Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) – Online Application & Travel Information
Learn about the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, who needs to complete it, when to submit your arrival information, and how to prepare for your journey to Malaysia.
What Is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, usually shortened to MDAC, is an online form in which a traveler gives arrival information before entering Malaysia. It has applied to most foreign visitors since 1 January 2024.
Submitting an MDAC does not guarantee entry to Malaysia.
Arrival information, submitted electronically
Instead of completing a paper card on the way in, eligible travelers provide their details online ahead of the journey.
A step in entry preparation
Passport, personal and travel details are provided so that arrival information is on record before immigration clearance, which supports a smoother process at the border.
Separate from visa permission
An MDAC is not a visa and does not take the place of any other immigration approval. Immigration clearance still takes place on arrival.
Who Needs to Complete an MDAC?
Most foreign visitors are expected to complete one, but not everyone. What applies to you depends on your nationality, your travel documents and your immigration status.
Most foreign visitors
Visitors who are not exempt are generally expected to complete an MDAC before they enter Malaysia. The checker lists it as required for these purposes of travel:
- Tourism / Holiday
- Business Visit / Meetings
- Professional Visit / Assignment
- Medical Treatment
- Study / Education
- Employment / Work
- Dependent / Family
Each situation is different, so treat this as a starting point rather than a ruling on your own case.
Visa-free is not the same as exempt
A visitor who does not need a visa may still be expected to complete an MDAC. The two are separate questions.
Children
Children may need a separate arrival submission where applicable, so prepare each traveler's details individually.
Transit
Transit circumstances need individual consideration. Check your own itinerary rather than assuming either way.
Where the answer differs
These statements come from the same rules that power our homepage checker. Use the checker for a result based on your own details.
- Malaysian citizens
- Malaysian citizens do not need an MDAC.
- Singapore citizens
- Singapore citizens do not need an MDAC.
- Diplomatic and official passports
- Not needed for diplomatic or official passport holders.
- Malaysian long-term pass holders
- Not needed if you already hold a Malaysian long-term pass.
- Transit
- Needed only if you pass through immigration.
Some neighbouring countries have border arrangements noted in the checker:
- Brunei
- Not needed for diplomatic or official passports, or BL-MY frequent traveller facility holders.
- Thailand
- Not needed for diplomatic or official passports, or Thai border pass holders.
- Indonesia
- Not needed for diplomatic or official passports, or Indonesian PLB holders.
When Should the MDAC Be Submitted?
Timing is tied to your arrival date, so the information is usually prepared close to the trip.
Eligible travelers are generally required to complete the MDAC within three days before arrival, subject to applicable exemptions.
Three days before arrival
The window generally opens
In between
Submit once your details are ready
Arrival in Malaysia
Immigration clearance takes place
Prepare close to travel
Gather your passport and trip details shortly before you travel, when your plans are settled.
Your arrival date is the anchor
The window is counted from your expected arrival, so recheck it if your plans move.
Exemptions can change the picture
If an exemption applies to you, this window may not.
Information to Prepare for Your MDAC
Having these details to hand makes the form quick to complete. The application service shows exactly what it asks for.
Passport details
- Passport number
- Nationality and issuing country
- Passport expiry date
Personal information
- Full name as shown in the passport
- Date of birth
- Country or region of residence
Expected arrival date
- The date you expect to arrive in Malaysia
- Your planned departure date, where it is asked
Travel information
- How you will travel into Malaysia
- Flight or vehicle details, where requested
- Where your journey into Malaysia begins
Place of stay
- The kind of accommodation
- Its name or address and the town or state
Contact information
- An email address you can access
- A phone number, where requested
The MDAC is an information form. It is not an eVisa application, and this page does not present passport photographs, bank statements, tickets or accommodation proof as attachments to it.
How the MDAC Process Works
A general outline of the journey from deciding whether an MDAC applies to keeping your details safe.
Check whether an MDAC applies
Consider your nationality, passport type and travel circumstances to see whether you are expected to submit one.
Prepare passport and travel information
Gather the details listed above so that nothing has to be looked up halfway through.
Enter the required arrival details
Provide what the form asks for, written the way it appears in your documents.
Review everything carefully
Read each entry again before sending, paying attention to names, numbers and dates.
