Malaysia Transit Visa

Formerly, there was no visa-on-arrival facility for Indian passport holders travelling through Malaysia. However, from 1st December 2023 to 31st December 2024 Indian citizens can enter Malaysia without a visa. This visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility is only extended to Indian and Chinese nationals.

• Here is the eligibility criteria for the VOA facility:

• The VOA Malaysia facility is exclusively for Indian and Chinese nationals

• Indian citizens travelling directly to Malaysia from India cannot get a VOA

• You must travel to Malaysia via Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, or Brunei and possess a valid visa from any of these respective destinations to get a VOA from Malaysia

• As proof of funds, travellers must have a minimum of USD 500 in cash, credit, or debit card

• Travellers must possess a return flight ticket to India or an onward ticket to another country

• The duration of your stay in Malaysia cannot exceed 15 days

If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria for the VOA facility and if you are planning a trip to a destination that needs a layover in Malaysia, then you will most likely have to apply for a transit visa in Malaysia for an Indian.

Under this visa, travellers can briefly stop in Malaysia before continuing their journey to their final destination.

Here are the scenarios for which you may require a Malaysia transit visa:

Depending on their nationality and the duration of their stay, foreign nationals who are transiting through Malaysia while travelling to their final destination will need a transit visa.

If you belong to a country that requires a Malaysia visa, your transiting duration exceeds 24 hours, and you need to change flights, collect luggage, or switch terminals, you will require a transit visa.

For certain eligible travellers, transit visas can be procured via the Malaysian embassy or consulate or from the Electronic Travel Registration and Information (eNTRI) system

Important points to note:

Indian citizens (as well as citizens from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan) will not require a transit visa if their transition via Malaysia is for less than five days (120 hours)

Malaysia does not have a specific visa type labelled “transit visa”, so if you need a visa for transiting through the country, you will most likely need to apply for a Malaysian eVisa or eNTRI visa.

From 1st Dec 2023 to 31st Dec 2024, citizens from India and China can travel visa-free to Malaysia. The stay period without a visa in Malaysia is 30 days, and the policy is exclusively valid for tourism purposes.

As mentioned earlier, there are essentially three kinds of visas for Malaysia:

• Malaysia eVisa

• Malaysia eNTRI

• Visa on Arrival

Let’s take a look at the application process for each of these.

Application Process for Malaysia eVisa

• Visit the official Malaysia eVisa website

• Complete the registration process on the website by providing personal information such as your name, nationality, email ID, and other details

• Once this is done, you will receive a verification link on your email account. After completing the verification, login and click on the “Apply Now” tab.

• Select your desired visa type and complete the application process by uploading all the required travel documents.

• Carefully review your application to ensure all the information provided is accurate

• Finally, you will be asked to pay the Malaysia transit visa cost for Indians via your preferred mode of payment (credit/debit card) from the website’s secure portal

• Then, sit back and wait for your visa to be processed. This will generally take anywhere between 2-5 days.

Application Process for Malaysia eNTRI Visa

• Visit the official portal of the Malaysia Government and register for the Malaysian eNTRI visa application account

• Verify your account via the link you receive in your email and log in to your Malaysian eNTRI visa application account

• Start with the application process, where you will need to add your personal information. In subsequent sections, you will need to provide information about your family, travel history, and proof of accommodation.

• Carefully review your application and ensure there are no mistakes

• Finally, pay the visa fee and wait for your application to be processed. This usually takes up to two days.

Application Process for Malaysia Visa-on-Arrival

• Once you land in Malaysia, head to the Immigration (visa) counter

• At the counter, you will be asked to fill out an application form

• Once the application is complete, submit it with all the necessary documents, such as a passport (minimum 6 months validity), a confirmed return ticket, proof of funds, and a recent passport-sized photograph.

• Pay the visa fee, either by cash or card

• It will only take a few minutes for your application to be processed and approved

• Once approved, you will receive a visa and be allowed to enter Malaysia

• It is important to note that the VOA facility is only available for certain limited nationalities, and it has strict eligibility criteria that need to be verified beforehand

As an Indian citizen, you can get a Kuala Lumpur transit visa for Indians if you are transiting through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) while on your way to another destination. In this scenario, you may be eligible for the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) facility.

However, it is important to check the eligibility criteria for the TWOV visa before application.

Here are Malaysia transit visa requirements for Indians

Passport: Your passport must at least be valid for six months from your date of entry in Malaysia

Photograph: You will need two passport-size photographs. Here are the guidelines for the photos: 35cm x 50cm, white background, must be printed on quality photo paper, and the photo should be clear without blurred spots.

**Confirmed ticket:**Your ticket to the next destination you are flying to must be confirmed

Visa for the third country: If you need a visa to travel to your third destination, you must have it before applying for the Malaysian transit visa

Proof of funds: You need to submit proof of funds to support yourself during your stay in Malaysia

The cost of Malaysia transit visas is as follows:

• For the eVisa, Malaysia transit visa cost for Indians is 160 MYR

• For the Malaysia VOA facility, the fee is about 200 MYR

• Malaysia eNTRI visa cost is about 160 MYR

To ensure seamless visa procurement, the processing time is limited to a few days:

As an Indian citizen, if your layover exceeds 24 hours or if you need to pass through immigration, you will require a transit visa in Malaysia for an Indian. Here is what you need to do once you land at Malaysia Airport:

• Once you reach the Malaysia airport, you will have to head straight to the immigration section. There, you will have to hand them your transit visa and other essential documents, such as the confirmed flight ticket to your next destination, passport, etc.

• After submitting all the necessary documents, the immigration process is completed.

• Depending on the type of visa you have applied for, you can either get a hotel outside the airport or wait at the next gate. If you are going to a hotel, make sure you are back at the airport in time for your next flight.

Travel insurance is often an important document needed for a visa. However, this may not be applicable for transit visas. Regardless, to secure your trips from unpleasant eventualities, a travel insurance plan is highly recommended.

This is because travelling abroad is a significant financial commitment. If something were to go wrong in your planning, you will have to bear this loss, which can burn a hole in your pocket. To prevent this, overseas travel insurance is an essential travel companion.

Whether you have misplaced your luggage, your flight got cancelled or delayed, you have misplaced your passport, or are facing other hindrances, your overseas travel insurance secures you against a range of unpleasant eventualities.

The overseas travel insurance by Tata AIG comes with affordable coverage options, offers 24/7 customer assistance, and ensures a seamless claim procedure - all to ensure maximum customer satisfaction.

Also Read: Travel insurance Malaysia

• Starting from 1st Dec 2023 to 31st Dec 2024, Indian passport holders travelling to Malaysia will not require visas, simplifying their travel process. They can enjoy up to a 30-day stay without a visa requirement - exclusively for tourism.

• For ease of visa application process, it is advised that travellers apply for their transit visa online. However, those who prefer the offline method can procure their visa by visiting the embassy or consulate.

• Indian citizens applying for Malaysia VOA must note that there is a strong eligibility criteria for the same. Moreover, the ultimate decision to grant or reject the visa lies with the immigration officer at the port of entry. There have been instances where travellers were denied VOA, leading to significant financial losses.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is subject to change depending on immigration laws and policies. It is recommended to stay updated regarding such changes and confirm the details through an official source before proceeding further.

Information last updated Jan 24. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.