Who Needs the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)?
Find out whether you need to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before traveling to Malaysia. Check your eligibility, understand the exemptions and learn what to prepare for your arrival.
ELIGIBILITY CHECKER
Check Your MDAC Requirement
Select your passport country or territory and your status in Malaysia to see whether the MDAC generally applies to you.
WHO NEEDS MDAC
Who Needs to Submit an MDAC?
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is an online arrival declaration. Before arriving, foreign travelers submit their passport, travel and accommodation details so the information is ready when they reach immigration.
The requirement applies to foreign citizens traveling to Malaysia, whether for tourism, business or a family visit, unless they belong to one of the published exemption groups. Malaysian citizens do not submit an MDAC, because it is designed for foreign visitors.
For a fuller introduction to the declaration itself, read What Is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?.
Checking eligibility
Working out whether the MDAC applies to you, based on your citizenship, travel document and status in Malaysia. Nothing is submitted.
Submitting an MDAC
Completing the arrival declaration with your passport, travel, accommodation and contact details for a specific trip.
EXEMPTIONS
Who Is Exempt from MDAC?
Malaysia's published guidance lists the following groups as exempt from the MDAC requirement. Every other foreign citizen should expect to submit one.
- Exempt
Singapore citizens
Citizens of Singapore holding Singapore passports are exempt at all entry points. The exemption follows citizenship, so Singapore permanent residents who hold another nationality should check the rules for that nationality.
- Exempt
Diplomatic and official passport holders
Travelers entering Malaysia on a diplomatic or official passport are exempt. Holders of an ordinary passport of the same country are not covered by this exemption.
- Exempt
Malaysian permanent residents
Foreign nationals who hold Malaysian permanent residence are exempt from the MDAC requirement.
- Exempt
Malaysian long-term pass holders
Holders of a valid long-term pass issued by Malaysian immigration, such as an Employment Pass or Student Pass, are generally exempt, subject to the conditions of their pass.
- Exempt
Brunei General Certificate of Identity holders
Holders of a General Certificate of Identity (GCI) issued by Brunei Darussalam are exempt when traveling on that document.
- Exempt
Brunei–Malaysia Frequent Traveler Facility holders
Travelers registered under the Brunei–Malaysia Frequent Traveler Facility are exempt when using that facility.
- Exempt
Thailand Border Pass holders
Holders of a Thailand Border Pass are exempt when crossing into Malaysia on that pass.
- Exempt
Indonesia Cross-Border Travel Document holders
Holders of an Indonesian Cross-Border Travel Document (Pas Lintas Batas, or PLB) are exempt when traveling on that document.
Exemptions can change, and pass-based exemptions depend on holding a valid pass. If your pass has been approved but not yet issued, or your circumstances do not clearly match a group above, confirm the current requirement with the Malaysian immigration authorities before you travel.
BY TRAVEL STATUS
MDAC Eligibility by Travel Status
Your reason for traveling is only part of the picture. What decides the requirement is whether an exemption applies to your citizenship, travel document or status in Malaysia.
Tourist or short-term visitor
Generally requiredForeign tourists and other short-term visitors normally submit an MDAC, unless they are Singapore citizens or fall within another exemption group.
Business visitor
Generally requiredA business trip is treated like any other visit. Foreign business travelers submit an MDAC unless an exemption applies to them.
Malaysian citizen
Not requiredThe MDAC is for foreign visitors, so Malaysian citizens returning home do not submit one.
Malaysian permanent resident
Not requiredPermanent residents of Malaysia are listed among the exempt groups, whatever their nationality.
Malaysian long-term pass holder
Generally not requiredHolders of a valid long-term pass, such as an Employment Pass or Student Pass, are generally exempt, subject to their pass conditions.
Other exemption groups
Not requiredSingapore citizens, diplomatic and official passport holders, and holders of the listed Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia border documents are exempt.
