Malaysia Visa for Indians 2026: Visa-Free Entry, MDAC Arrival Card, eVISA and Requirements

Do Indians Need a Visa for Malaysia? (2026 Quick Answer)

No, not for short trips. As of October 2026, Indian passport holders can enter Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business, social visits or transit. The High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi says this visa waiver runs until 31 December 2026.

The Immigration Department of Malaysia (IMI) agrees: it still lists India among visa-required countries but marks Indian citizens as visa-exempt until 31 December 2026, and MYVISA, its official eVISA portal, dates the exemption from 1 December 2023.

So Indians need no Malaysia tourist visa until the end of 2026. This is a visa exemption, or visa-free entry, not a visa on arrival, and it has conditions:

• The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), a free online form, is compulsory before every trip.
• Travellers need a confirmed return ticket, a hotel booking and enough money for the stay, and each entry remains subject to immigration checks.

No extension beyond 31 December 2026 had been announced as of October 2026, so for trips in late December 2026 or in 2027 we recommend checking again before booking.

Visa-Free Entry for Indians - Duration, Validity Period and Conditions

Length of stay

Each visa-free entry gives a 30-day Social Visit Pass (PLS), and IMI's visa liberalisation FAQ says it is not extended after 30 days. In a genuine emergency, such as illness or an accident, we recommend contacting the Immigration Department straight away; extra time is not guaranteed.

Overstaying is an offence under section 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. IMI lists a fine of up to RM10,000, up to 5 years' imprisonment, or both, and a compound of RM3,000.

Validity period

The scheme began on 1 December 2023 and was extended in December 2024; as of October 2026 it runs until 31 December 2026. Official pages do not say whether that is the last day of entry or of stay, so trips starting in late December 2026 deserve a fresh check.

Who and what it covers

All Indian citizens entering Malaysia qualify, including those travelling from outside India. For business trips, our separate guide to the Malaysian business visa for Indian passport holders has more detail.

Work and study are not covered and need a Visa with Reference. IMI's December 2023 FAQ says a visitor can generally move from the 30-day pass to a long-term pass if that application meets the rules in force; it depends on the specific pass and is not a way to extend a holiday.

Repeat visits and land crossings

Repeat visa-free visits are allowed, each for 30 days and subject to immigration procedures at the entry point. We found no published cap on how often Indians may visit.

India is not on Malaysia's air-entry-only list, though no official page names the land or sea checkpoints visa-exempt Indians may use; we recommend confirming any such crossing with the Immigration Department first.

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

Since 1 January 2024 the MDAC has been compulsory for foreign citizens entering Malaysia. Exempt groups include Singapore citizens, diplomatic and official passport holders, and Malaysian permanent residents or long-term pass holders; ordinary Indian passport holders file one for every trip.

How to submit it

• Where: the official MDAC portal of the Immigration Department or, since January 2026, the official MyNIISe app.
• When: within the 3 days before arrival, not earlier; the portal counts the day of submission as one of the 3 days.
• Cost: free. Malaysian mission guidance advises against paying any third party for it.
• On arrival: the MDAC registration is shown at the immigration counter during passport checks.
• Details: personal and passport details, email and mobile number, travel dates, flight number, mode of travel, last port of embarkation, accommodation type and address in Malaysia.

In January 2025 the Immigration Department warned about fake MDAC websites and told travellers to use only the official portal. The official form has no payment step, so a site asking for money is a warning sign.

Families and corrections

A parent or relative can fill in the MDAC for a child or an older family member, but each traveller still goes through immigration checks with those details. If details are wrong, IMI's FAQ says to submit a new MDAC.

When You Need a Malaysia eVISA

Until the exemption ends, Indians visiting for up to 30 days need no eVISA. It matters in three cases.

Work or study

Work and study need a Visa with Reference (VDR). The VDR eVISA is issued against a Visa Approval Letter for a single trip, and the long-term pass is obtained after arrival.

Trips after the exemption ends

An eVISA Single Entry Visa (SEV) is mandatory for social visits, such as tourism or seeing family, by citizens of 31 specified countries. India is on that list, with an exemption only until 31 December 2026. If the exemption is not extended, this is the visa Indians would most likely need, though no official page has yet said what applies from 1 January 2027.

An SEV allows one trip within 6 months of issue (3 months for the foreign worker, fly and cruise, and wedding tourism categories). We found no published length of stay for Indians on an SEV.

Multiple-entry trips

From 1 September 2026, the Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) is limited to 30 eligible nationalities and four purposes: fly and cruise, business, medical treatment and wedding tourism. We could not find the list, so India's eligibility is unconfirmed. An MEV is valid for 3 or 6 months depending on purpose, with up to 30 days per entry.

Fees as of October 2026

• MYVISA: the visa fee set by nationality, plus RM105.00 processing and a convenience charge of 0.8% (card) or 1.7% (Alipay, WeChat Pay) of the transaction. All payments are non-refundable.
• Visa fee for Indians: IMI's undated fee table lists RM50.00; MYVISA's charges come on top, so the exact total appears at payment.
• High Commission in New Delhi: since July 2026 the mission's visa fee is INR 1,250, based on the July 2026 exchange rate. It applies to applications made through the mission, not to MYVISA.

Processing and official channels

MYVISA's terms, updated in September 2026, give 2 to 7 working days, excluding weekends and public holidays, and longer if documents are missing or an interview is needed. MYVISA recommends applying at least 14 days before departure. Individuals cannot apply from inside Malaysia.

