What Are the Requirements for a Malaysia Visa?

• A filled out Malaysia Visa Application Form
• A valid passport
• Pictures
• Flight schedule and itinerary
• Evidence related to accommodation
• An invitation letter from a sponsor in Malaysia
• No Objection Letter from the applicant’s employer
• Evidence of sufficient assets
• Evidence of a paid Malaysian visa fee
• A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate

A Filled out Malaysia Visa Application Form

The Malaysia country visa application form is available on the official website of the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Applicants must download and complete this form.

The format of this form is PDF. Applicants must have access to a computer and Adobe Reader (or a similar program) to complete the application form electronically. After the application form is complete, applicants must print two copies of the form on both sides of an A4 paper and sign them.

A valid passport

The validity of an applicant’s passport must be at least six months from the date of the intended travel to Malaysia. It is needless to say that their passport must be original.

The applicant’s passport must have at least two blank pages so that the immigration authorities can attach the visa and stamps.

In addition, applicants need to submit two copies of their passport’s bio-data page that are colored and clear.

Pictures

Applicants must have two recent pictures of themselves that are passport-size. These pictures must be in line with Malaysia’s photo requirements. In addition, applicants must attach one of the pictures to their Malaysian visa application form.

Malaysia Visa Photo Size

The passport pictures of the applicants must meet specific size requirements in order to be approved for a visa application:

• Photo dimensions: 35mm width by 50 mm height
• The applicant’s face must be in the center. The applicant’s face must take about 30 to 35 mm of the picture in terms of size.
• A distance of 5 mm from the top of the head to the top of the photograph is required.
• A distance from 5 to 10 mm from the chin to the bottom of the picture is needed.

Flight Schedule and Itinerary

Applicants must purchase a flight ticket and a return ticket for Malaysia. Then, they need to submit their tickets and attach colored photocopies of the tickets to the authorities.

Proof of accommodation

Applicants must be able to prove that they have a type of accommodation in Malaysia. This proof can be in the form of a hotel reservation, a home rental agreement, etc.

If the applicant plans to be with someone like a friend or family member, their relatives or friends need to write a letter of invitation to the applicant to prove their accommodation.

An Invitation Letter from a Sponsor in Malaysia

In order to stay with family/friends in Malaysia, they need to send the applicants an invitation letter stating their relationship and the dates of their stay. In addition, these relatives of friends must include their complete address and telephone number in the letter.

No Objection Letter from the applicant’s employer or educational institution

If the applicant is an employee, they must provide a No Objection Letter from their employer confirming their employment. This letter must include information like the duration in which the applicant is expected to be absent from work.

If the applicant is a student, they must provide a No Objection Letter from their educational institution confirming that they are a student as well as the expected duration of their absence.

Evidence of Sufficient Assets

Applicants must be able to prove that they possess adequate assets to support themselves or any accompanying dependents financially.

Applicants must have at least 46 dollars per day for the duration of their stay. In addition, they must provide a bank statement and a credit card statement from the past three months.

Evidence of a paid Malaysian visa fee

The Malaysia visa fee is non-refundable. Applicants must pay the required fee to perpetuate their application process. The method of visa fee payment changes based on the Embassy/High Commission processing their visa application. The fee for submission of documents may be paid in cash at some embassies or by bank drafts or money orders directly to the embassy.

Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate

Travelers from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission need a yellow fever vaccination certificate. In addition, if they transited through a nation at risk of yellow fever transmission for more than 12 hours, they also need vaccination. Yellow fever vaccination is for all travelers who are older than 1.

As such, applicants from the following countries need a Certificate of Yellow Fever Vaccination:

What are the Required Documents for Minors?

If an applicant attempts to obtain a Malaysia visa on behalf of a minor, they must attach their birth certificate. In addition, if the minor is traveling alone or with another adult who is not one of the parents, a No Objection Letter from the parents or legal guardians is needed, allowing the minor to travel.