AIR, LAND AND SEA
MDAC for Air, Land and Sea Arrivals
- Air
- Land
- Sea
How you arrive does not, on its own, change whether you need an MDAC. A traveler who is subject to the requirement should expect to submit one whether they land at an airport, drive across a land border or arrive by ferry or cruise ship.
Some of the exemptions are linked to border-crossing documents, such as the Thailand Border Pass or the Indonesian Cross-Border Travel Document. These apply because of the document held, not because the journey is by land or sea.
For details on airports, border crossings and seaports, see our guide to entering Malaysia by air, land or sea.
Is MDAC the Same as a Malaysia Visa?
No. The two are separate, and each should be checked on its own. Being exempt from one does not mean you are exempt from the other.
Malaysia Digital Arrival Card
- An arrival declaration of your passport, travel and accommodation details
- Submitted before each trip by travelers who are not exempt
- Does not grant permission to enter Malaysia
Malaysia visa
- A separate immigration authorization, needed only by some nationalities
- Depends on your nationality, purpose of travel and length of stay
- Is not replaced by an MDAC submission
BEFORE YOU APPLY
What Information Should Travelers Prepare?
If the MDAC applies to you, gather these details before you start so you can complete the form in one sitting.
Passport details
Passport number and expiry date, entered exactly as they appear in your passport.
Personal information
Full name as shown in your passport, date of birth, sex, nationality and country of birth.
Arrival and departure dates
The dates you expect to arrive in Malaysia and to leave.
Travel and transport details
Mode of travel, country of departure, and your flight, vessel or other transport number.
Accommodation in Malaysia
The type of accommodation and the address or details of where you will stay.
Contact information
A valid email address and a phone number including the country code.
Ready to start? Our step-by-step application guide explains each stage of the form.
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONS
Common Eligibility Questions
Do tourists need an MDAC to visit Malaysia?
In most cases, yes. Foreign tourists are expected to submit an MDAC before arriving, unless they belong to an exempt group, such as Singapore citizens or diplomatic and official passport holders.
Do Singapore citizens need an MDAC?
No. Citizens of Singapore holding Singapore passports are exempt from the MDAC requirement at all entry points. Singapore permanent residents who hold another nationality should check the requirement for that nationality. Singapore passport holders who wish to enroll their fingerprints for automated e-gate clearance on later trips may choose to submit an MDAC for that purpose, but it is not required for entry.
Do Malaysian permanent residents need an MDAC?
No. Malaysian permanent residents are exempt from the MDAC requirement, regardless of the passport they hold.
Do Malaysian long-term pass holders need an MDAC?
Holders of a valid long-term pass issued by Malaysian immigration, such as an Employment Pass or Student Pass, are generally exempt, subject to the conditions of their pass. If your pass has not yet been issued, or you are unsure whether it counts as a long-term pass, confirm before you travel.
Do I need both an MDAC and a visa?
Possibly. The MDAC and a Malaysia visa are separate. If your nationality requires a visa, you need the visa as well as the MDAC, unless you are exempt from the MDAC. Holding a visa does not remove the MDAC requirement.
Does the MDAC apply to land and sea arrivals?
Yes. The requirement depends on who you are and the document you travel on, not on whether you arrive by air, land or sea. Travelers who are subject to the MDAC should submit one for road, ferry and cruise arrivals as well as flights.
Do children need an MDAC?
Children who are subject to the MDAC requirement need their own declaration; there is no family exemption. A parent or guardian can prepare and complete it on the child's behalf.
What should I do if I am not sure whether I need an MDAC?
Compare your citizenship, travel document and status in Malaysia with the exemption groups on this page. If none clearly applies, plan to submit an MDAC. If your situation is unusual, confirm the current rules with the Malaysian immigration authorities before you travel.
Looking for answers about the application itself? Visit our full MDAC FAQ page or contact our support team.
Ready to Submit Your Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?
If you have checked your eligibility and the MDAC applies to you, continue with the online application. Have your passport and travel details ready before you begin.