is my travel pass malaysia still required

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Follow our news, recent searches, what you need to know about malaysia's digital arrival card, advertisement.

Singaporeans are among those exempt from filling in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC).

Visitors and tourists waiting to clear immigration at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. (Photo: CNA/Fadza Ishak)

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Gabrielle Andres

SINGAPORE: Most foreigners travelling to Malaysia are now required to submit a digital arrival form.

However, Singaporeans are among those exempt from filling in the document, known as the  Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) .

Here’s what you need to know about Malaysia's new immigration requirement.

IS THE DIGITAL ARRIVAL CARD REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE?

If you are Singaporean, you need not fill in the form. 

Malaysia long-term pass holders, those with Brunei common identification certificates and holders of Thai border passes are also exempt.

Foreigners who do not fall under the exemption categories must submit their digital forms within three days prior to arrival. 

There had earlier been confusion over whether the digital arrival card would apply to all travellers, including those driving from Singapore or those opting to use manual immigration counters at Malaysia's land checkpoints. 

But Malaysia's Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution clarified on Dec 5 that the MDAC will not be compulsory for those who travel to the country frequently - and these include Singaporeans and Malaysia long-term pass holders.

HOW DO I SUBMIT THE DIGITAL ARRIVAL CARD?

You can fill out the form on the Immigration Department's  website within three days before your scheduled arrival in Malaysia. You need to do this every time you visit the country.

Submitting the form is free of charge.

The digital arrival card was initially launched in January as a pre-requisite to allow Singapore passport holders to use electronic gate (e-gate) facilities at the two land entry points in Johor Bahru.

It made the news again when Malaysia's Immigration Department said on its website on Dec 1 that all travellers are required to submit their digital arrival card before entering the country.

A grace period is currently in effect until Dec 31, allowing foreigners to complete the form upon arrival at Malaysia's international entry points. 

From Jan 1, the form must be completed within three days before arrival. 

I’VE SUBMITTED THE ARRIVAL CARD. WHAT DO I DO UPON ARRIVAL?

Upon arrival, you must present a valid passport and a completed digital arrival card for validation before proceeding through the immigration counter.

Tourists arriving from Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom can also use Malaysia’s automated entry system, also known as an autogate.

First-time visitors will need to enrol and verify their passports at a manual counter upon arrival, after which they can use the autogate when they depart.

If you have already registered your passport on a previous visit, you can immediately use the autogate to enter and exit the country.

ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS I SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF?

A valid passport is required for all arrivals.

If you are arriving at one of Malaysia’s airports, your passport must be valid for at least six months. If you are arriving through one of the land checkpoints, your passport must be valid for at least three months.

WHY IS MALAYSIA DOING THIS?

Under its Visa Liberalisation Plan, Malaysia aims to “attract foreign tourists and generate national income”.

“This will ensure Malaysia remains a leader in key industries investment and tourism in the Asian region,” the Immigration Department of Malaysia said in a Facebook post on Friday.

Other initiatives were also introduced, including a visa exemption for Chinese and Indian citizens, a multiple entry visa facility, a graduate pass, an Umrah transit visa and an improvement on the validity and eligibility period of visas and social visit passes.

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Please ensure you have a valid passport and visa for any international travel. You may obtain the latest entry requirements via the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting or via the IATA Travel Centre . For domestic flights within Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah / Sarawak, all relevant documents must be original. Copies are not accepted.

Effective 4 July 2022, returning Malaysians to the country will no longer need to fill out and complete the Traveller’s Pass feature in their MySejahtera application.

However, non-Malaysian travellers are still required to complete the Traveler Pass displayed in the MySejahtera app before entering the country.  (Source: link )

From 1 August 2022, all travellers are allowed to enter Malaysia regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status and do not require a pre-departure or on-arrival COVID-19 test. There are no quarantine orders related to COVID-19 enforced by the Malaysian Government upon arrival.  country.  (Source: link )

COVID-19 travel insurance is no longer required for all arriving travellers.

Supervised RTK-AG test for travellers

Travellers who are required to do a professionally administered RTK-Ag test upon arrival or before continuing their journey to the next destination may choose to perform the test at private screening facilities that are available at the airport. Otherwise, they may opt to do the test outside of the airport.

