Malaysia announces new visa liberalisation plan
The Immigration Department in Malaysia has announced a visa liberalisation plan, which aims to attract foreign tourists and generate national income. This will ensure Malaysia remains a leader in key industries investment and tourism in the Asian region.
The visa liberalisation plan includes the following measures effective 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2026 (unless otherwise stated).
Visa waiver for Chinese and Indian nationals
Effective 1 December 2023 to 31 December 2024, the government has introduced visa exemption for citizens of China and India.
Chinese and Indian nationals can stay for up to 30 days visa-free, with no extension of stay allowed. Visa approvals received before 1 December 2023 do not need to be presented on entry. However, fees paid for these visa approvals will not be refunded.
Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) facility
The visa validity period for entry is extended from three months to six months from the date of issuance. Each entry allows a stay of 30 days.
Extension of visa validity period
For all visa types, the visa validity period for entry is extended from three months to six months from the date of issuance. This includes Visa with Reference (VDR) and Visa Without Reference (VTR).
Applicants for long-term passes travelling to Malaysia to have the pass endorsed in their passport must be sure to arrive within six months of issuance of the pass approval letter.
Extension of Social Visit Pass (SVP) stay period
The SVP duration is increased from 14 days to 30 days for the following 22 countries only:
- Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia, Congo Democratic Republic, Congo Republic, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Niger and Rwanda.
Visas for entry to Malaysia are still required for the above countries. No extension is allowed beyond the 30-day SVP.
New Graduate Pass
A new Graduate Social Visit Pass (GSVP) is available for international students from the following 23 countries who have completed or are going to complete a bachelor’s degree or above in any higher education institute in Malaysia:
- Australia, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Sweden, UAE, UK and USA.
The GSVP is a kind of Long-Term Social visit pass (LTSVP), valid for 12 months and issued together with a Multiple Entry Visa (MEV). The GSVP allows tourism, study and work in certain sectors.
Dependents of holders are eligible for a LTSVP. Applicants must present proof of a personal bond from a Malaysian sponsor who has an income of at least RM 1500.
Umrah Transit Visa
A new Umrah transit visa with a 7-day Social Visit Pass (SVP) is available for nationals of 32 countries who wish to visit Malaysia for social reasons before or after performing the Umrah.
Applications should be submitted through a travel agency registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Speak to an immigration expert
If you have questions about any of the above changes or if you require support with relocating to Malaysia, Smith Stone Walters can help.
To find out more, please contact the SSW global immigration team.