MYVISA is the only official eVISA website, and IMI says applications through third-party sites are at the applicant's own risk. Visarun is an independent agency, not a government site: we check requirements and help prepare eVISA documents, while a Malaysian High Commission, embassy or consulate makes the decision.

Documents for an eVISA

MYVISA asks for a studio photo, a passport valid more than 6 months from the travel date, a return ticket if applicable, proof of paid accommodation, a birth certificate for minors and, for social visitors, the last three months' bank statements.

Documents and Entry Checks at the Airport

Malaysia's High Commission in New Delhi lists what visa-exempt Indians show at security and immigration screening:

• A passport valid for at least six months. Other official pages say "more than 6 months", so we recommend more than six months left on the day you arrive.
• Confirmed return flight tickets.
• A confirmed hotel booking.
• Proof of the MDAC, submitted in the 3 days before arrival.

The mission's general conditions add enough money for the whole stay, no record on the Immigration Department's suspect list or the stolen and lost travel document system, and not being a prohibited immigrant. There is no official minimum amount.

The checklist does not say whether an onward ticket or a stay with relatives meets these conditions; if your plans differ, we recommend asking the High Commission.

Under the Immigration Act, a person unable to show the means to support himself is a prohibited immigrant, barred from entering without a special pass. In one KLIA enforcement operation reported by Malay Mail in July 2025, 13 Indians were among the foreigners refused entry for reasons including insufficient funds, no accommodation bookings and unclear travel purposes. One operation is not a trend, but it shows what officers check.

At the immigration hall

• Counters: since 1 June 2024 autogates are open to visitors from 63 countries. India is not among them, so Indians should expect staffed counters.
• Cash: amounts over USD 10,000 in cash or bearer negotiable instruments are declared to customs.
• Blank pages: MYVISA's FAQ asks for at least three blank passport pages. The New Delhi checklist does not, but they are a sensible precaution.
• Officers: according to February 2025 news reports, border checks at KLIA are now run by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS); visa and MDAC rules are still set by the Immigration Department.

eVISA holders also show the eVISA printout or digital eVISA note and a boarding pass or ticket. An eVISA does not guarantee entry; the officer at the entry point decides.

Transit Through Kuala Lumpur

Until 31 December 2026 the exemption covers transit, so Indians need no transit visa in Kuala Lumpur. What matters is whether the connection passes through immigration.

• Same terminal, airside: no immigration, but IMI's MDAC FAQ strongly recommends an MDAC in case of an emergency entry, with "Others" as accommodation and "In Case of Emergency – Transit Only" plus the flight number as the address.
• Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, or to another Malaysian airport such as Subang: IMI's FAQ says an MDAC is required.

An unofficial KLIA passenger guide adds that the two terminals are not connected airside, so changing terminals means clearing immigration, consistent with IMI's FAQ. For planning, we treat a terminal change or a self-transfer on separate tickets as an entry, with an MDAC and extra time.

IMI's transit visa page says foreign nationals who stay in the airport and continue on the same flight need no transit visa. For connections after 31 December 2026, we recommend checking the rules again.

Recent Changes (2025-2026)

• December 2024: the Home Ministry extended the exemption, originally due to end on 31 December 2024, by two years to 31 December 2026, citing Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN chairmanship and Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
• January 2025: IMI warned about fake MDAC websites.
• February 2025: according to news reports, AKPS was launched at KLIA on 2 February and began taking over border checks.
• February and September 2025: IMI warned that third-party websites are not official eVISA channels.
• January 2026: the MDAC became available in the MyNIISe app.
• July 2026: the New Delhi mission revised its visa fee to INR 1,250.
• 1 September 2026: the MEV was limited to 30 eligible nationalities and four purposes.

Older guides may mention eNTRI, an online registration Indians once used for 15-day visa-free visits. IMI's page describes it only for April 2017 to March 2018. We found no notice formally closing it, but it is not the current route: Indians now use the 30-day exemption plus the MDAC.

Rules on the Malaysia visa for Indians have changed often since 2023, so we recommend checking IMI and MYVISA before each trip.

FAQ

Do Indians need a visa for Malaysia in 2026?

Not for stays of up to 30 days: as of October 2026, the exemption runs until 31 December 2026. The free MDAC is still compulsory before each trip.

Is there a visa on arrival for Indians in Malaysia?

We found no current official Malaysian page offering Indian tourists a visa on arrival. What applies is visa-free entry, plus the MDAC and border checks.

How long can Indians stay without a visa?

Up to 30 days per entry, with no extension. Overstaying can bring a fine of up to RM10,000, up to 5 years' imprisonment, or both.

When is the MDAC filled in, and is it free?

Within the 3 days before arrival, on the official MDAC portal or in the MyNIISe app. It is free of charge.

How much money do Indians need to enter Malaysia?

There is no official minimum amount. The requirement is enough money for the whole stay, plus a confirmed return ticket and a hotel booking.

How much is the Malaysia eVISA fee for Indians?

Only those who need an eVISA pay it: a visa fee by nationality (RM50.00 for Indians in IMI's undated table), RM105.00 processing and a 0.8% or 1.7% convenience charge. The exact total is shown at payment.

Can Indians work or study in Malaysia visa-free?

No. Both need a Visa with Reference (VDR), issued against a Visa Approval Letter.

Is an MDAC needed for a transit in Kuala Lumpur?

Yes if you change terminals or airports. For a same-terminal connection, IMI strongly recommends one in case of an emergency entry.

What happens after 31 December 2026?

As of October 2026, no extension had been announced and no official page says what applies from 1 January 2027. India is on MYVISA's eVISA list for social visits, so we recommend checking before booking.