Please refer below for the available screening facilities at each international airport: Kuala Lumpur (KUL – KLIA & klia2) Kota Kinabalu (BKI) Kuching (KCH) Penang (PEN) Langkawi (LGK)

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FAQs for travellers to Malaysia: Completing the digital arrival card (MDAC)

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As announced by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, completion of the MDAC will be mandatory, with certain exemptions.

Starting 1 January 2024, foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia are required to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC).

As announced by the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), completion of the MDAC will be mandatory, except for the following groups:

• Citizens of Singapore;
• Diplomatic and Official Passport holders;
• Malaysian Permanent Residents and Long Term-Pass holders;
• General Certificate of Identity (GCI) Brunei Darussalam holders;
• Brunei Malaysia Frequent Traveller Facility holders;
• Thailand Border Pass holders, and
• Indonesia Cross-Border Travel Document (PLB) holders.

For clarity, JIM has released a set of frequently asked questions on the completion of the MDAC. 

1. How do I register for MDAC?

First step: Before arriving in Malaysia:

• Complete and submit the application. Applications can be made as early as three days prior to arriving in Malaysia. Applicants may access the portal here . 

Second step: Upon arrival in Malaysia:

• Present the MDAC registration and proceed to the immigration counter for passport verification.

2. Are there any exceptions for foreign citizens to complete MDAC?

Yes, the following categories of foreign citizens are exempted:

• Singapore Passport holders
• Diplomatic and Official Passports holders
• Permanent Resident (PR) status holders
• Holders of Long-Term Visit Passes issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia – e.g,. Employment Pass, Temporary Work Visit Pass, Student Pass.

3. Are international airline crew members excluded from completing MDAC?

Yes, when on duty, and upon submitting the General Declaration form to the crew inspection counter.

4. Is it necessary for foreign citizens who have received permission for a Long- Term Visit Pass with Visa With Reference (VDR) or an e-VISA Approval Letter (eVAL), but have not yet received the physical Long-Term Visit Pass, to complete MDAC?

Yes, they are required to complete the MDAC.

5. What is meant by 'date of departure' in the MDAC form?

This refers to the date that travellers will depart Malaysia for another country. 

6. How can I correct information that is wrongly entered? 

You are allowed to resubmit a new MDAC form with the correct information.

7. Do I have to complete the MDAC form if I land at Terminal 1 on a transit flight and then take off from Terminal 2 or another airport in Malaysia (LTSAAS Subang)?

Yes, you will still need to fill out the MDAC.

8. Is it permissible for me to complete the MDAC on behalf of someone else – such as a father-in-law, a senior, a child, etc.?

No restrictions apply. However, the traveller is still required to go through the immigration vetting process at the immigration counter. Thus they must present all information on the MDAC.

9. What is the immigration vetting process? 

It is a prerequisite for entry into Malaysia for foreign citizens. Please refer to this website .

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12 Sep 2024 - 2 min read

Everything you need to know about Malaysia's Digital Arrival Card

Since December 1, 2023, the Malaysian Immigration Department has officially introduced a new policy, the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Foreign nationals intending to vacation or visit Malaysia are required to fill out the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card.

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is one of the five main initiatives aimed at enhancing the services of the Immigration Department, aligning with the implementation of the visa liberalization plan that grants a 30-day visa exemption for tourists from China and India.

If you are not familiar with this new policy, Traveloka will provide detailed explanations about the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card and how to fill it out. So, read this article thoroughly!

What is Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is a form you must complete if you plan to visit Malaysia. You need to show the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card and a fully filled-out passport to the Immigration officers on duty upon your arrival in Malaysia.

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is not required if you are a permanent resident of Malaysia, hold a Malaysia Automated Clearance System pass, or are in transit through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance.

Specifically for visitors from ten countries, Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom you are eligible to use the autogates upon arrival and departure from either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 at KLIA.

For Thai travelers, you are required to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card three days before arriving and then enroll and verify your passport at the manual counter manned by Immigration personnel.

The use of autogates is permitted upon arrival and departure only for subsequent visits, provided you submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card three days before each visit to Malaysia. This privilege is applicable only after you have successfully enrolled to use the autogate for immigration clearance.

How to apply for a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?

Filling out the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is actually quite easy. You just need to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card on the official website of the Immigration Department’s MDAC .

Some of the information you need to provide includes personal details, passport number, date of arrival, date of departure, mode of transportation (air, land, or sea), and the last port of embarkation.

It's important to note that you should have already filled out the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card three days prior to your arrival in Malaysia.

