It has been announced that starting 1 January 2024, most foreign travellers will be required to fill in and complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC).
The MDAC serves as an online pre-arrival form and must be filled out up to three days before arriving in Malaysia. This is basically a digital version of the arrival cards that are sometimes given during flights overseas.
Malaysia has begun implementing this measure as part of the control and enforcement measures under the nation’s Visa Liberalisation Plan. This plan is an ongoing effort to attract more foreign tourists to Malaysia in order to bolster tourism revenue.
Who is exempted from the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)?
However, there are a few exemptions who do not need to complete the MDAC if they wish to enter Malaysia. These include:
- All Singaporean citizens
- Holders of diplomatic and official passports
- Malaysian permanent residents and long term pass holders
- Brunei General Certificate of Identity (GCI)
- Members of Brunei-Malaysia Frequent Traveller Programme (BMFTP)
- Thailand border pass holders
- Holders of Indonesian cross-border pass (PLB)
How do you register for the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?
Any foreign traveller who is un-exempted will be required to fill out the MDAC on the Immigration Department’s website within three days prior to planned arrival in Malaysia.
For the time being, there will be a grace period until 31 December for foreign travellers to complete the MDAC upon arrival within Malaysia. However, starting from 1 January 2024, the form must be completed prior to arrival.
Upon arrival in Malaysia, foreign travellers must present a valid passport and a completed MDAC arrival card for validation before heading through the immigration counter.
Here’s a simple checklist summary of the points above.
1.Complete and submit MDAC within 3 days before arriving in Malaysia
2. For first time visitors, you need to enrol and verify your passport at the counter. You can use the autogate for your departure if you have successfully enrolled after arriving.
3. For returning visitors, complete and submit MDAC within 3 days of arrival. You can directly use the autogate for both your arrival and departure.
4. Submitting the form is free of charge. You need to submit the form for every visit you make to Malaysia
Which countries’ visitors can use the autogate clearance?
If you are a visitor from the following countries, you can use the autogate for arrival and departure.
- Australia
- Brunei
- Germany
- Japan
- Korea
- New Zealand
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- United States
- United Kingdom
Just remember you need to be successfully enrolled in MDAC before you can use the autogate clearance. This facility is only available to passport holders with at least 6 months validity. It is only for arrivals and departures at KLIA and KLIA2.
