Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC): Your Essential Pre-Arrival Guide

You are standing in a long immigration queue after a night flight, and the person ahead of you is being sent back to fill in a form on their phone. That is the most avoidable problem at Malaysia’s borders in 2026. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is a free online declaration that most foreign visitors must complete before they arrive. This guide covers who needs it, how to submit it, and what happens at the airport, land borders and cruise terminals afterwards.

Who Needs the MDAC and Who Is Exempt

The MDAC is a mandatory digital declaration for most foreign visitors Entering Malaysia. It was introduced to speed up immigration and strengthen border security. You submit your travel details electronically before you arrive. There is no fee to complete or submit it. If a website asks you for payment, it is not the official portal.

These groups are exempt:

• Malaysian citizens
• Permanent Residents of Malaysia
• Brunei Darussalam Permanent Residents
• Singaporean citizens
• Diplomatic passport holders
• Holders of the Brunei General Certificate of Identity (GCI)
• Holders of the Thailand Border Pass
• Holders of the Indonesia Cross-Border Pass
• Travellers transiting or transferring without clearing immigration, meaning you stay inside the international transit area of the airport

Long-stay pass holders, such as people on the MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) programme or the DE Rantau digital nomad visa, are not named on the exemption list. If you hold one of these, confirm with the Immigration Department of Malaysia whether you need to submit the MDAC before you fly.

How to Submit the MDAC, Step by Step

You must submit the MDAC online within three (3) days before your scheduled arrival. It is a web-based system, so you do not need to download an app. The only official portal is:

https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main

1. Open the website. Use a browser on your phone or computer.
2. Start a registration. Look for “Register” or “New Registration” on the homepage.
3. Enter your personal details. You need your full name exactly as in your passport, nationality, passport number, date of birth, gender, email address and mobile number with the international dialling code.
4. Enter your travel details. You need your arrival date in Malaysia, departure date from Malaysia, mode of travel (air, land or sea) and your last port of embarkation. That is the city or country you travel from immediately before Malaysia.
5. Review and submit. Check every field. A mismatch with your passport can cause problems at immigration. Then click “Submit.”
6. Save your confirmation. A confirmation message appears on screen. Take a screenshot or print the page. You show it, digitally or on paper, to the immigration officer when you arrive.

Visa-Free Stays and General Entry Requirements

The MDAC is not a visa. It sits on top of whatever visa rules apply to your passport. Malaysia offers visa-free entry for tourism and social visits to citizens of many countries, and the length of stay depends on nationality:

• 90 days visa-free: citizens of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most European Union member states, South Korea and Japan.
• 30 days visa-free: citizens of countries including most ASEAN member states (such as Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines), Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and some Middle Eastern countries.
• 14 days visa-free: citizens of countries such as Saudi Arabia.

To use visa-free entry, you generally need:

• A passport valid for at least six (6) months from your date of entry
• A confirmed return or onward flight ticket
• Enough funds to cover your stay
• A completed MDAC submission
• No history of overstaying or other immigration offences in Malaysia

Always check your nationality’s current rules on the Immigration Department of Malaysia (IMI) website, www.imi.gov.my, before you book flights. Overstaying can count against you on future visits, so plan your return date carefully. If you think you need more time, ask the Immigration Department about your options well before your permitted stay ends.

eVISA and the End of eNTRI

If your nationality is not eligible for visa-free entry, you must get a visa before you travel. Malaysia mainly uses the eVISA system for this.

How the eVISA works

• Who needs it: citizens of various countries, including China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Serbia and Montenegro. The full list is on the official eVISA portal.
• Where to apply: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/main-services/visa/evisa-en/
• Fees in 2026: these vary by nationality and visa type. For example, a 30-day single-entry eVISA for Indian citizens costs approximately MYR 150 to MYR 200, including processing fees. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the portal.



• Processing time: usually 2 to 5 working days. Apply well ahead of your trip.
• Documents: a scanned passport bio-data page, a recent passport-sized photo, confirmed return flight tickets, proof of accommodation and proof of sufficient funds.

What happened to eNTRI?

The eNTRI (Electronic Travel Registration & Information) system was discontinued in 2020. It offered a simpler, faster registration for 15-day stays for citizens of countries like China and India, often with lower or no fees. In 2026, all those applications go through the eVISA system. Older blog posts that still mention eNTRI are out of date.

Arrival at KLIA and KLIA2: Autogates vs Manual Counters

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLIA2, the low-cost carrier terminal, are the main international gateways. The process is largely the same at both. After you get off the plane, follow the “Immigration” signs.

Autogates

Autogate access has expanded significantly. In 2026, autogates are available for:

• Malaysian citizens
• Singaporean citizens
• Citizens of 10 specific countries for their first-time entry after completing the MDAC: Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States
• Citizens of all 156 visa-required countries (eVISA holders) for subsequent entries, after their initial manual clearance

First-time foreign visitors who want to use autogates must first go to a manual counter for passport verification and fingerprint enrolment. After that, you can use the autogates on later entries. You need a valid passport, a completed MDAC and a fingerprint scan. Waits are typically 1 to 5 minutes.

