Citizens of India and China can enter Malaysia and obtain a Malaysia Visa On Arrival (VOA), provided that they meet certain conditions.
Normally, the process of obtaining a Malaysian visa can be time-consuming and requires paperwork and documents to be submitted at a Malaysian Embassy or Consulate.
However, the Malaysia government simplified the process of obtaining a visa for several foreign nationals by implementing an online visa application facility.
Additionally, Indian and Chinese nationals have it even easier, with a Malaysian Visa On Arrival. However, a Visa on Arrival is not available in every case.
Malaysia Visa On Arrival for Indian and Chinese nationals
You can only get a Malaysian Visa on Arrival if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are an Indian or Chinese national.
- You are traveling to Malaysia directly from Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.
- If you are traveling from India or China, you cannot receive a Visa on Arrival. You need a regular tourist visa or an eVisa/eNTRI.
- You have a valid visa for Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.
- You have a return flight ticket or a ticket for onward travel dated in the next 7 days.
- You have at least $1,000 with you.
Where Can I Apply for a Malaysian Visa on Arrival?
Additionally, you may only apply for a Malaysian Visa on Arrival if you arrive through the following points of entry.
By air:
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA and KLIA2)
- Bayan Lepas International Airport, Pulau Pinang
- Sultan Ismail, Senai Airport, Johor
- Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Sabah
- Kuching International Airport, Sarawak
By land:
- Tuas – Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (Second Link)
Documents required for a Malaysian Visa on Arrival
When you apply for a Malaysia Visa On Arrival, you must have the following documents proving your eligibility:
- Your Indian or Chinese passport, which must be valid for at least another six months from that day.
- A visa issued by Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.
- Proof of sufficient funds. You need at least $1,000 per person. You can have the money in cash or prove you have access to them via bank statements on an international bank account.
- A return ticket to India or China or for onward travel to a third country. The flight must be within the next 7 days.
- A completed Arrival/Departure Card, which you can receive at the Malaysian point of entry upon arrival.
How to get a Malaysian Visa On Arrival?
Once you arrive in the Malaysia point of entry, you must approach a visa counter, where you submit the documents below and pay a processing fee.
The Malaysian Visa On Arrival processing fee is $100.
The Malaysian authorities will then review your application and decide whether you are eligible to enter or not.
What is the Validity of the Malaysia Visa On Arrival?
If you receive a Malaysian Visa On Arrival, you can only stay in the country for a maximum of 7 days. This period is not extendable.
You will have to show proof that you intend to leave after 7 days, such as a booked flight ticket either to India/China or another country on your onward travels.
If you need to stay for longer than 7 days, you will have to apply for another type of visa, such as the Malaysia eVisa or eNTRI (see the alternatives to the Malaysia Visa On Arrival below).
Benefits and Limitations of the Malaysia Visa On Arrival
The Malaysia Visa on Arrival has a lot of benefits if, for example, you are on a holiday or a business trip which requires you to travel to Malaysia directly from Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.
Benefits
As such, the benefits of a Malaysia Visa on Arrival are:
- You don’t have to fill out any application form or visit a Malaysian Embassy or Consulate to submit the application.
- It’s a much faster process since you do not have to wait days for your visa to be processed.
- You don’t need to obtain extensive documents.
Limitations
On the other hand, it has its limitations, such as:
- You cannot travel from your home country or any country other than Indonesia, Singapore or Thailand.
- You can only stay for up to 7 days, which may not be enough if you’re traveling for a purpose other than tourism.
- The Visa On Arrival processing fee is higher than for a regular visa.
- You must be able to have access to $1,000 on hand.
- You can only arrive at the entry points listed above.
The takeaway is this: If you have an Indonesian, Singaporean or Thai visa, don’t need to stay in Malaysia longer than 7 days, have the necessary funds and can afford the visa fee, then the Visa On Arrival is a good solution for you.
However, if you intend to stay longer, you will need an alternate visa. As an Indian or Chinese national, you still have two alternatives which are still faster and more straightforward than a regular visa, though not as much as the Visa on Arrival.
Alternatives to the Malaysia Visa On Arrival for Indian and Chinese Nationals
Indian and Chinese nationals are eligible to apply for a Malaysia Visa online through the following options:
- A Malaysian eNTRI
- A Malsysian eVisa
eNTRI
The Malaysia eNTRI stands for Electronic Travel Registration and Information. It is an online registration facility under the Visa Waiver Programme available to citizens of China and India exclusively. An eNTRI lets you stay in Malaysia for up to 15 days, but you can only receive an eNTRI after three months have passed since the last time you received one.
eNTRI holders can enter the country through all air entry points and several land entry points as well.
eVisa
The Malaysia eVisa is available to nationals of ten countries, India and China included. The eVisa works just like a regular Malaysia visa. The only difference is that you can apply for it online. It is valid for three months, and allows the holder to stay in Malaysia for up to 30 days.
Malaysia eVisa holders can enter the country through any entry point (sea, air, or land).
You can apply for a Malaysia visa online from any foreign country other than Singapore.
However, you’ll need to have additional documents and upload them electronically to the visa application facility. Online Malaysia visas can take a few days to be processed.
If your application is approved, you will receive an electronic version of the visa which you must print and present at the Immigration Officers at the point of entry.
Click here to see the requirements and application process for a Malaysia Online Visa.