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Malaysia Tourist Visa: Requirements and Application Process

Published: June 17, 2024

A Malaysia tourist visa is required for non-visa-exempt nationals traveling to Malaysia. These nationalities are also eligible for eVisa, which is easier, faster and straightforward. But if you decide to apply for a tourist visa at your nearby Malaysian embassy, this article will help you with the required documents and application process. 

QUICK SUMMARY:

• Required for: 33 countries
• Allowed stay: 30 days
• Validity: 6 months
• Entries: Single or multiple
• Visa fee: Varies
• Extensions: Not allowed

If you haven’t already, read the Malaysia Visa Guide for information on various visa options for tourists, their eligibility and requirements.

Table of Contents

Understanding malaysia tourist visa.

Tourist visa validity

The Malaysia tourist visa is valid for 6 months, regardless of whether it is a single or multiple entry.

Duration of stay

The allowed duration of stay for Malaysia tourist visa is 30 days for each entry. 

Allowed number of entries

It depends if you plan to apply for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. Single-entry visas are only valid for 1 entry. With a multiple-entry visa, you can enter Malaysia as many times as you want. 

Allowed ports of entry

With a Malaysian tourist visa, you can arrive through any international border. Some countries are required to arrive via air only.

When to apply

You can apply for your Malaysia tourist visa up to 

Tourist visa extension

Extensions are generally not allowed although one may be granted under extenuating circumstances like illness, accident, war in home country, etc. You must produce evidence and present a confirmed return ticket to your home country or a third country.

You must apply for extensions in person at an immigration department and supply the following:

• Your passport
• Form IMM.55
• Supporting documents (if relevant)
• Confirmed ticket to home country or a visa and ticket to a third country

Malaysia Tourist Visa Requirements

Who requires a tourist visa

The following countries require a tourist visa from the embassy to travel to Malaysia. 

• Afghanistan 
• Burkina Faso (A)
• Burundi (A)
• Cameroon (A)
• Central African Republic
• Colombia (A)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. of (A)
• Congo, Rep. of
• Djibouti (A)
• Equatorial Guinea (A)
• Eritrea (A)
• Ethiopia (A)
• Guinea Bissau (A)
• Ivory Coast (A)
• Liberia (A)
• Mozambique (A)
• Nigeria (A)

*India and China are temporarily visa-exempt until 31 December 2024.

(A) The countries marked with (A) must arrive in Malaysia by air.

North Korean and Israeli passport holders can only obtain the visa with special permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia. It is nearly impossible for North Koreans and Israelis to travel to Malaysia as tourists. 

Documents required

The following documents are required for Malaysia tourist visa. 

• Original passport
• 2 photocopies of passport biodata page
• 2 photocopies of the completed visa application form ( Form IMM.47 )
• 2 passport-size photographs
• Proof of round-trip flight tickets
• Proof of paid accommodation
• Bank statement
• Invitation letter (if any)

Other documents may be required on an individual basis.

Passport requirement

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months when entering Malaysia. Your passport must also have at least 2 blank pages for visa sticker and stamps. 

Visa application form

The visa application form is available at the embassy or consulate or you can also download it online. You must print the visa application on two sides of an A4 sheet. 

Photo requirements

The passport-size photograph must meet the following requirements. 

• Must be in color on a white background without frames or borders
• Must be of size 3.5 cm x 5 cm
• Must be of high quality with no ink marks, staple marks or creases
• Scanned copies or photocopies are not accepted
• Head and top of the shoulders must be visible with the face taking up 60%-70% of the photograph.
• Face must have a neutral expression with the mouth closed
• Must not have caps, hats, or headgear, unless for religious reasons (the whole face must be visible, including the chin, nose, eyes, and eyebrows)

Tourist visa fee

The tourist visa fee depends on the nationality. It’s between 13 and 50 MYR. 

Processing time

The processing time depends on the embassy/consulate where you are applying from. In most cases, it’s 4-5 working days.

Tourist Visa Application Process

Begin by gathering the required documents and checking with the nearest Malaysian embassy.

