The Immigration Department of Malaysia has strengthened the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) for foreign visitors, effective December 1, 2023. According to an announcement on the department’s official Facebook account, this updated entry requirement applies to all travellers visiting Malaysia, with exceptions for three categories: Malaysia’s permanent residents, Malaysia Automated Clearance System Pass Holders, and individuals transiting or transferring via Singapore without seeking immigration clearance.
More about Malaysia’s revised entry requirements and autogate services
In the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) form, foreign travellers are required to provide details such as their name, passport information, nationality, date of arrival, date of departure, mode of transport (air, land, or sea), and the last port of embarkation.
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Under the new regulations for entry into Malaysia, travellers must present both their passport and the completed MDAC forms to the Immigration Officer on duty upon arrival. Travellers can conveniently register for the MDAC and submit the completed forms on the Immigration Department’s official website.
Additionally, based on an infographic released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, travellers from 10 countries, including Germany, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, are eligible to use the autogates (security features that control access to secured areas) for both arrival and departure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.
It’s important to note that to utilise the autogates for immigration clearance at KLIA, foreign visitors must possess passports with a validity period of at least six months.
First-time visitors, however, are not eligible for the autogate provision. They are required to submit the MDAC three days before their arrival, followed by enrolling and verifying their passports manually at the airport’s immigration counters. Subsequent visits allow visitors to take advantage of the autogates after successfully submitting the MDAC before each visit to Malaysia.
(Feature Image Credit: Nawadoln/Shutterstock)
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Written By
Yashita Vashishth
Writer by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has previously worked at Condé Nast India and Times Internet. When not working, you can catch her binge-reading the latest thriller on the block, re-watching Friends, trying a new recipe or hosting her friends.
