Who Needs a Visa to Enter Malaysia: Visa-Exempt Countries, eVisa and eNTRI

Before you book a flight to Kuala Lumpur, the first question is not “which hotel” — it is “does my passport get me through the gate?” For most travellers the answer is a relief, but the rules split sharply by nationality, and one online form now applies to almost everyone.

Malaysia sorts foreign visitors into three broad tracks — visa-free, eVisa, or eNTRI — and layers a mandatory digital arrival registration on top. This page maps who falls where.

Which track are you on?

Malaysia’s system has four moving parts. Three of them determine whether you may enter; the fourth is a registration that nearly everyone completes regardless of the first three.

Track	Who it applies to	Stay granted	Apply in advance?
Visa-free social visit	Nationals of ~50 listed countries (most of Europe, UK, US, Australia, Canada, Japan) and ASEAN states	Varies by nationality; ASEAN (except Myanmar) under one month	No
Visa waiver (China, India)	Chinese and Indian nationals	Up to 30 days per entry	No (but see MDAC)
eVisa	Nationals of ~31 listed countries	30 days per entry, visa valid 6 months	Yes — apply ~14 days ahead
eNTRI	Indian nationals (tourism only)	15 days per visit, single use	Yes
MDAC (arrival card)	Almost all foreign visitors	Not a visa — a pre-arrival registration	Yes — within 3 days before arrival

The tracks are not interchangeable. If your nationality requires an eVisa, arriving visa-free is not an option; if you qualify visa-free, you do not apply for an eVisa. The one thing that binds nearly everyone together is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card.

Who enters Malaysia visa-free?

Malaysia grants visa-free entry for social visits to nationals of a long list of countries — the Immigration Department publishes a table of roughly 50 nations for which no visa is required, including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

For ASEAN neighbours the rule is stated plainly: a visa is “not required for a stay of less than one (1) month for ASEAN nationals except Myanmar,” and “Visas required for duration of stay exceeds (1) month except for Brunei and Singapore nationals.” In other words, ASEAN passports (Myanmar aside) get a short visa-free window, while Brunei and Singapore nationals face no month-long ceiling at all.

The exact number of days granted on arrival depends on your nationality, so the authoritative reference is always the current Immigration Department list rather than a rule of thumb. Whatever the length, a visa-free entry is a social visit pass — good for tourism, visiting family and friends, and business meetings, but never for taking up paid work or enrolling in study.

What changed for Chinese and Indian nationals?

Chinese and Indian nationals sit in a special category. Malaysia introduced a unilateral visa waiver for both from 1 December 2023, and it has since been extended. China’s arrangement was later put on a reciprocal footing by a mutual visa-exemption agreement.

• Purpose: the exemption covers non-work, non-study visits — for Chinese nationals the mutual agreement lists tourism, family and friends visits, business, exchange, private affairs, medical treatment and crew transit.
• Duration: up to 30 days per entry. For Chinese nationals, total stays are capped at a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period.
• Validity of the scheme: the unilateral waiver runs until 31 December 2026 for both nationalities. Separately, the China–Malaysia mutual visa-exemption agreement took effect on 17 July 2025 and applies to Chinese nationals on the 30-day / 90-in-180 terms above.
• Work or study: Chinese and Indian nationals must still obtain the appropriate visa or pass before entering Malaysia for work or study (journalism and residence are likewise excluded).

One practical limit: the social visit pass cannot be extended inside Malaysia. To stay longer, a traveller must leave the country, re-enter, and obtain a fresh pass.

Who needs an eVisa, and how does it work?

Nationals of around 31 countries — among them Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — must obtain an eVisa before travelling. The eVisa is issued through the official MYVISA portal for social purposes such as tourism, visiting family, or attending short-term events.

Key parameters from the official terms:

• Two types: a Single Entry Visa (SEV) for one journey, or a Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) for several.
• Stay: 30 days per entry.
• Validity: an SEV is valid for a single journey within 6 months of issuance (3 months for foreign workers); an MEV is valid for multiple journeys within 6 months of issuance.
• Processing: applications are assessed within 2 to 7 working days from the time of payment.
• Timing: apply at least 14 days before travelling.
• Restrictions: you cannot apply from inside Malaysia, and the system does not accept applications from Israel or North Korea. All payments are non-refundable regardless of the outcome.

What is eNTRI and who can use it?

eNTRI (Electronic Travel Registration & Information) is a lighter-weight alternative available specifically to Indian nationals travelling for tourism. It is not a full visa but an electronic registration.

Its defining limits, per the Immigration Department:

• An eNTRI holder is entitled to a maximum of 15 days for each visit.
• Each application can only be used once, and no extension is allowed.
• Entry is restricted to designated checkpoints — airports such as KLIA, Penang, Langkawi, Melaka, Senai, Kuching, Miri, Kota Kinabalu and Labuan, and land checkpoints including Sultan Iskandar, Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang Besar.
• On arrival, travellers must present the eNTRI printout together with a boarding pass, proof of sufficient funds, a confirmed return ticket and proof of accommodation.

Because Indian nationals currently also benefit from the broader visa waiver, eNTRI is best understood as one of several routes — travellers should confirm which is in force for their travel dates before applying.

The one form almost everyone needs: the MDAC

Whichever track you fall into, the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is the near-universal step. From 1 December 2023, foreign nationals entering Malaysia must complete the MDAC, submitted three days before they arrive, on the official Immigration Department portal at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main.

The form is short — name, nationality, passport number and expiry, email and mobile number — and it is a registration, not a visa. Only a few groups are exempt, including Malaysian permanent residents, Malaysian Automated Clearance System (MACS) holders, and travellers merely transiting Singapore without seeking immigration clearance.

Two cautions. First, the MDAC does not replace a visa: if your nationality needs an eVisa or eNTRI, complete that too. Second, use only the official Immigration portal — a government form should never be submitted through a third-party site.

What’s next

• Confirm your exact category. Check the current Visa Requirement by Country list on the Immigration Department site against your passport, because durations and eligibility can change.
• Submit the MDAC within the three-day window before departure, on the official portal only.
• If you need an eVisa, apply on the MYVISA portal at least two weeks ahead and keep the approval to show on arrival.
• Coming to work or study? Neither a visa waiver, an eVisa nor eNTRI covers employment or study — arrange the correct employment pass or student pass before you travel.