HandyVisas logoVisa Information and Requirements for Citizens of Malaysia

Visa Requirements for Citizens of Malaysia

Learn about the visa requirements for Malaysian citizens to enter any country in the world.

Visa Requirements for Malaysian Citizens

Visa requirements for citizens of Malaysia are the rules regarding whether or not Malaysian nationals need permission to enter a country and, if so, which visa or travel authorization is needed.

The Henley Passport Index ranks the Malaysian passport as the 14th strongest in the world in terms of travel freedom. It grants access to over 175 countries and territories without having to apply for a visa at an embassy.

Some countries’ visa requirements for Malaysians can vary depending on factors such as the length of time they intend to stay and the purpose of their journey to the destination.

Citizens of Malaysia are able to obtain a visa online for various destinations. These electronic visas or eVisas are typically quick and easy to apply for by filling in an online form. The digital nature of eVisas means that Malaysian nationals can get one from the comfort of their own home.

A number of destinations have a visa on arrival (VoA) service available to Malaysians, which can be useful for last-minute trips. However, travelers must stand in line at the border to get the VoA application form and fill it out, which can be time-consuming.

Malaysians must apply for a visa in person at an embassy or consulate belonging to the destination country in order to travel to certain countries for any reason or length of time.

In order to live, work, study, or stay long-term in the majority of foreign countries, Malaysian citizens must apply for the relevant type of visa at an embassy.

Nationals of Malaysia enjoy visa exemption for a large number of countries and territories, meaning that they can enter without a visa, at least for short touristic visits.

In some cases, Malaysians must obtain an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to enter a destination visa-free. Similar to an eVisa, an eTA for Malaysian citizens can be acquired by completing a simple online registration form.

Read on to learn visa requirements for Malaysians to visit different locations.

List of Visa Countries for Malaysian Passport Holders

Over 130 countries and territories around the world have visa requirements for Malaysian passport holders, although the type of visa or travel authorization required varies depending on the destination, the purpose, and the length of stay.

Some of these countries and territories have either an eVisa or eTA for Malaysian visitors. These online systems are the most convenient types of entry permit to obtain, as the application form can be completed quickly from any location with an internet connection.

An eTA or eVisa for Malaysians generally permits short-term stays for tourism and, in some cases, other reasons like business.

For long-term stays and/or to enter a country for purposes such as to seek employment, to study, and/or to live there, Malaysian nationals need to obtain the necessary visa (work visa, student visa, residence permit, etc.) from an embassy.

Other destinations require Malaysians to apply for a visa at an embassy regardless of the length or purpose of their visit.

Malaysians may apply for a visa on arrival to enter certain destinations for short-term visits, although this can involve lots of waiting at the border before being allowed to enter.

Take a look at the map below to find out what the visa requirements are for Malaysian passport holders to visit different countries and territories around the world.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization for Citizens of Malaysia

A number of countries and territories have digital systems that allow Malaysian passport holders to apply for an entry permit online. These can be divided into 2 main types: electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (eTAs).

Malaysian travelers can obtain either an eVisa or eTA for over 20 different destinations.

An eVisa for Malaysian citizens has the same status and authority as a traditional embassy visa, but is far quicker and more convenient to obtain. The online application process avoids an unnecessary trip to a diplomatic mission in person.

An eTA for nationals of Malaysia is a visa waiver, which allows the traveler to register online instead of obtaining a visa.

In practice, both types of electronic entry permits for Malaysians are similar, featuring streamlined application systems that can be completed quickly from anywhere with an internet connection.

An eTA or eVisa for Malaysians may be valid for a single entry or multiple entries, depending on the destination country.

They generally allow Malaysian passport holders to visit the sovereign state or territory for short stays for the purposes of tourism and leisure. In some cases, they may also permit transit and/or entry for purposes such as business or to receive medical treatment.

The maximum length of stay permitted by an eVisa or eTA for Malaysian visitors varies between 16 days and 5 years, depending on the country.

In some cases, the eVisa or eTA is electronically linked to the Malaysian passport registered in the application, which means that the passport must simply be scanned at border control to allow the digital permit to be read.

For other destinations, a paper copy must be printed and shown upon arrival. If in doubt, it is advisable to print out the eVisa or eTA.

See below the list of countries that travelers from Malaysia can visit with either an eVisa or an eTA.