Manual counters

Everyone else uses the manual counters, and so does anyone whose autogate attempt fails. Present your passport and your MDAC confirmation. The officer may ask about your purpose of visit and length of stay, and may ask to see your return ticket or proof of funds. Fingerprint scanning, usually of both index fingers, is mandatory. Waits range from 15 minutes to over an hour at peak arrival times.

After immigration

1. Collect your luggage at baggage reclaim.
2. Go through customs. Use the Red Channel if you have goods to declare, or the Green Channel if you do not.
3. Walk out to the arrivals hall.

2026 Budget Reality: From the Airport to the City

The MDAC costs nothing, so your first real expense is getting into Kuala Lumpur. Prices are approximate for 2026 and can change without notice.

Airport to KL city centre

• Budget: KLIA Ekspres (direct, 28 to 33 minutes to KL Sentral) at MYR 55 one-way, or KLIA Transit (stops along the way, 35 to 40 minutes) at MYR 55 one-way.
• Mid-range: Grab ride-hailing, approximately MYR 75 to MYR 100 excluding tolls, 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.
• Comfortable: airport taxi using the fixed coupon system at the designated counters, approximately MYR 80 to MYR 120.

Between KLIA and KLIA2

• KLIA Ekspres / KLIA Transit: MYR 2 one-way, a special inter-terminal fare, and a 3-minute ride. It is the fastest option.
• Shuttle bus: approximately MYR 4, 10 to 15 minutes.

Entering Malaysia by Land and Sea

The MDAC applies at land and sea borders too, not just airports.

Thailand land borders

At crossings such as Padang Besar, Bukit Kayu Hitam and Rantau Panjang, clear Thai immigration first, then go to the Malaysian border post. Show your passport and MDAC confirmation. Normal visa rules apply for your nationality, and Thai citizens generally get 30 days visa-free. KTM Komuter and ETS trains run at Padang Besar, linking Malaysia and Thailand.

Singapore land borders

After clearing Singapore immigration, you reach Malaysian checkpoints at Sultan Iskandar CIQ (Woodlands Causeway) or Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ (Tuas Second Link). Show your passport and MDAC confirmation. Singaporean citizens are exempt from the MDAC when entering by land. These are among the busiest borders in the world, so expect long queues at peak hours and on holidays. Public buses, private vehicles, Grab and the KTM Tebrau Shuttle from Woodlands CIQ to JB Sentral are the usual ways to travel.

Cruise terminals

Malaysia’s international cruise terminals include Port Klang (serving Kuala Lumpur), Swettenham Pier in Penang, Melaka International Cruise Terminal and Langkawi Cruise Terminal. Foreign visitors disembarking at any Malaysian port must submit the MDAC, and immigration checks happen at the terminal. Passengers typically clear immigration once on first disembarkation. For re-boarding during the same port call, you may only need your cruise card and sometimes your passport, but keep your passport and MDAC confirmation within reach.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting too early. The window is within three days before arrival. Do not complete it weeks ahead.



• Entering the wrong details. Your name and passport number must match your passport exactly, and any discrepancy can cause problems at immigration.
• Paying a third party. The MDAC is free. Use only the official portal.
• Confusing the MDAC with a visa. If your nationality needs an eVISA, you must have it before you travel. The MDAC does not replace it.
• Booking one-way with no onward plan. A confirmed return or onward ticket is a general requirement for visa-free entry.
• Passport validity. It must be valid for at least six months from your entry date.
• Assuming you can use autogates straight away. First-time foreign visitors must go to a manual counter first to enrol their fingerprints.
• Relying on mobile data only. Keep a screenshot or printout of your confirmation, along with copies of your passport, visa if applicable and onward tickets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card free?

Yes. There is no fee to complete or submit the MDAC. The only official portal is imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. If a website asks you to pay for the card, it is not the official one, so close it and use the official address instead.

How early can I submit the MDAC before my flight?

You must submit it online within three days before your scheduled arrival in Malaysia. Do not complete it weeks in advance. Set a reminder for about three days before you fly, fill in your passport and travel details carefully, then save the confirmation screen as a screenshot.

Do Singaporeans need to complete the MDAC?

No. Singaporean citizens are exempt from the MDAC, including when entering Malaysia by land through Johor Bahru. Other exempt groups include Malaysian citizens, Permanent Residents of Malaysia, diplomatic passport holders and people transiting without clearing immigration.

Can I use the autogates on my first visit to Malaysia?

Not straight away. First-time foreign visitors must go to a manual immigration counter for passport verification and fingerprint enrolment. After that, you can use the autogates on later entries. Citizens of ten listed countries, including the US and UK, can use them for first-time entry after completing the MDAC.

Is eNTRI still available for China and India?

No. The eNTRI system was discontinued in 2020 and replaced by the eVISA system. In 2026, citizens who need a visa apply through the official eVISA portal at imi.gov.my. Processing usually takes 2 to 5 working days, so apply well before your trip.

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📷 Featured image by bari abikar on Unsplash.