What are the Documents for a Malaysia Multiple Entry Visa?

If a foreigner applies for a multiple entry Malaysian visas, they must collect other documents in addition to the requirements listed above:

• A short, written statement describing the applicant’s reasons for applying for more than one entry visa.
• Reserved flight tickets showing at least two trips to Malaysia. For travelers from Thailand or Singapore, a Written Statement of Intention to enter is more than enough.
• Bank statements showing sufficient funds.

The documents that travelers must collect depend on the Embassy/High Commission to which they are applying. Some embassies might ask for fewer or additional documents.

In addition, for a Malaysia Visa With Reference, travelers will need to provide pieces of evidence that the Immigration Department of Malaysia has authorized their application.

Do not forget that the Malaysia visa is just an authorization to travel to Malaysia, not a permit to enter the country. The Immigration Officers make the final decision about the eligibility of the travelers to enter the country at the Malaysian port of entry.

What are the Essential Documents for Malaysian Entry?

After applicants have traveled to Malaysia, they must fulfill the following requirements upon their arrival to enter the country. Travelers must have:

• A valid passport
• A visa (if the traveler comes from a visa-required country)
• Evidence of sufficient assets
• A round-trip ticket
• Fill out the Arrival/Departure Card at the Malaysian port of entry.
• The Malaysia Pass has been obtained from the Malaysian Immigration Department for long-term travel.
• Evidence of sponsorship, if applicable.

What are the Requirements for a Malaysia Visa Photo?

Malaysia visa photos have certain specifications which the applicants must meet.

• Pictures must be taken in a studio.
• Pictures must be from the recent three months.
• No borders are needed.
• Pictures must be colored.
• The background of the pictures has to be white without any patterns.
• Travelers must not modify or alter their pictures in any way which would misrepresent their skin color.
• Brightness and contrast should be adequate. There should be no overexposure or underexposure, no shadows, and no glare.
• Travelers must not modify or edit their pictures to remove birthmarks, scars, or any other distinguishing features.
• Pictures with red eyes in them must be retaken. Do not edit pictures with red eyes.
• Scanned pictures and colored copies are not appropriate. Visa pictures must be printed on high-quality picture paper.
• There must not be any marks like staple marks on the picture.

Applicant’s facial expression

All applicants must have the same facial expressions when it comes to visa pictures.

• Applicants must show a neutral facial expression.
• No smiles, frowns, or grimaces are not required.
•  The applicant’s mouth must be closed.
• The applicant must look straight ahead.
• The applicant’s head should be straight, not tilted or turned away.
• Applicants must put their hair behind their ears in a way that doesn’t cover their faces.
• Having a beard is allowed for a picture.

Applicant’s clothes and accessories

What applicants wear must be according to some hints. In this way, applicants can ensure their picture approval.

• Applicants’ clothes must be darker than the background so that they are fully visible.
• Hats, headbands, or other head accessories are not allowed.
• Headers for religious purposes are allowed in the pictures, provided that they do not cover the applicant’s face, forehead, and chin.
• Prescribed glasses are allowed in the picture as long as they do not block the face. If the glasses have thick edges or they reflect the light, they must be removed.
• Sunglasses or other colored glasses are not allowed.
• Large and flashy pieces of jewelry are not allowed.

Are there any Malaysian visa photo requirements for children?

Besides the specifications for the Malaysia visa photos mentioned above, there are other criteria for submitting a picture of a young child. Here is a list of those criteria below:

• The child must take the picture alone, without anyone holding them.
• There must not be toys, bottles, or any other objects in the picture.
• It is essential that the child faces the camera with a closed mouth and a neutral facial expression.

The Bottom Line…

Obtaining a Malaysia visa requires collecting several documents for the application process.

These documents are related to the applicant’s personal information like passport, applicant’s job like getting a No objection letter from the applicant’s employer, pictures, yellow fever application, etc. These documents can differ from one applicant to another depending on their travel purpose, the embassy they apply to, and the applicant’s original country.