Visa On Arrival for Malaysian Nationals

A visa on arrival (VoA) for citizens of Malaysia is an entry permit that can be obtained at border control when entering a country or territory.

Around 30 different destinations have a visa on arrival service available to Malaysian passport holders.

VoAs generally only allow Malaysians to enter a country for tourism and leisure, although some may permit other reasons.

Travelers from Malaysia may typically only stay in a country or territory for a short time with a visa on arrival. Depending on the destination, the maximum length of a trip with a VoA can vary between 7 and 120 days.

Most visas on arrival for Malaysian nationals permit a single entry to the country, although in some cases a multiple-entry option may be available.

In many cases, countries and territories only have visa on arrival services at certain airports, seaports, and/or land border crossing points. It is important for Malaysian travelers to check if a VoA will be available at their intended point of entry.

For some destinations, it may be necessary to pay the visa on arrival fee in the local currency.

Applying for a VoA for Malaysians often means waiting in long lines at the border to fill out the form and wait for it to be processed.

It also means that, in the rare event of a problem with the application or supporting documents, there is no time to rectify the situation. The traveler will not be allowed to enter and will have to return home.

For these reasons, it is highly recommended to apply for an eVisa in advance if this option exists for the destination.

Browse the list below to find the destinations for which citizens of Malaysia can obtain a visa on arrival.

Visa On Arrival for Malaysian Nationals: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Angola
  • Bangladesh
  • Bolivia
  • Comoros
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Lebanon
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Pakistan
  • Palau
  • Saint Lucia
  • Samoa
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Timor-Leste
  • Togo
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen

Embassy Visa Required by Malaysians

An embassy or consular visa for Malaysian citizens is any type of visa obtained from an overseas diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate).

Around 80 different countries require travelers from Malaysia to apply for a visa at an embassy, regardless of the purpose of their visit and the length of time they intend to stay. This includes short-stay tourist visas.

In addition, Malaysians who plan to relocate to the majority of countries and territories and/or perform employed work or study there must obtain their residence visa, work permit, or study visa from an embassy or consulate.

Embassies and consulates are also responsible for issuing long-stay visas if a Malaysian plans to spend longer in the country than is permitted visa-free or with an eVisa or VoA.

Citizens of Malaysia can apply for an embassy visa by going to the diplomatic mission in person, filling out a form, and providing supporting documentation. For some destinations, the applicant will be interviewed. It may be necessary to book an appointment at the embassy in advance.

Applying for an embassy visa for Malaysians can be time-consuming compared to getting an eVisa online, which is why many countries are shifting towards electronic platforms.

Malaysians who require an embassy visa are advised to apply well in advance of their trip.

See below a list of destinations that require Malaysian travelers to obtain an embassy visa to enter for any reason, including short stays as a tourist.

Embassy Visa Required by Malaysians: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Afghanistan
  • Aland Islands
  • American Samoa
  • Anguilla
  • Antarctica
  • Bermuda
  • Bhutan
  • Bonaire
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands
  • Congo
  • Cook Islands
  • Curacao
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Egypt
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greenland
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guernsey
  • Iraq
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Jersey
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Martinique
  • Mayotte
  • Montserrat
  • Nauru
  • New Caledonia
  • Niger
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Paraguay
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • Reunion
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Sint Maarten
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Tokelau
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United States
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Wallis and Futuna

Visa Not Required by Travelers from Malaysia

Holders of Malaysian passports are visa-exempt for many destinations, meaning that they may enter without any sort of visa or travel authorization.

Over 110 countries and territories currently allow Malaysian nationals to enter visa-free.

Visa exemption for Malaysians typically only applies for short stays. The maximum length of time a citizen of Malaysia can stay in a country without a visa ranges between 10 days and 1 (one) year, depending on the destination in question.

In most cases, this exemption to visa requirements for Malaysians is exclusively for visits for the purpose of tourism or leisure, although some countries may also permit other reasons, such as business meetings.

For stays longer than the maximum permitted and/or to perform activities not covered by the terms of the country’s visa exemption policy, Malaysian citizens will need a visa.

Find below the list of destinations that allow nationals of Malaysia to enter without a visa or travel authorization.

Visa Not Required by Travelers from Malaysia: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Austria
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Chile
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Latvia
  • Lesotho
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Namibia
  • Netherlands
  • Nicaragua
  • Norway
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Romania
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • San Marino
  • Senegal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Suriname
  • Swaziland
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

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