Some embassies only accept submissions through approved Malaysia Visa Application Centres (Malaysia VACs). This will add more to the total visa fees but will make the process somewhat easier. You will have to find the list of approved VACs and then contact one to start the application.

Either the embassy or the VAC will inform you about the next steps.

Entry Procedure at the Border

Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online up to 3 days before your arrival. 

At immigration, present the following documents to the officer.

• Original passport with a validity of at least 6 months
• Valid Malaysia tourist visa in your passport

You may be asked to show additional documents, such as: 

• Return or onward flight ticket
• Proof of accommodation booking

You may also be asked to show the completed MDAC code on your phone. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum bank account balance required for a malaysian visa.

Malaysian embassies usually don’t state a minimum amount but aim to have at least a 500 USD balance on the bank statement you submit.

Can I get a Malaysia visa online?

Yes. Malaysia offers eVisa to non-visa-exempt nationalities. The eVisa process is easier and can be applied from anywhere in the world. The eVisa issued is identical in parameters to the tourist visa from the embassy.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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Question 1: Under what circumstances can Malaysian citizens apply to the visa free policy?

Answer: From 0:00(Beijing time) on December 1, 2023 to 24:00 (Beijing time) on November 30, 2024, the Chinese government will implement 15-day visa free policy for Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passport who enter China for business, tourism, family visit and transit purposes.

According to the agreement concluded between the Governments of China and Malaysia in 2011, Malaysian holders of diplomatic and official passports are normally not required to apply for a visa beforehand when travelling to China for a short period of time (not exceeding 30 days).

For other visa free policies, please visit the website of the National Immigration Administration of China ( https://www.nia.gov.cn/ ) or call the 12367 hotline of the local immigration department for more information.

Question 2: Under what circumstances do Malaysian citizens still need to apply for a visa to visit China?

Answer: 1. Holders of Malaysian ordinary passports who travel to China for business, tourism, or family visit, and intend to stay in China for more than 15 days; 2. Holders of ordinary passports who travel to China for study, employment,  permanent residence, study visit, news coverage, etc..3. Other circumstances where a visa is required.

Question 3: What are the requirements for ordinary passport holders applying Chinese Visa?

Answer: Besides visa application form, photo, invitation letter, previous China visa record, there are two more requirements for ordinary passport holders applying for Chinese Visa: firstly, applicants need to fill out the visa application form online; secondly, applicants need to submit the application in person at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Visa Application Service Center (hereinafter referred to as the Centre) for fingerprint collection.

Applicants can complete the online form through the "Quick Access" section of the Visa Application Centre's website. The website address of the Visa Application Centre is:  https://www.visaforchina.cn/globle/

Question 4: After completing the online application form, is it necessary to make an appointment online?

Answer: From November 24, 2023, the Embassy and Consulates General of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia canceled the online appointment for China visa application. Applicants can walk in the China Visa Application Service Centre(CVASC) in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Penang or the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu without online appointment to apply for visas with relevant documents.

Question 5: After completing the online application form, is it necessary to submit the application at the Centre?

Answer: Yes. Please print out the confirmation page and the complete form (7 pages in total, preferable double sided), and sign the confirmation page and item 9 of the form, and submit the application in person with all the required documents (please refer to  the Notice on Visa Application, updated November 2023 ) at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in Kuala Lumpur retain ten fingerprints.

Upon arrival, please obtain a queue number. When your number has been called, please submit your application at the respective counter.

Visa Centre address: Level 5, Hampshire Place Office, Jalan Mayang Sari, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Question 6: After completing the online application form, can I appoint someone else to submit the visa application documents for me at the Visa Application Centre?

Answer: Applicants must present personally to submit the visa application at the Visa Application Centre on time and retain 10 fingerprints. Applicants who are exempted from fingerprint may entrust another person to submit the visa application.

The applicant must be physically in Malaysia at the time of submission of the visa application documents. If you are not in Malaysia then, please submit your application to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General or visa application centre in the country where you are currently staying, or apply after you return to Malaysia.

Question 7: How may an applicant be exempted from fingerprint collection?

