Malaysia Student Visa (Student Pass)

Due to the high quality of education, variety of English-language programs, and affordable costs, Malaysia is becoming a more and more popular student destination. All students arriving in Malaysia for education must obtain a student visa - Student Pass - to stay in the country. It is necessary to begin processing the Malaysian student visa at least 3 months before your trip.

Obtaining a student visa is divided into several stages, which we will describe in this article.

1. 1. Get enrolled in an institute of higher education in Malaysia

   You will need an official letter from the university confirming your admission.

2. 2. Obtain a Personal Bond

   A Personal Bond is a document by which the university vouches for your good intentions. It serves as a characteristic and recommendation, and it can be issued only by the host educational institution.

   To get a personal bond, you need to send a financial deposit to the institution, which will be returned to you upon completion of your studies. The amount of the deposit depends on the student's country of origin. You can find a list of current Personal Bond prices at this link.

   It is acceptable to get the Personal Bond even after arrival in Malaysia. But if you obtain this document before starting the Malaysian student visa application, it will speed up the process and avoid delays.

3. 3. Apply for a Visa Approval Letter (VAL)

   There are two ways to do this:

   • Through your institution of higher education. If your university provides visa assistance, you will need to send administration scans of documents (see list below) and electronically sign the application form. The application process may vary depending on the institution.
   • By yourself, online through the educationmalaysia.gov.my website (EMGS). You must create an account and upload documents electronically.

   Documents required for Malaysian student visa application:

   • Confirmation of enrollment;
   • Color scans of your passport, which must be valid for at least 18 months in advance. For applicants from Indonesia, the passport must be valid for at least 24 months;
   • Pre-arrival health declaration form (format: *.pdf);
   • Transcript of grades/certificates from a previous educational institution;
   • Personal Bond (stamped by the educational institution);
   • CV resume (for applicants over 25 years old);
   • Proof of purchase of Malaysian medical insurance;
   • Consent to travel from both parents, notarized (for applicants under 18 years of age);
   • No-Objection Certificate (NOC) (only for students from Sudan);
   • Letter Of Eligibility (LOE) (only for Iranian students);
   • Applicant’s digital passport-type photo;
   • English language certificate. The results of the following tests will be suitable: PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, CPE, and MUET (Malaysian University English Test.

   EMGS photo requirements

   The image attached to your EMGS application must comply with the following Malaysia visa photo specifications:

   • The minimal required EMGS photo size is 217 pixels in width and 280 pixels in height. The file size should not exceed 60 kilobytes;
   • The size of the photo in printed form should be 35x45 millimeters;
   • EMGS photo backgrounds should be uniformly white, with no extraneous objects or distinct shadows;
   • The head should occupy 80% of the image;
   • The image must be of good quality, without blurring or fading. Scans of previous photos are not suitable;
   • The applicant must look directly into the camera with a neutral facial expression;
   • Headgear is acceptable if you wear it for religious reasons;
   • If you wear glasses, make sure their frames and lenses do not cover your eyes. For best results, it is best to take your picture without glasses.

   To instantly get your EMGS photo online, just upload any portrait of you taken in full-face. Visafoto will instantly edit the size and proportions of the photo and replace the background with white. You'll get aт image that meets 100% of EMGS photo specifications, suitable for an online application.

   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. No registration required. You will see results in seconds.

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   Note that the built-in photo checker at EMGS sometimes doesn't work correctly. For example, it can report that "The photo does not show skin colors accurately", but you can ignore this message. This error appears even if you upload to the photo checker pictures given by EMGS itself as examples. Don't worry: the photo will be accepted anyway.

4. 4. Pay the Student Pass fee

   There are also two ways to do this:

   • Through the institution, by sending funds via Telegraphic Transfer/Wire Transfer;
   • By yourself online through EMGS, by bank card. In this case, you will have to pay an additional fee of 3%.

5. 5. Wait for your application to be approved

   The Student Pass processing time takes an average of two weeks. You will be notified by E-mai when you approved. You will also be emailed a Visa approval letter (VAL), which you must print out before entering Malaysia.

6. 6. Arrive in Malaysia

   Once the VAL is issued, the student is allowed to enter Malaysia. After purchasing a ticket, the student must inform the host university of the flight number, date, and time of his/her arrival: a representative of the university must meet you at the airport.

   At the airport, a representative of the host institution will help you with a document called a Special Pass. This document is valid for 2 weeks, during which you must obtain a permanent Student Pass.

7. 7. Get your Student Pass and paste it into the passport

   Within 2 weeks of arriving in Malaysia, the university must submit your passport to the Immigration Department. You will receive a Student Pass sticker on it, which must be renewed annually.

Do I have to undergo a medical examination for a Malaysian student visa in 2022?

All international students of Malaysian universities must undergo medical examinations for dangerous diseases (tuberculosis, AIDS, viral hepatitis, etc.), drug use, pregnancy, and vaccination history. A medical form indicating the appropriate clinics will be sent to you, along with admission documents. Previously, this was required before applying for the Student Pass, but this requirement was waived in 2019. However, students still must undergo the post-arrival medical testing at a registered EMGS clinic within the first seven days in Malaysia. All costs are the responsibility of the student.

Malaysia student visa fees

The total Malaysia Student Pass cost consists of the following points:

• Student Pass - $18 (payable annually)
• Personal Bond - $91-457
• Application Fee - around $50 depending on the university (some universities refund this amount to students upon graduation)
• Malaysian Medical Insurance - $152-259

How to extend a Student Pass in Malaysia?

Every international student in Malaysia must renew the Student Pass in his/her passport annually. Student Pass renewal is subject to the condition that the student attends classes regularly and maintains good academic progress.

Once a year, students must apply for an extension of the Student Pass directly through the University. You must do this no later than 1.5 months prior to the expiration date of the current sticker.