Malaysia Visa for Indians in 2026: Visa-Free Through December, eNTRI & e-Visa
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer is a Southeast Asia travel writer for FlightGPT who has applied for — and helped friends apply for — most of the region's e-visas and visa-on-arrival schemes. She tracks ASEAN visa-policy changes for Indian passport holders and translates the official portals into plain, step-by-step English.) · Published · Last updated · 11 min read
Malaysia is visa-free for Indians for 30 days through 31 December 2026 — but you must file the MDAC arrival card first. Here's how that works, plus the eNTRI and e-Visa fallback options and what each costs.
Quick answer
As of 2026, Indian passport holders can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, social or transit purposes — this waiver has been extended to 31 December 2026. There is no visa fee, but you must file the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days before arrival. If you prefer or need a pre-approved visa, the eNTRI (15-day single entry, ~USD 20) and the e-Visa (30 days, ~USD 30 single / ~USD 50 multiple) are available at the official immigration portals. Verify on the official site before travel — the visa-free policy has a sunset date. See our Malaysia visa page.
Malaysia visa-free for Indians — the 2026 status
The headline: Malaysia has waived visas for Indian (and Chinese) nationals since December 2023, and the Malaysian government has extended the visa-free entry to 31 December 2026, timed around Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Indians get up to 30 days visa-free for tourism, business, social visits or transit. You do not apply for a visa, do not pay a visa fee, and do not visit VFS.
The one non-negotiable step is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) — a free online registration you must complete within 3 days before your arrival date. This is the part most Indians trip on, because "visa-free" makes people assume there is nothing to do online. There is: no MDAC, and you can be turned away or delayed at the airport.
Two important caveats. First, the waiver is for purposes other than work or study — if you are going to work or study, you still need the appropriate visa. Second, the waiver has a sunset date of 31 December 2026; it has been extended before, but always confirm it is still in force for your travel month on the official Malaysian Immigration Department site (imi.gov.my) before you fly. This is one of the best visa deals available to Indians in Asia right now — pair it with our Malaysia Airlines from India guide or compare fares in the FlightGPT chat.
The MDAC — your one mandatory step
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is filed at the official portal (imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac, linked from imi.gov.my). It is free and takes a few minutes:
- Open the official MDAC portal — within the window of 3 days before arrival (not earlier, not on the day after you land).
- Enter passport and personal details, your flight number, and your Malaysian accommodation address.
- Submit — you get a confirmation. Save/screenshot it.
- At immigration, the system links to your passport; have the confirmation handy in case you are asked.
There is no fee for the MDAC — ignore any third-party site charging for it. Because the window is only 3 days before arrival, set a phone reminder for the day before you fly. If you are doing a multi-stop ASEAN trip, you may need a fresh MDAC for each Malaysia entry. Heading onward to Singapore or Thailand afterwards? See our Singapore e-Visa guide and Thailand visa-free guide.
eNTRI vs e-Visa — when you'd still apply
With 30 days visa-free, most Indian tourists need nothing more than the MDAC. But the older eNTRI and e-Visa routes still exist, and they matter if the visa-free waiver lapses, if you need more than 30 days, or if your purpose is not covered. Here is the comparison, with fees as date-stamped June 2026 ranges to confirm on the official portal:
| Route | Stay | Entries | Fee (approx, June 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | 30 days | Single visit | Free (MDAC required) | Through 31 Dec 2026 |
| eNTRI | 15 days | Single entry | ~USD 20 (~₹1,700) | Must fly in from India, Singapore or Thailand |
| e-Visa (single) | 30 days | Single entry | ~USD 30 (~₹2,500) | Apply ~2–3 working days ahead |
| e-Visa (multiple) | 30 days/visit | Multiple | ~USD 50 (~₹4,200) | For repeat visits in validity |
Both eNTRI and the e-Visa are applied for at the official Malaysian immigration e-services (the MYVISA / eNTRI portals under imi.gov.my). A practical note: Malaysia historically requires a printed copy of an eNTRI/e-Visa at the airport — a screenshot alone has caused boarding issues — so print it. While the visa-free policy holds, though, you can skip all of this and just file the MDAC.