Answer: The following applicants are exempted from fingerprints collection: Applicants under the age of 14 or over 70; Applicants who already had their fingerprints collected within the past five years at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia or the Centre in Kuala Lumpur with the same passport; Applications for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders and Diplomatic, Service and Courtesy Visas; Applicants with all fingers uncollectible.

Question 8: What are the requirements for visa invitation letter?

Answer:  The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter.

The invitation letter should contain:

1. Information of the applicant (full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)

2. Information of the visit (purpose of visit, intended arrival date, place(s) of intended residence, intended duration of stay, arrival and departure dates, relations between the applicant and the inviting entity or individual, financial source for expenditures)

3. Information of the inviting individual (name, contact number, address, official stamp, signature of legal representative or the inviting individual, etc.)

The content of the invitation letter needs to be true and valid, and there should be no missing items, otherwise the applicant will bear all the responsibilities caused by the return or rejection of the application.

Question 9: How long is the processing time after successfully submitting all the application documents (how long in advance should I submit the visa application)? 

Answer: Under normal circumstances, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Malaysia can process the visa within 4 working days (in case of holidays, the processing time will be postponed). The applicant can collect the passport on the collection date listed on the pickup form. For special cases, the Embassy has the right to extend the processing time of the visa (if it exceeds 4 working days, please e-mail the Visa Application Centre for inquiries). It is suggested that applicants fill in the form and submit the visa application online about one month before the intended date of entry. If there is no urgent or special reason to go to China recently, it is recommended to avoid the current peak of visa applications and arrange the application time appropriately.

Question 10: Is expedited service available for visa application? 

Answer: After the visa application materials are successfully submitted, the visa processing time is: 4 working days for regular applications, 3 working days for express applications, and 2 working days for urgent applications (in case of holidays, the processing time will be postponed). If you require expedited service, please inform the front desk staff at the Visa Application Centre when submitting your visa and pay an additional expedited fee ( Schedule of Fees ).

Question 11: What is the visa procedures upon arriving at the visa centre?

Answer: Before proceeding to the Visa Application Centre, please make sure that you have all the required visa application documents ready (please refer to the Notice on the Latest Requirements for Visa Applications for Foreigners to China, updated on 14 March 2023). Arrive at the Visa Application Centre on time for your appointment and follow the steps below to complete your visa application:

1. Preliminary review: Show visa application form, original passport, copy of passport information page and other application materials to the information counter staff.

2. Obtain a queue number: After capturing photo on the spot, scanning passport information, kindly obtain the queue number at the information counter.

3. Submission: Submit the application to the application counter (according to the regulations, the Visa Application Centre will collect the applicant's ten fingerprints on the spot. If an interview is required, the Visa Application Centre will contact the applicant. Please proceed to the Embassy for the interview at the designated time slot. After the application is accepted, the counter staff will issue a Payment Notice to be paid at the cashier counter.

4. Payment: After submitting the application, you need to pay the visa fee and service fee in full amount on the same day (bank card or cash payment), and will receive a pick-up form and a Receipt. If the applicant fails to pay the full amount, the Visa Application Centre will terminate the application and the consequences thereof shall be borne by the applicant.

5. Collection: Please keep the pick-up form properly, and collect the passport on the appointed collection date in person or entrust a third party to collect your passport with the original pick-up form.   

Question 12: Is payment to be done upon submission or collection?

Answer: Payment shall be made upon submission. After the visa application documents are successfully submitted, the applicant will pay the fee at the cashier counter with the Payment Notice. The fee includes the visa fee (express fee, if any) charged on behalf of the Embassy and the service fee charged by the Visa Application Centre. If the visa application is not approved by the Embassy, or is refused, or changed, the service fee will not be refunded.

Question 13: How to check the visa application status after submission?

Answer: The Visa Application Centre website provides 24-hour online visa application status service. You can check in the "Quick Access" section under "Status" on the Visa Application Centre website (Chinese Visa Application Service Center ( visaforchina.cn) .

Question 14:  Can I cancel my submitted visa application?       

Answer: Visa application which has been submitted but not completed can be canceled. Please note that in case of cancellation of visa application, the service fee paid will not be refunded.

Question 15: What are working hours, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the Visa Application Centre? What should I do if the consultation number cannot be reached?

