Malaysia Visa on Arrival (VOA)

Visa on Arrival facility is available for citizens of the PRC and India with the following conditions : 

i) Visitors arriving in Malaysia via Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, or Brunei only (with a valid visa from either country)

ii) Visitors coming in from either four countries through the entrance as follows:

Air Route

a) Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)

b) Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2)

c) Bayan Lepas International Airport, Pulau Pinang

d) Sultan Ismail, Senai Airport, Johor

e) Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah

f) Kuching International Airport, Sarawak

g) Langkawi International Airport, Kedah

h) Miri Airport, Sarawak

i) Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, Selangor

Land Route

a) Tuas (Singapore)- Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (Second Link)(Malaysia) 

b) Immigration Control Post, Sungai Tujoh, Sarawak

c) Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah

Sea Route

Immigration Control Post, Labuan International Terminal Ferry ONLY

VOA fees is RM 200.00 and visitors must show that they have at least USD 500 cash (or equivalent in Ringgit Malaysia) and a confirmed return ticket. 

Visitors are only allowed to stay for 15 days. Enforcement action based on the Immigration Act and Regulations will be taken against those who stay beyond the allowed duration.

Benefits and Limitations of the Malaysia Visa On Arrival

The Malaysia Visa on Arrival has a lot of benefits if, for example, you are on a holiday or a business trip which requires you to travel to Malaysia directly from Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.

Benefits

As such, the benefits of a Malaysia Visa on Arrival are:

  • You don’t have to fill out any application form or visit a Malaysian Embassy or Consulate to submit the application.
  • It’s a much faster process since you do not have to wait days for your visa to be processed.
  • You don’t need to obtain extensive documents.

Limitations

On the other hand, it has its limitations, such as:

  • You cannot travel from your home country or any country other than Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.
  • You can only stay for up to 15 days, which may not be enough if you’re traveling for a purpose other than tourism.
  • The Visa On Arrival processing fee is higher than for a regular visa.
  • You must be able to have access to $ 500 on hand.
  • You can only arrive at the entry points listed above.

The takeaway is this: If you have an Indonesian, Singaporean or Thai visa, don’t need to stay in Malaysia longer than 7 days, have the necessary funds and can afford the visa fee, then the Visa On Arrival is a good solution for you.

However, if you intend to stay longer, you will need an alternate visa. As an Indian or Chinese national, you still have two alternatives which are still faster and more straightforward than a regular visa, though not as much as the Visa on Arrival.

Alternatives to the Malaysia Visa On Arrival for Indian and Chinese Nationals

Indian and Chinese nationals are eligible to apply for a Malaysia Visa online through the following options:

eNTRI

The Malaysia eNTRI stands for Electronic Travel Registration and Information. It is an online registration facility under the Visa Waiver Programme available to citizens of China and India exclusively. An eNTRI lets you stay in Malaysia for up to 15 days, but you can only receive an eNTRI after three months have passed since the last time you received one.

eNTRI holders can enter the country through all air entry points and several land entry points as well.

eVisa

The Malaysia eVisa is available to nationals of ten countries, India and China included. The eVisa works just like a regular Malaysia visa. The only difference is that you can apply for it online. It is valid for three months, and allows the holder to stay in Malaysia for up to 30 days.

Malaysia eVisa holders can enter the country through any entry point (sea, air, or land).

You can apply for a Malaysia visa online from any foreign country other than Singapore.

However, you’ll need to have additional documents and upload them electronically to the visa application facility. Online Malaysia visas can take a few days to be processed.

If your application is approved, you will receive an electronic version of the visa which you must print and present at the Immigration Officers at the point of entry.

Click here to see the requirements and application process for a Malaysia Online Visa.