portal does not accept applications submitted from Malaysia, Israel, or North Korea.

Do I need to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before entering Malaysia?

Most foreign travelers must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within three days before arrival. Some travelers are exempt, including certain Malaysian residents and holders of qualifying passports or long-term passes. Check the latest MDAC requirements before departure.

Can I use a VPN when applying for a Malaysia eVISA?

No. The MYVISA portal advises applicants not to use a VPN during the application process, as it may affect the submission.

How many people can be included in one Malaysia eVISA account?

An individual MYVISA account can have up to five active applications for five applicants. Malaysian Immigration recommends that applicants submit their own applications whenever possible.

Last update: July 2026