Answer: Visa Centre in Kuala Lumpur working hours (working days):

Submission of applications: 9:00 to 15:00.

Submission of express applications: 9:00 to 12:00.

Collection: 9:00 to 16:00.

Address: Level 5, Hampshire Place Office, Jalan Mayang Sari, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Contact information: 006-03-21760888   (working days 9:00-16:00, except public holidays)

E-mail address: [email protected] 

Due to the high volume of telephone service on weekdays, if you fail to reach us, it is recommended that you make enquiry via e-mail.

For visa applicants in East Malaysia, please refer to the notice on the website of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Question 16: Does an APEC card holder require to apply for a visa? Is it required to proceed to the Embassy to complete any formalities?

Answer: Since 24 August 2022, traveler with a valid APEC Business Travel Card physical card was allowed to enter China, and does not need to re-apply for visas to China or go through procedures at the Embassy. The Embassy does not accept APEC card applications, please consult relevant government departments in Malaysia for details.

Question 17: Is multiple-entry visa applicable for Malaysians?          

Answer: Yes. Besides passport, application form, photo, invitation letter and other visa application materials, Malaysian citizens applying for multiple-entry visas are also required to provide the previous record of Chinese visa issued or the record of corresponding number of visits to China:

1. L-visa (Tourist visa)

(1) 3-month multiple entry L-visa: Itinerary issued by the cruise company.

(2) 1-year multiple entry L-visa: Detailed travel itinerary and corresponding irrevocable air ticket, hotel booking and photocopies of previous Chinese visas and previous records of travelling to China.

2. M-visa (Commercial Trade Activities)

(1) 6-month to 1-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa within 5 years.

(2) 2-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous 6-month to 1-year multiple entries Chinese visa; or photocopies of previous 3 times entry records or more within 5 years.

(3) 3-year multiple entry M-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entries Chinese visa within 5 years; or photocopy of previous 2 visa granted for 1-year multiple entries Chinese visa within 5 years; or photocopy of previous 5 entries records or more within 5 years.

3. Q2-visa (Family visit visa)

(1) 6-month to 2-year multiple entry Q2-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa issued within 5 years.

(2) 3-year to 5-year multiple entry Q2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entries Chinese visa; or photocopy of previous 2 visas or more issued for 1-year multiple entries Chinese visa. 

4. S2-Visa (Personal matters visa)

For visiting family members for a short period, you may apply for a multiple entry S2-visa with the validity period of not exceeding the validity period of the inviting individual's residence permit.

For private affairs such as inheritance, litigation, having real estate in China, etc.:

(1) 6-month to 1-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous Chinese visa within 5 years.

(2) 2-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 6-month to 1-year multiple entries Chinese visa; or photocopy of previous 3 entries records or more to China within 5 years.

(3) 3-year multiple entry S2-Visa: A photocopy of previous 2-year multiple entry Chinese visa within 5 years; or photocopies of previous 1-year multiple entry Chinese visa for more than 2 times within 5 years; or photocopy of previous 5 entry records or more to China within 5 years.

Question 18: Can foreign nationals from third countries who come to Malaysia temporarily apply for multiple visas?

Answer: Unless otherwise specified in bilateral agreements, foreign nationals of third countries who come to Malaysia temporarily can only apply for a single-entry visa.

Question 19: How to apply for a visa to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR?

Answer: Malaysian passport holders who visit Hong Kong SAR for less than 90 days are exempted from applying for visas; Malaysian passport holders can travel to Macau SAR without a visa and the duration of stay is determined by the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR. If the purpose of the visit is for residence, work, study, receive vocational training, performing, holding exhibitions, etc., you need to apply for a visa in advance. For details, please visit the website of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong SAR: www.immd.gov.hk; Consultation telephone: 0085228246111; Website of the Public Security Police Force of the Macao SAR: http://www.fsm.gov.mo/; Hotline: 0085328725488.

