How to Fill Out the MDAC: Step-by-Step Form Guide

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is the pre-arrival declaration for most foreign visitors to Malaysia. This guide walks through the typical fields of the form and explains what information goes where, so you can submit accurate details the first time. Exact field names and options can differ from what is described here, so always follow the instructions on the form itself.

Why Accurate MDAC Completion Matters

The MDAC is a pre-arrival declaration. Completing it accurately means:

• Your details match your passport and travel documents
• You avoid having to submit a new MDAC to correct errors
• You have a clear record of the information you provided

For background, see the MDAC overview and check who needs a Malaysian visa for wider entry requirements.

Before You Start: What You'll Need

Passport Details

• Your valid passport
• Your passport number, exactly as shown
• Your passport expiry date
• Your date of birth

Travel Details

• Your flight itinerary or booking confirmation
• The flight number of the flight arriving in Malaysia
• Your arrival date in Malaysia
• Your departure date from Malaysia
• Your last airport before arriving in Malaysia

Accommodation Details

• Accommodation name
• Full street address in Malaysia
• City, state and postcode
• Accommodation contact number

Personal and Contact Information

• Your full legal name, exactly as in the passport
• Your gender or sex, as shown in the passport
• Your nationality
• An email address you check regularly
• Your phone number with country code
• Your occupation and purpose of visit, if the form asks for them

Prepare a Focused Environment

• Use a reliable internet connection
• Have your documents visible and organized
• Set aside a few uninterrupted minutes

MDAC Form Step-by-Step: Field-by-Field Guide

Step 1: Open the Application and Select Your Nationality

• Open the MDAC application form, for example through the MDAC application assistance service
• Select your nationality
• Check that you are required to complete the MDAC (most nationalities are; see the exemption list on our MDAC page)

Tip: Use an email address you actively check, because your confirmation is sent there.

Step 2: Full Legal Name

What to enter:

• Your name exactly as it appears on your passport data page
• All given names and surnames
• The same spacing, hyphens and special characters

Common mistakes:

• Entering "Mary" when the passport shows "Mary Jane"
• Reversing first and last names
• Omitting middle names shown in the passport
• Adding or removing spaces ("MaryJane" vs "Mary Jane")

Step 3: Passport Number

What to enter:

• Your complete passport number as shown on the data page, including all digits and letters

Common mistakes:

• Transposing digits
• Omitting leading zeros
• Using an old passport number
• Confusing similar characters (0 and O, 1 and I)

Action: Keep your passport open and read each character aloud as you type it.

Step 4: Date of Birth

What to enter:

• Your birth date exactly as shown in your passport
• In the date format the form requests (check the field)

Common mistakes:

• Transposing day and month
• Entering the wrong year
• Entering an approximate date

Step 5: Gender/Sex

What to select:

• The option that matches the gender or sex marker in your passport

Common mistakes:

• Selecting something different from the passport
• Leaving the field blank

Step 6: Nationality/Citizenship

What to select:

• Your citizenship, matching the passport you are travelling with
• If you hold dual citizenship, the nationality of the passport you will present

Common mistakes:

• Selecting your country of residence instead of citizenship
• Selecting the wrong passport's country if you hold two

Step 7: Email Address

What to enter:

• An active email address you check regularly, since your confirmation goes there

Common mistakes:

• A typo in the domain (".con" instead of ".com")
• An outdated address
• A missing "@" symbol

Action: Type your email slowly and read it back character by character.

Step 8: Phone Number

What to enter:

• Your mobile phone number with the country code (for example +60 for Malaysia, +61 for Australia, +65 for Singapore, +1 for the USA)
• Follow the format shown on the form

Common mistakes:

• Omitting the country code
• Entering the wrong country code
• Using an outdated number

Step 9: Malaysia Arrival Date

What to enter:

• The date you will enter Malaysia, in Malaysia time (UTC+8)
• The date format the form requests

The MDAC can be submitted within the three days before your arrival in Malaysia, so check that your arrival date falls inside that window when you submit.

Example: If your flight lands on 15 March, enter that date in the format the form uses, and allow for time zone differences if you fly overnight.