What immigration checks on arrival
At Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Penang (PEN), Johor Bahru (JHB), Langkawi (LGK), Kota Kinabalu (BKI) and other entry points, Malaysian immigration will check that you qualify for the visa-free entry. Carry:
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- MDAC confirmation
- Confirmed return or onward ticket within 30 days
- Proof of accommodation — hotel bookings
- Proof of funds — card and some cash; spot-checks happen
Malaysia immigration can be strict on the "genuine visitor" test — they occasionally refuse entry to travellers who look like they intend to work or who have thin documentation. Have your return ticket, hotel and funds ready. Single younger travellers and those on one-way tickets get the most scrutiny.
Money and practical tips for Indians
A few India-specific logistics for a Malaysia trip in 2026:
- Currency — the Malaysian ringgit (MYR). Cards are widely accepted in KL, Penang and the malls; carry some cash for hawker stalls and small towns. A zero-forex card (Niyo Global, Fi, Scapia) avoids the markup.
- SIM — Maxis (Hotlink), Celcom-Digi and U Mobile sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with plenty of data; passport needed.
- Transport from KLIA — the KLIA Ekspres train reaches KL Sentral in ~30 minutes; Grab is the go-to ride-hail.
- Two airports in KL — KLIA (Terminal 1) and klia2 (AirAsia and most low-cost). Check which one your flight uses; they are linked but not the same building.
- Onward trips — Malaysia is a natural hub for Borneo, Langkawi and the islands; if you are comparing beach options, our Bali vs Phuket and offbeat Southeast Asia pieces help.
Common mistakes Indian travellers make
- Skipping the MDAC — it is mandatory even though entry is visa-free; file it within 3 days before arrival at the official portal.
- Filing the MDAC too early — the window is only 3 days before arrival; doing it a week ahead can be rejected.
- Assuming visa-free is permanent — it currently runs to 31 December 2026; confirm it still applies for your travel month on imi.gov.my.
- Not printing an eNTRI/e-Visa (if you use one) — Malaysia often wants a printed copy at the airport.
- Going to work/study on the waiver — the visa-free entry excludes employment and study; get the right visa for those.
- One-way tickets — carry proof of onward travel within 30 days.
For the latest status and fees, check the FlightGPT Malaysia visa page and the official imi.gov.my portal before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Malaysia in 2026?
No, for short visits. Malaysia is visa-free for Indian passport holders for up to 30 days (tourism, business, social or transit) through 31 December 2026. You must still file the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days before arrival.
How long can Indians stay in Malaysia visa-free?
Up to 30 days per visit under the visa-free waiver, valid through 31 December 2026. The waiver covers tourism, business, social and transit purposes but not work or study, which still require the appropriate visa.
What is the MDAC and is it mandatory for Indians?
Yes. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is a free, mandatory online registration you must complete within 3 days before arrival at the official imi.gov.my portal. "Visa-free" does not exempt you from the MDAC — skipping it can cause delays or refusal at the airport.
What is the difference between Malaysia eNTRI and e-Visa?
eNTRI gives a 15-day single-entry stay (~USD 20) and requires you to fly in from India, Singapore or Thailand. The e-Visa gives 30 days, single (~USD 30) or multiple entry (~USD 50). While the visa-free waiver is in force, most tourists need neither — just the MDAC.
How much does the Malaysia e-Visa cost for Indians?
As of June 2026, the single-entry e-Visa is about USD 30 (~₹2,500) and the multiple-entry e-Visa about USD 50 (~₹4,200), processed in roughly 2–3 working days at the official portal. Print the e-Visa — Malaysia often requires a paper copy at the airport. Verify current fees before applying.
Is Malaysia visa-free permanent for Indians?
No. The visa-free entry currently runs through 31 December 2026 and was set up around Visit Malaysia Year 2026. It has been extended before but has a sunset date, so confirm it is still in force for your travel month on imi.gov.my before booking.