If you need to apply for a visa to the Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR, you can submit application materials to the Visa Application Center. In accordance with relevant provisions of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong SAR and the Macau SAR have the rights to carry out immigration control on their own. The final issuance of a visa is at the discretion of the Embassy or the SAR Government, and the Visa Application Centre is not involved in the approval process. Visa Application Centre will charge visa fees, urgent fees, Hong Kong and Macau visa liaison fees (if any), and service fees. The above service fee is non-refundable regardless of visa approval or not.

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Business Hours:(Monday - Friday) Visa application: 9:00-15:00 Payment and collection 9:00-16:00 Location：Level 5 & 6, Hampshire Place Office, Jalan Mayang Sari, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Call：603 2176 0888     Fax： 603 2161 2234     Email： [email protected]

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Trending Topics

Follow our news, recent searches, analysis: visa-free travel with china welcomed in malaysia but hurdles remain for tourism sector, advertisement.

From Dec 1, visitors from China - as well as India - will be allowed to enter Malaysia without the need for a visa for up to 30 days.

A view of Kuala Lumpur's skyline in Malaysia on May 30, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Hasnoor Hussain)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

Rhea Yasmine Alis Haizan

SINGAPORE: Even as Malaysia anticipates an influx of Chinese travellers following the implementation of a visa-free programme between both sides, it must make efforts to maintain the expected momentum of inbound tourists, an analyst told CNA. 

Among the initiatives Malaysia could explore are to implement hassle-free immigration lanes to ensure the ease of travel, as well as conduct studies to understand Chinese tourist purchases and behaviour. 

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Sunday (Nov 26) that visitors from China - as well as India - would be granted visa-free travel for visits of up to 30 days. This will take effect from Dec 1. 

"Next year, Malaysia will be celebrating 50 years of diplomatic ties with China," Mr Anwar was quoted by local media as saying during the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) annual congress over the weekend.

Dr Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran, a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia’s faculty of human ecology, told CNA that the occasion is “a big advantage for Malaysia to (carry out a) massive promotion” to attract tourists from China. 

China is one of the biggest markets for Malaysia’s tourism businesses, he said. He warned, however, that other dominant players in the region could pose a threat to Malaysia’s goal of drawing in Chinese tourists. 

Malaysia's neighbouring country of Thailand, for example, has waived visas for Chinese nationals from Sep 25 until February next year, to middling results . 

Meanwhile, a similar visa-free policy was also announced by China for Malaysia and five other European countries - namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain - that will begin on Dec 1. The visa-free entry into China for these countries is valid for visits of up to 15 days and is part of a one-year trial. 

Malaysian tourists whom CNA spoke to said that the removed hurdle of a visa application has piqued their interest to travel to China, although they said that the inability to access everyday apps like Google may pose an issue to their travels.

MAINTAIN MOMENTUM OF CHINESE TOURISTS, URGE ANALYST 

The move by Malaysia to grant 30 days of visa-free entry will increase the number of Chinese visitors, said Dr Puvaneswaran, who urged local tour and travel authorities to maintain the expected momentum of Chinese tourists. 

“This move is actually a ‘promotion trailer’ to introduce a bigger ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2026’ to the Chinese market,” he told CNA, adding that the influx of Chinese tourists has the potential to reach its peak in 2026. 

“Visit Malaysia Year” is a campaign held by the Malaysian government every several years to promote the country as a tourist destination. The most recent in this series was Visit Malaysia Year 2020, themed “Visit Truly Asia Malaysia”. 

Dr Puvaneswaran noted that Chinese tourists make up the biggest market for Malaysian tourism businesses, apart from travellers from Singapore and Indonesia in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

When contacted, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) told CNA that Malaysian hoteliers are prepared for the influx of Chinese tourists, adding that increased tourist arrivals would significantly boost the recovery rate of Malaysia's hotel industry.

"The number of arrivals we receive now still lags behind the figures we achieved pre-pandemic," said the association.

"We hope that ... the government would use this opportunity to enhance their China-targeted marketing efforts.

Commenting on the travel pattern of Chinese visitors, Dr Puvaneswaran said that many tourists from China also visit neighbouring countries like Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. 

“Thus, their travel to Malaysia is not always a lengthy stay,” he told CNA. 