Common mistakes:

• Entering the departure date from home instead of the arrival date in Malaysia
• Transposing day and month
• Entering the wrong year
• Not allowing for time zones

Step 10: Malaysia Departure Date

What to enter:

• The date you plan to leave Malaysia
• A date after your arrival date

Examples:

• If you are staying five days and arriving on the 15th, your departure would be the 20th
• If you are travelling on a visa, check that your stay is within your permitted period (see who needs a Malaysian visa)

Common mistakes:

• A departure date before the arrival date
• A date that does not match your return booking
• Exceeding your permitted stay

Step 11: Flight Number or Transportation Details

What to enter:

• The flight number of the flight arriving in Malaysia, including the airline code (for example "MH450", not "450")
• For buses or trains, the service name from your booking
• For ships, the vessel name

Multi-leg journeys: if you fly Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, enter the flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, not the flight departing Sydney.

Common mistakes:

• Entering a connecting flight instead of the Malaysia arrival flight
• Leaving out the airline code
• Misspelling the airline name
• Using a placeholder when your flight is already confirmed

Step 12: Last Port of Embarkation

What to enter:

• The airport or port you departed from immediately before arriving in Malaysia, not your home country

Examples:

• Direct flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur: the last port is Sydney (SYD)
• Connecting flight Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur: the last port is Singapore (SIN)

Common mistakes:

• Entering your home country instead of the last airport
• Entering the first airport of your journey
• A wrong airport code

Step 13: Entry Method (Mode of Travel)

What to select:

• Air for arrival by aircraft
• Land for entry by car, bus or train
• Sea for arrival by ship or ferry

Step 14: Accommodation in Malaysia

What to enter:

• Accommodation name, exactly as shown in your booking
• Full street address
• City, state and postcode
• Accommodation contact phone number

Accuracy matters: use a real, complete address copied from your booking confirmation.

Example format (placeholder only, not a real address):

• Good: "Example Hotel, 1 Jalan Contoh, Kuala Lumpur, 50000, Wilayah Persekutuan"
• Poor: "Hotel, KL" (incomplete and vague)

Common mistakes:

• Entering only the accommodation name
• Entering the wrong city or state
• Typos in the name or postcode

Step 15: Purpose of Visit

What to select:

• Your main reason for travelling, from the options on the form (for example tourism, business, visiting family or friends, medical treatment, education, employment, transit)

Be accurate and select the primary purpose of your trip.

Step 16: Occupation or Employment

If the form asks, enter your job title or occupation (for example "Teacher", "Retired", "Student"). Answer as the form instructs if you are not employed.

Final Checklist Before Submitting

Personal Information

• Full name matches the passport exactly
• Date of birth, gender and nationality match the passport
• Passport number is correct
• Email address has no typos
• Phone number includes the country code

Travel Information

• Arrival date is correct and falls within the three days before arrival
• Departure date is after the arrival date
• Flight number includes the airline code and is the Malaysia arrival flight
• Entry method matches how you are actually travelling
• Last port of embarkation is correct

Accommodation

• Accommodation name is spelled correctly
• Full street address, city, state and postcode are included

Additional Information

• Purpose of visit is selected
• All required fields are filled

Submitting Your MDAC Form

Before You Submit

1. Take a screenshot of your completed form for your records
2. Check your internet connection is stable
3. Double-check your email address one final time
4. Review the payment step and the Refund Policy before paying
5. Make sure you are somewhere you can receive your confirmation

After Submission

You should receive a confirmation with a reference number. Save the confirmation email, keep a screenshot, and write down the reference number to keep with your travel documents.

For visa timelines, see visa processing times.

What If You Made a Mistake?

A submitted MDAC generally cannot be edited. If you notice an error, check the details and submit a new MDAC with the correct information, and keep the confirmation of your latest submission with your travel documents.

Review the common MDAC mistakes to check for related errors.

Next Steps

Ready to complete your MDAC application? You can apply through the MDAC application assistance service and use this guide to check every field.

FAQ: Common Questions About MDAC Form Completion

Q: What if I don't have my flight number yet? A: Wait until your flight is confirmed before submitting. The MDAC can be submitted within the three days before arrival, so you normally have time to confirm your details first.

Q: Do I need to print my MDAC confirmation? A: Keep the confirmation email and reference number with your travel documents. Check the instructions in your confirmation to see whether a printout is needed.

Q: What if my arrival date changes after I submit? A: Check whether a new submission with the correct date is needed, and keep the confirmation of your latest submission.

Q: Is filling out the MDAC the only requirement? A: No. Also check your visa requirements and passport validity. See our MDAC page and our guide on MDAC mistakes to avoid.

Conclusion

Verify each field against your passport and booking documents, use the checklist before submitting, and keep your confirmation with your travel documents. Not sure the MDAC applies to you? See do you need an MDAC?.