The answer is straightforward: no, a visa is not required for a tourist stay of less than 90 days if you hold French, Belgian, Swiss, or Canadian nationality (30 days for certain nationalities). All you need is a valid passport and to comply with specific entry formalities.

However, several regulations should be understood before departure. Maximum length of stay, entry conditions, administrative formalities, and particularities of certain regions can all influence your journey.

In this guide, you'll find all the essential information for entering Malaisie without a visa, understanding the formalities to complete before arrival, and exploring your options if you wish to extend your stay.

Entering Malaisie Without a Visa

For a standard tourist trip, Malaisie offers visa exemption for several nationalities, including French, Belgian, Swiss, and Canadian citizens. This authorization allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days maximum, without filing a prior application with an embassy.

It is:

• free of charge
• issued directly upon arrival by immigration authorities
• valid for a maximum of 90 consecutive days
• valid for a single entry only

Concretely, this means that if you leave Malaisie, even before the end of your authorized 90 days, your initial authorization becomes invalid. Any new entry will therefore require obtaining a new exemption.

Conditions for Entering Malaisie Without a Visa

Even though no visa is required, certain conditions must be met to enter Malaysian territory.

1. Valid Passport

Your passport must remain valid for at least 6 months after your departure date.

This rule is strictly enforced by immigration authorities. It is therefore recommended to check your passport's expiration date before booking your trip.

2. Proof of Onward Travel

Authorities may ask you to present a ticket proving that you will leave Malaisie.

This can be:

• a return ticket to your home country
• a ticket to another destination

This document proves that you do not intend to exceed the authorized length of stay.

3. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

This is a digital immigration form that all travelers must complete before arriving in Malaisie.

How Does the MDAC Work?

This form must be completed online via the official immigration portal. It should be submitted within 3 days prior to your arrival.

The form requests several pieces of information:

• your personal details
• your passport information
• your travel itinerary

Once your application is validated, you receive a QR code by email.

It is advisable to:

• take a screenshot
• or print the document

This QR code may be requested by authorities upon your arrival.

Who is Exempt from the MDAC?

Certain categories of travelers are not subject to this requirement:

• holders of diplomatic or official passports
• holders of permanent residence status in Malaisie
• holders of a long-stay visa

4. The Passport Stamp

Upon your arrival in Malaisie, an immigration officer examines your documents and applies an entry stamp to your passport. This stamp is crucial. It typically indicates:

• the date of entry into the country
• sometimes the departure deadline

In some cases, only the arrival date is recorded. You will then need to calculate your departure deadline yourself, based on the authorized 90-day period.

It is advisable to verify that the stamp has been properly applied, particularly if you arrive by sea.

Good to know: when leaving the territory or passing through the border again, it is possible to use automated immigration counters. With this system, no stamp is applied to your passport.

Traveling with a Minor

If you are traveling with a child, several documents may be requested when passing through immigration.

Child Traveling with Parents

A minor accompanied by at least one parent must present:

• a valid passport throughout the entire stay (valid for at least 6 months after entry)
• a document proving the family relationship and parental authority, such as a family booklet or birth certificate.

In the case of separated or divorced parents, authorization to leave the country is only necessary if a departure ban has been filed with the authorities.

Child Traveling Alone

If the child travels without parents, they must present:

• authorization to leave the country signed by a parent
• a copy of the parent's identification card.

To facilitate border controls abroad, it is recommended to have this document translated by a certified translator.

Important note: children must also have a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC).

The Case of Sarawak

Malaisie has a particular administrative structure. The states of Sabah and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo, have slightly different immigration rules.

If you travel to Sarawak, a new entry stamp will be applied to your passport, even if you have already entered Malaisie previously.

In most cases:

• the maximum length of stay in Sarawak is 30 days
• this duration remains included within your 90-day visa exemption

In other words, time spent in Sarawak counts toward your overall stay authorization.

If You Wish to Extend Your Stay

The 90-day visa exemption cannot be extended directly. However, if you wish to remain in the country longer, there are two possible solutions.

The Visa Run

This is the most common solution. This practice involves temporarily leaving Malaisie, for example to Singapore or Thailand, and then returning to the country to benefit from a new 90-day visa exemption.

However, it's important to know that immigration authorities may refuse this new authorization if this practice is repeated too frequently.

Long-Stay Visas

If you wish to stay more than three consecutive months in Malaisie, you will need to apply for a long-stay visa.

For precise information on these visas, it is recommended to contact the Malaisie embassy in your country of residence.

Good to know: Malaisie also offers a specific visa for remote workers called the DE Rantau Nomad Pass. It allows digital professionals to stay in the country for 3 to 12 months, with the possibility of renewal. This visa is available to freelancers, entrepreneurs, or employees working in the digital sector with a minimum annual income of 24,000 dollars.

Key Takeaways

For a tourist trip of less than 90 days in Malaisie, French, Belgian, Swiss, and Canadian citizens do not need a visa.

To enter the country, you simply need to:

• Present a passport valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure date from the country.
• Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online on the official portal, at the earliest 3 days before your arrival.
• Keep proof of your departure from the territory (return or onward flight ticket) that authorities may request upon entry.
• Verify the presence of the entry stamp on your passport, especially upon arrival by sea or land.
• Provide proof of family relationship if traveling with minors.