To address this, he stressed that Malaysia should diversify its tourism products in order to set it apart from its competitors, especially Thailand. 

“There are many cultural and community-based tourism products which are unpolished diamonds in Malaysia. These could be properly established for the Chinese market,” he said. 

Beyond that, a mega Chinese New Year Festival next year in Malaysia - marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries - could be organised, suggested Dr Puvaneswaran. 

He added that to increase tourism numbers, both the Chinese and Malaysian governments could implement hassle-free immigration lanes, as well as an app to track tourist data in order to further understand their purchases and behaviour. 

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Ms Su Yaxuan, a Chinese citizen who is currently residing in Singapore, said that the visa-free entry to Malaysia would make her travel plans there even more convenient. 

“In fact, I already have a Malaysia e-visa. I’ve always wanted to visit Malaysia more, and the prospect of visa-free entry simplifies the process for me,” she told CNA. 

The Malaysia e-visa has a three-month validity period and costs about RM105 (US$22), according to the Malaysian immigration department’s website. 

Ms Su said that the application process for the e-visa is relatively convenient as she does not need to go down to the embassy to submit her documents. It only took three days to obtain the visa, she added. 

Nonetheless, the PhD student said that she welcomes the visa-free entry program for Chinese travellers.

“I’ve always had the desire to spend more time in Malaysia because I’m a huge fan of the food, culture, and water sports the country has to offer. 

“(The visa-free entry) is particularly exciting because I’ve been considering trying scuba diving in Malaysia and with this new policy, I can explore this opportunity without any additional visa preparations,” said Ms Su. 

According to the Global Times, the search index on the major Chinese travel platform Qunar for Malaysia nearly doubled compared to the previous week after the visa-free program was announced.

During the tabling of Budget 2024 in October this year, Mr Anwar said that the government is aiming to pull in 26.1 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026. The government has also allocated RM350 million to boost tourism promotions and activities, he said. 

China says it will resume visa-free policies to spur inbound travel

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China lacking international tourists, says analyst.

Dr Song Haiyan, the Associate Dean in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, told CNA that more countries are expected to be granted visa-free entry into China in order to prop up tourism in the country. 

“The announcement of visa-free countries last week is the beginning of many (more) to be announced in the future,” said Dr Song. 

“The main purpose is to encourage international tourists to visit China, which is badly needed for many destinations within China. Although domestic tourism is booming, international tourists are lacking due to the three-year lockdowns.” 

According to local media, Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said in July last year that in 2019, 3.1 million Chinese tourists had visited Malaysia, as compared with 1.38 million Malaysians who had been to China.

Explaining why the six countries last week were granted visa-free entry, Dr Song said that the countries “are relatively neutral towards the conflicts between China and the United States, and they are also major import-export countries with China.”

“So visa-free entry for such citizens … will further stimulate the economic ties with these countries,” he told CNA. 

He added that moving forward, China needs to simplify the payment systems for foreign tourists. 

“International tourists from these countries still prefer cash payments when purchasing goods and services in China. 

“Although WeChat and AliPay have linked their payment systems to Visa and MasterCard, there are still many problems in terms of getting the payment systems working properly for mobile phone users from these countries,” said Dr Song. 

China’s mobile payment network became highly closed-off to overseas tourists since mobile apps became the predominant payment method in the country in the late 2010s, reported Reuters. 

Foreign visitors often find themselves unable to pay for things in China where many shops and restaurants now only accept mobile payment rather than credit cards or cash.

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Ms Sebrina Tai Thye, a Malaysian project engineer, welcomed the initiative by China, particularly after her previous visa applications to enter the country were fraught with numerous difficulties. 

“When I had some questions to ask, I was not able to contact the Chinese Visa Application Centre. I tried calling the centre number provided on Google multiple times but no one picked up,” said the 25-year-old. 

She added that issues encountered at the visa centre took a long time to be resolved. 

“When booking an appointment to submit my visa application, I accidentally booked an appointment for ‘legalisation’ instead of ‘visa’. I was denied entry (at the centre) and had to apply for another appointment on another date … to (submit my visa),” said Ms Tai. 