Let's quickly take care of all the paperwork, including the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, so that your enjoyable trip and vacation in Malaysia won't be hindered! Book your travel needs promptly on Traveloka. With one app, you can reserve all your needs, from flight , hotels and attraction tickets. Enjoy a hassle-free journey with Traveloka!

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Malaysia – Updates on Entry Requirements

Two (2) key updates from Malaysia’s immigration authorities means that companies and their expatriate hires or receiving foreign visitors will experience some changes in procedures and entry/stay rules.

WHY THIS MATTERS

It is imperative for employers and foreign visitors to be updated on the latest entry requirements; these vary depending on the purpose of the visit to Malaysia and whether the foreign national holds a Long-term Pass issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.  When companies and travellers prepare the necessary entry documentation and comply with the rules, the end result can be a smooth entry and reduced immigration clearance time at the airport. 

More Details

Below are the two (2) key updates that a company should take note of in respect of its expatriate hires or if receiving foreign visitors:

• Entry Visa – Under the Visa Liberalisation Plan, 1 effective from 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2024, passport holders of the People’s Republic of China and India will be granted a 30-day visa exemption to visit Malaysia only for a social visit or tour.  Foreign nationals entering Malaysia for other purposes, such as the endorsement of an approved Long-term Pass will still be required to apply for the single-entry visa.  In the event the single-entry visa is not applied for, and the Social Visit Pass is issued, endorsement of a Long-term Pass (e.g., Employment, Professional Visit, Dependent, etc.) cannot be processed as announced by the Expatriate Services Division. 2
• Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (“MDAC”) 3 – Effective 1 January 2024, all foreign nationals need to complete and submit the MDAC application online as early as three days prior to one’s arrival date in Malaysia.  Exemption from MDAC is applicable for holders of the following:

i)   Singapore passport;

ii)  Diplomatic and Official passport;

iii) Permanent Resident;

iv) Long-term Pass e.g., Employment Pass, Dependent Pass, Student Pass, etc.

Foreign nationals entering Malaysia for endorsement of the newly-approved Long-term Pass are not exempted and need to proceed with an application for the MDAC.

For more details, kindly refer to the FAQs. 4

KPMG INSIGHTS

Although relaxation of entry visas for Chinese and Indian nationals has not happened in cases where such nationals are entering Malaysia for purposes of the issuance of a Long-term Pass, the current process to apply online for an entry visa is efficient, eliminates trips to a Malaysian Embassy, and shortens the time needed to procure the entry visa.  The e-Visa for all types of visits can be applied for via https://malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my/evisa/evisa.jsp .  The entry visa can be issued in as fast as two days from the date of submitting the completed documents and successful payment.

Meanwhile, given the introduction of the MDAC, foreign nationals arriving in Malaysia can expect a shorter immigration clearance time due to digitalisation; Long-term Pass holders are also eligible to use the Autogate facilities. 

1  See Immigration Department of Malaysia, Announcement, Visa Liberalisation Plan .

2  See Expatriate Services Division, “Single Entry Visa for Chinese and Indian Nationality” (6 December 2023).

3  See Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) .

4  See FAQ Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) . 

* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Malaysia.

GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

© 2024 KPMG Tax Services Sdn Bhd, a company incorporated under Malaysian law and a member firm of the KPMG global organisation of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

Michelle Foo

KPMG in Malaysia

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Malaysians will need to obtain ETA for UK travel next year

Thursday, 12 Sep 2024

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians travelling to or transiting through the United Kingdom will be required to have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) starting from Jan 8 next year.

In a statement yesterday, the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur announced that ETAs will be mandatory for all foreign visitors, including children, who do not currently need a visa for short stays.

The ETA requirement, which is not a UK visa but a digital permission to travel to the UK, will also include those who do not already have UK immigration status prior to travelling.

“Malaysians who are going to live in the UK for over six months, either to study or work, are still required to apply for a relevant visa, but individuals with a valid UK visa do not need an ETA.

“This is in line with the approach many other countries, like the United States and Australia, have already taken to strengthen border security.

“It will contribute towards delivering a more streamlined, digital immigration system that will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year,” the High Commission said.

It added that each ETA will cost £10 (RM56.64) and allows multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years, or until the holder’s passport expires.

Malaysians can begin applying in advance from Nov 27 onwards, either through the “UK ETA app” or through www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.

The High Commission added that ETA applications will be managed by the UK Visas & Immigration Department and not by the High Commission itself.

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