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Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

Arrival Card Asia | Malaysia Digital Arrival Card

Last updated

August 7, 2026

✈️ Before You Go

Before you land in Malaysia, most foreign visitors—including those from visa-exempt countries—must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online between 3 and 30 days prior to arrival. The form itself takes about 10 minutes if you have your passport and flight details handy, but don’t expect instant confirmation; processing can take up to 72 hours, so submit early. The a detail that trips up newcomers for first-timers is that the MDAC is not a visa—it’s an entry declaration, and you still need a valid visa if your nationality requires one. Also, the system rejects incomplete hotel addresses, so have your exact accommodation name and postal code ready. Here's what experienced applicants recommend: save a PDF of your approved MDAC on your phone and also print a paper copy—immigration officers sometimes ask to see it, and airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable. Double-check your passport number entry, as even a single digit error can trigger a secondary inspection that adds an hour to your arrival.

⚠️ Important Notes

⏰

Fill Time Window

Complete within 3 days before arrival

💰

Cost

Free

0
  • • Mandatory since January 1, 2024 — all foreign travelers (including transit passengers) must complete MDAC online
  • • Must submit within 3 days before arrival — not earlier than 3 days
  • • Malaysian citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders are exempt
  • • Transit passengers (even without leaving the airport) must also complete MDAC
  • • Screenshot the confirmation page after submission — airport inspection may occur without network access
  • • MDAC is completely free — the official Immigration Department website imigresen-online.imi.gov.my is the only portal
  • • Date format is DD/MM/YYYY (day/month/year) — do NOT confuse with US format MM/DD/YYYY
  • • Passport number: distinguish letters from numbers — passport numbers typically do not contain letters I or O
  • • Singapore citizens are currently exempt from MDAC — check the latest immigration announcements for nationality eligibility changes
  • • MDAC is not a visa — some nationalities still need a Malaysian visa separately

📋 Field Guide

Field Name Tips & Notes
Full Name

Full Name

Enter exactly as shown on your passport.
Passport Number

Passport Number

Distinguish letters from numbers carefully.
Date of Arrival / Departure

Arrival / Departure Date

Format is DD/MM/YYYY. Do NOT use US format MM/DD/YYYY.

Step-by-Step Guide

💡 Before You Start

MDAC is free and needs no account or login. Submit within 3 days before arrival (including the arrival day); every foreign visitor including transit passengers must file it. Have your passport and flight/trip details ready, and use an email you can access during the trip. The form is a single page — you can save a screenshot of the submitted MDAC for entry checks.

1

Traveller Details

7fields

Personal details exactly as printed in your passport.

Name

textRequired

Full name exactly as printed on the passport biodata page.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Using a nickname instead of the passport name

Passport No.

textRequired

Passport number, no spaces. Usually one letter followed by 7–9 digits.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Typing the letter O instead of zero
  • •Including spaces or <> characters

Date of Birth

dateRequired

Select your date of birth (day / month / year).

Nationality / Citizenship

selectRequired

Pick your nationality from the full official list. Entries use the format "CODE - COUNTRY".

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Selecting the code of a different country than your passport

Place of Birth

selectRequired

Country where you were born, same "CODE - COUNTRY" list.

Sex

selectRequired

MALE or FEMALE, as in your passport.

Date of Passport Expiry

dateRequired

Expiry date on your passport. Malaysia requires at least 6 months validity on arrival.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Entering an expiry date less than 6 months away — you may be denied boarding
2

Contact Information

4fields

The confirmation email and MDAC receipt are sent here.

Email Address

emailRequired

A working email address — your MDAC confirmation and receipt are sent here. Keep it accessible during the trip.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Using a temporary address you cannot access abroad

Confirm Email Address

emailRequired

Type the same email address again.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •The two email fields not matching — the form will reject the submission

Country / Region Code

selectRequired

Telephone country/region dialling code, e.g. "( 86 ) CHINA". Not the country name list.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Selecting the country name instead of the dialling code

Mobile No.

textRequired

Mobile number without the country code (already chosen above).

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Entering the country code twice
3

Trip Details

5fields

MDAC can only be submitted within 3 days before arrival (including the arrival day).

Date of Arrival

dateRequired

Your arrival date in Malaysia. Must be within 3 days of today — the form rejects earlier dates.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Submitting more than 3 days before arrival — rejected

Date of Departure

dateRequired

Planned departure date from Malaysia. If unknown, give your best estimate.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •A departure date before the arrival date

Flight / Vessel / Transportation No.

textRequired

Flight number (e.g. MH123), vessel name, or transport number you arrive on.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Entering the booking reference (PNR) instead of the flight number

Mode of Travel

selectRequired

AIR for flights, LAND for road/rail crossings, SEA for ships.

Last Port of Embarkation before Malaysia

selectRequired

The country you departed from immediately before Malaysia — e.g. "SGP - SINGAPORE" if flying from Singapore.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Choosing the country of your citizenship instead of your departure country
4

Accommodation in Malaysia

7fields

Where you will stay in Malaysia. The address line accepts alphanumeric characters only.

Accommodation of Stay

selectRequired

Hotel/motel/rest house, a friend's/relative's residence, or other.

Address (In Malaysia)

textRequired

Full address of your stay in Malaysia. Alphanumeric only — commas, # and other symbols are rejected.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Pasting the address with commas or # symbols — rejected

Address Line 2

textOptional

Optional second address line (building, unit number).

State

selectRequired

Malaysian state of your accommodation.

Postcode

textRequired

5-digit Malaysian postcode.

City

textRequired

City or town of your accommodation (e.g. KUALA LUMPUR).

Submit

buttonRequired

Review everything, complete the security slider, then Submit. A confirmation email with your MDAC arrives within minutes.

⚠ Common Mistakes

  • •Closing the page before the confirmation email arrives — check your spam folder too

🎯 Rehearse before you go?

Rehearse the official form field by field — guidance and common pitfalls inline. Export your answers as a reference card, then breeze through the real form.

Practice the form →
Visit Official Site
Free to use Last Confirmed: August 7, 2026

💬 Travel Experience Exchange

Applying or already traveled? Share your entry/exit experience, real problems encountered, or recent changes to help fellow travelers — our editors will also respond regularly.

  • Share pitfalls or surprises during your entry process
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