The visa centre is located in Kuala Lumpur, an estimated 3.5-hour drive from Johor Bahru where Ms Tai lives. 

Ms Tai added that her visa was not approved on time for one of her business trips to China. “As a result, I had to postpone my flight by a week,” she said, noting that the visa centre website had no information about how long the visa approval would take. 

Ms Tai said that while she is eager to visit China for leisure purposes due to the visa-free entry for Malaysians, she found it inconvenient at times as mobile applications she was used to using had been blocked. 

“China is a beautiful country to experience. (But) it was quite inconvenient for me to navigate and explore (the country) at first because I was so used to using apps such as Google search engine and Google maps,” she told CNA. 

Under China’s Internet censorship policy, several applications which are commonly used worldwide, including Google, cannot be accessed in China. 

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Another Malaysian traveller, Mr Johan Ariff, said that he would be interested in travelling to China, especially as he will not need to fork out any money for a visa. 

“I won’t need to worry about having to book a visa. And I could also save a lot of money since I won’t have to pay for a visa,” said the 25-year-old maintenance engineer. 

A visa for a single entry to China for Malaysians can cost anywhere between RM105 to RM320. 

Mr Johan also told CNA that it would be helpful if more information about China were available, especially on social media. 

“Since the Chinese society is somewhat restricted … from the world, it’s hard for potential tourists like me in other countries to get a better view of what it’s actually like in China, and how advanced their society really is,” he said.

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(Yicai) June 21 -- China and Malaysia have extended their agreement on reciprocal visa waivers after the initial deal sparked a surge in travel between the two countries.

China agreed to extend its visa-free policy for Malaysian citizens until the end of next year, while Malaysia will do the same for Chinese citizens until the end of 2026, the two countries jointly announced yesterday.

According to the pair's original agreement, China granted 15-day visa-free entry between Dec. 1 last year and Nov. 30 this year to holders of Malaysian passports, while Malaysia allowed Chinese citizens to stay for up to 30 days without a visa starting last December.

The extension of the visa-free policy will boost tourism between China and Malaysia and facilitate their citizens to visit relatives and travel, according to Ctrip Research Institute. It may also lead to more countries rolling out mutual visa-free policies, it added.

Trip.Com Group, China's largest online travel agency, said it will utilize the extension policy dividends, leverage brand, technology, and resource advantages, and enhance the inbound tourism experience.

Malaysia has become China's fourth largest source of visitors this year, with the number of such tourists soaring over five times from a year ago, according to data from Trip.Com.

In addition, searches for Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, jumped 49 percent after the extension from a week earlier, according to data from Chinese online travel agency Qunar. The Southeast Asian country is among the top three summer destinations for Chinese tourists, with flight reservations for this summer surging 3.2 times from a year earlier.

China recently adopted unilateral visa exemptions for New Zealand, Australia, and other countries and has implemented many inbound tourism facilitation measures in payment, accommodation, and ticket bookings, analysts pointed out. Many foreigners share their travel experiences in the Asian country on social media, attracting more tourists and forming a virtuous cycle, they added.

Editor: Martin Kadiev

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Vietnam gets 8.8 million foreign tourists in first half of 2024

V ietnam received 8.8 million international visitors in the first half of this year, up 58% year-on-year and 4% from pre-Covid levels, with South Koreans and Chinese topping the list.

South Korea continued to be the top source of tourists, with 2.28 million arrivals, followed by mainland China (1.89 million), Taiwan (630,000), the U.S. (415,000), and Japan (335,000), according to data from the General Statistics Office.

The top 10 was rounded off by Malaysia (253,000), Australia (243,000), India (239,000), Cambodia (231,000), and Thailand (226,000).

The target for full-year 2024 is 18 million visitors.

Thailand received 17 million visitors in the first half, with Chinese accounting for 3.5 million.

Its target for the year is 36.7 million, a million higher than the original target following the strong performance in the first half.

Realizing the tourism potential of the world's biggest outbound tourism market, Southeast Asian countries have scrambled to extend visa-free entry for visitors from China.

Thailand made the waiver permanent in March.

Malaysia last week agreed to extend its visa exemption for Chinese until the end of 2026.