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Arrival cardSince 1 January 2024, every traveller visiting Malaysia must complete an unavoidable digital formality: the <strong>Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)</strong>. This electronic arrival card is mandatory regardless of your mode of transport — air, land or sea — and must be obtained before you arrive on Malaysian soil. The good news: the MDAC is free, with no consular fees, and the entire process is paperless. Here is everything you need to know to complete this formality with complete peace of mind.
01 · The essentials
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) has been mandatory for all travellers entering Malaysia since 1 January 2024.
The entire process is paperless: no embassy or consulate visit required — everything is done on the internet.
Regardless of your mode of entry, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your planned arrival date in Malaysia.
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is an administrative formality distinct from a visa. It does not replace a visa, and vice versa. It is an electronic arrival card that the Malaysian authorities have made mandatory for all travellers entering the country, regardless of their nationality or visa status.
The MDAC must be requested for each entry into Malaysia — it is not valid over a long period as an NZeTA (New Zealand) or an ESTA (United States) might be. Each trip therefore requires a new application.
Issuance is almost immediate after submission. However, the authorities require that the application be submitted at least 72 hours before arrival in Malaysia.
The MDAC arrival card does not replace a visa. If your nationality requires a visa to enter Malaysia, you must obtain that visa in addition to the MDAC.
The majority of European nationals benefit from a visa exemption for stays of up to 90 days. For stays longer than 90 days, a long-stay visa must be applied for at the Malaysian embassy in your country of residence, before departure.
02 · Eligibility
All nationalities are eligible for the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. Whether you are travelling from Europe, the Americas, Asia or elsewhere, the MDAC form is a mandatory step before entering Malaysia. There is no list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the MDAC, except for a few very specific profiles.
Here are the rare categories of travellers exempt from the MDAC:
French, Belgian, Swiss and, more broadly, European Union citizens must complete the MDAC before each entry into Malaysia. The 90-day visa exemption applies in parallel.
If you are transiting through Kuala Lumpur without passing through immigration controls (pure transit within the airport zone), the MDAC is not required. However, as soon as you clear customs or collect your baggage, the arrival card is mandatory.
Each traveller, including children and infants, must have an individual MDAC application. No traveller can be linked to another family member's card.
If you hold more than one nationality, the MDAC must be completed using the passport you will use to enter Malaysia. Make sure the data matches your actual travel document.
Travellers transiting through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) may remain in the transit zone for up to 24 hours, without a visa. However, if you have a connecting flight requiring a terminal change or baggage collection, you must have obtained your MDAC before arrival.
03 · Required documents
The MDAC application does not require complex documents. The essential requirement is to have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the planned date of arrival in Malaysia. This is the prerequisite for the application to be processed.
Here is all the information you need to fill in on the application form:
| Category | Required information |
|---|---|
| Personal data | Surname, given name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport expiry date, residential address, phone number |
| Travel details | Arrival date, departure date, mode of transport, last border point before entering Malaysia |
| Accommodation | Name and address of accommodation in Malaysia |
Information required to complete the MDAC form
Beyond your passport, it is recommended that you have your return flight ticket and your yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a country where the disease is present. These documents may be requested by Malaysian authorities upon arrival, even though they are not required for the MDAC form itself.
04 · The process
The MDAC application process is simple and entirely paperless. There is no need to visit an embassy or consulate. Everything happens online, and the result is sent directly to you by email.
The official deadline requires that the application be submitted at least 72 hours before your arrival in Malaysia. With an assistance service, you can send your application as soon as your travel dates are confirmed, without waiting until the last minute — avoiding any deadline-related stress.
Gather your passport (valid for at least 6 months), the contact details of your accommodation in Malaysia, and your trip details (dates, transport, last border point before Malaysia).
Complete the online form with your personal information and travel details. The application can be submitted as soon as your travel dates are known — the sooner the better to avoid any last-minute rush.
Your information is recorded in the Malaysian authorities' system. Issuance is technically almost immediate, but the card will only be sent to you within the 3 days preceding your trip.
You receive your electronic arrival card directly by email. Keep it carefully: you will need to present it to Malaysian authorities upon arrival.
Present your MDAC to the authorities at your entry point. All entry points are eligible: airports, land border crossings and seaports.
If you land at the main Kuala Lumpur terminals (KLIA 1 and KLIA 2), you can use the automatic e-Gate lanes to speed up your passage through immigration. Since June 2024, this programme has been extended to 63 nationalities.
The programme was originally launched for citizens of Australia, Brunei, Germany, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom. Note: you must be at least 120 cm tall to use the e-gate.
The official rule requires that the MDAC application be submitted at least 72 hours before your arrival in Malaysia. Do not leave this formality to the last moment: in the event of a technical issue or a request for additional information, you will not have time to rectify your application.
The complexity of this process is rated "easy", but the 72-hour deadline can be a source of additional stress, particularly for travellers with tight connections or complex itineraries. Submit your application as soon as your travel dates are known.
05 · Malaysia
Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country with varied geography, divided between the Malay Peninsula (home to Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Malacca) and Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak). The country enjoys an equatorial climate, characterised by warm temperatures and high humidity throughout the year. Rainfall varies by region and monsoon season.
The best times to visit Malaysia vary depending on the region you are targeting. It is essential to plan your itinerary according to the seasons to make the most of the landscapes and activities available.
January and February are the most pleasant months to visit this region. Kuala Lumpur blends modernity and tradition, with landmarks such as Masjid Negara and Masjid Jamek mosques. Malacca, a historic port city listed by UNESCO, is nicknamed "the Venice of Asia".
The dry season, from March to October, is ideal for beach destinations and allows you to avoid the northeast monsoon. The most popular islands are Tioman, Langkawi, Pangkor and the Perhentian Islands.
The dry season, from March to September, offers the best weather conditions for exploring the Bornean jungle. Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is only accessible by air.
Ecotourism is very popular in Malaysia. The Cameron Highlands offer landscapes of tea plantations and highland rainforests, with cooler temperatures than on the plains.
Malaysia offers a unique cultural mosaic, born of the blending of Malay, Chinese and Indian communities. This diversity is reflected in the cuisine — renowned throughout Asia —, architecture, festivals and traditions. From the colonial quarters of Georgetown in Penang to the skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur and the ancient forests of Borneo, each region of the country offers a radically different experience.
06 · Before you go
Beyond the MDAC, a trip to Malaysia requires preparation on several fronts: administrative formalities, health, local customs and on-the-ground logistics. Here is an overview of the key points to check before packing your bags.
Malaysia is one of the most accessible Southeast Asian destinations for French and European travellers: no visa required for stays of up to 90 days, a free digital arrival card (the MDAC) to apply for online at least 72 hours before arrival, and a well-developed tourist infrastructure. The MDAC process is straightforward, but should not be left to the last minute: submit your application as soon as your travel dates are confirmed and travel with complete peace of mind.
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