Quick answer
Indian passport holders can visit Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, under an exemption that runs until 31 December 2026. You must file the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arrival. Carry a return ticket, hotel bookings and enough funds. If the scheme is not extended, an eVISA will be needed from 2027.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Visa exemption for tourism (MDAC required)
- Stay allowed
- Up to 30 days per visit
- Fee
- Free; the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is also free
- Processing
- No visa processing; file the MDAC within three days before arrival
- Validity
- Exemption runs until 31 December 2026 unless extended
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Passport valid for at least six months from arrival, with blank pages
- MDAC confirmation, submitted within three days before arrival
- Return or onward ticket within 30 days
- Hotel bookings for the whole stay
- Proof of funds: an international card and some cash
- Printed itinerary, especially for groups and first-time travellers
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Malaysian officers refuse entry when the purpose looks like work; one-way tickets and vague plans invite questions.
- Fake MDAC websites charge fees for a free form; use only the Immigration Department's portal.
- The exemption is for tourism and short visits; business, work and study need the right visa.
- Trips crossing into 2027 should be rechecked in December, as the exemption ends on 31 December 2026 unless extended.
Do Indians need a visa for Malaysia?
Not for holidays of up to 30 days. Malaysia introduced visa-free entry for Indian passport holders on 1 December 2023 and has extended it until 31 December 2026. It covers tourism and short visits, and every traveller must file the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before landing.
How to enter, step by step
- Check that your passport is valid for six months from arrival and has blank pages.
- Book a return or onward ticket that leaves within 30 days.
- Within three days before arrival, fill in the MDAC on the Immigration Department's official portal. It is free and takes a few minutes per person.
- Carry hotel bookings and proof of funds: an international card plus some cash.
- At Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Langkawi, present your passport and the MDAC confirmation.
What officers actually check
Most couples and families are stamped through quickly. Questioning is more common for young men travelling alone or in groups, travellers on one-way tickets and anyone whose plans sound like job-hunting. Officers can and do refuse entry when the purpose looks like work. Clear hotel bookings, a dated return ticket and a simple itinerary answer most questions.
What happens after 31 December 2026?
The exemption has been extended before, but nothing is automatic. If it is not extended, Indians will again need an eVISA or eNTRI through Malaysia's official online system. If your trip crosses into January 2027, check the Immigration Department's announcements in December.
Malaysia and Singapore together
Many Indian travellers combine Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by road or air. Singapore needs its own e-visa; see the Singapore visa guide. Each time you re-enter Malaysia, you get a fresh stay of up to 30 days under the exemption, but you must file a new MDAC.
Families and seniors
Fill in an MDAC for each traveller, including children. Malaysia is easy for vegetarian and Indian food, and Kuala Lumpur's hospitals are good. Carry travel insurance, as private treatment is costly for visitors.
Genting Highlands is noticeably cooler than Kuala Lumpur. Pack a light jacket for seniors and children.
For planning, see the Malaysia trip cost guide, best time to visit Malaysia and things to do in Malaysia. For business trips, which need a proper visa, talk to our visa assistance team.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malaysia visa-free for Indians in 2026?
What is the MDAC and when should I fill it?
Can Indians be refused entry to Malaysia even without a visa requirement?
What happens to Malaysia visa-free entry after 2026?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