Submit through the applicable application service
Use the application service that applies to your situation to send the information.
Keep your confirmation details
Retain any confirmation or reference details you are given, in case you need them later.
This is explanatory information only. Applications cannot yet be submitted from this website.
MDAC and Malaysia eVisa: Understanding the Difference
The two are often mentioned together, but they do different jobs.
Malaysia MDAC
- What it is
- An arrival-information submission.
- Purpose
- Gives arrival and passport details ahead of immigration clearance.
- Who it concerns
- Applicable travelers, subject to exemptions.
- Timing
- Generally within three days before arrival.
Malaysia eVisa
- What it is
- An electronic visa application process.
- Purpose
- Visa permission for eligible travelers and applicable visa categories.
- Who it concerns
- Travelers whose nationality and purpose call for a visa.
- Timing
- Prepared in good time before travel, depending on the category.
- An MDAC is not a substitute for a visa.
- A traveler who needs a visa may also be expected to complete an MDAC.
- Exemptions and immigration circumstances matter in both cases.
- Entry remains subject to the applicable immigration requirements.
Before Arriving in Malaysia
A short list to run through once your plans are fixed.
- Check that your passport information matches what you entered.
- Confirm that your arrival date still fits your plans.
- Review the information you submitted for accuracy.
- Keep your confirmation details where you can reach them.
- Carry your visa or entry authorization where one is required.
- Have supporting travel information ready where it applies.
- Follow the entry requirements that apply to you. Immigration clearance takes place as usual.
Common Questions and Practical Issues
Cautious guidance for situations travelers often ask about.
Incorrect passport details
Details should match your passport exactly. If you notice a mistake, find out which correction options the application service offers rather than assuming one exists, and make sure the correct details are available to you on arrival.
Changed travel dates
Arrival information is tied to your expected arrival date. If your plans move, check whether your submission still fits the general window and whether the service allows an update or a new submission.
Missing confirmation details
Look in the inbox and the spam or junk folder of the email address you used, and in any records you kept. If nothing turns up, use the contact options of the service you applied through.
Uncertain exemption status
Use the eligibility checker on our homepage and think about your passport type, nationality and immigration status. If the result asks for a further check, treat the question as unresolved rather than assuming an exemption.
Traveling with children
Children may need their own arrival submission where applicable. Prepare each child's passport and travel details separately and check what applies to your family's situation.
Questions about transit
Transit circumstances need individual consideration. Whether an MDAC is relevant can depend on whether you pass through immigration, so look at your itinerary before assuming either way.
Malaysia Digital Arrival Card FAQs
Short answers to common questions about the MDAC.
What is the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card?
It is an online arrival-information form that eligible travelers complete before entering Malaysia. It gathers passport, personal and travel details ahead of immigration clearance. It is not a visa and it does not guarantee entry.
Who generally needs to submit an MDAC?
Most foreign visitors are generally expected to, unless an exemption applies. Exemptions and special circumstances depend on nationality, travel documents and immigration status, so use the eligibility checker on our homepage for a result based on your own details.
When should travelers prepare their MDAC?
Eligible travelers are generally required to complete the MDAC within three days before arrival, subject to applicable exemptions. It is sensible to gather your details close to your trip, once your arrival date is settled.
Is the MDAC the same as a Malaysia visa?
No. An MDAC provides arrival information, while a visa gives permission to travel for a particular purpose. An MDAC is not a substitute for a visa, and a traveler who needs a visa may also be expected to complete an MDAC. Entry remains subject to the applicable immigration requirements.
Do children need an MDAC?
Children may need a separate arrival submission where applicable. Prepare each child's passport and travel details individually, and check what applies to your family's situation before you travel.
What if my arrival information changes?
Check whether the change affects your arrival date or the details you gave, and whether it still fits the general submission window. What you can do next, such as updating or submitting again, depends on the application service, so confirm the options it offers instead of assuming one.
Do travelers transiting through Malaysia need an MDAC?
It depends on the circumstances. Our checker's wording for transit is: "Needed only if you pass through immigration." Because transit situations differ, look at your own itinerary and treat the question as one that needs individual consideration.
Prepare Your Malaysia Digital Arrival Card
Review your arrival details and get ready to complete your MDAC application.