How much does a visa
for Malaysia cost?
Good news: for most Western travelers, a tourist stay costs nothing at all. Here are all the official 2026 fees: eVisa, work visa, student pass, digital nomad and MM2H.
Key takeaways
- ✔ Tourists from France, most EU countries, the UK, US, Canada and Australia: $0. Visa exemption for up to 90 days; you only need to fill in the free MDAC (digital arrival card) within 3 days before your flight.
- ✔ Visa-required nationalities: official fees of RM 20 to RM 50 (≈ USD 4.50 to 11) depending on the country, via the eVisa on the official MyVISA portal.
- ✔ Long stays: Employment Pass RM 2,160 application fee + RM 200/year; DE Rantau (digital nomad) RM 1,080; student RM 2,650 to 3,850 for the first year; MM2H based on a bank deposit (from USD 32,000).
- ✔ Beware of middleman websites that charge USD 20 to 50 for the MDAC or a "visa" that Malaysia issues for free.
Official rates: Immigration Malaysia (JIM), ESD, MDEC, EMGS, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Updated June 2026.
Tourists: 0 ringgit for most Western travelers
Citizens of France, most EU countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, as the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms for its own nationals. Entry is free: no fee is collected on arrival.
Only one formality has been mandatory since December 1, 2023: the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), to be completed online within 3 days before arrival on the official Immigration website. It is 100% free. Our guide to arrival formalities walks you through the form step by step.
⚠️ Watch out for scams: many unofficial websites charge USD 20 to 50 to fill in the MDAC, or sell a so-called "Malaysia visa" to travelers who do not need one. These documents are free or unnecessary. Only use official domains ending in imi.gov.my.
Want to stay longer than 90 days? You will need a long-stay visa (see the sections below). Repeated "visa runs" are increasingly scrutinized, as we explain on our page about visa renewal.
Visa-required nationalities: the official fee schedule
For nationalities that need a tourist visa ("Visa Without Reference"), the visa fee is set per country by the Immigration Department. Applications are made online via the official eVisa (MyVISA); the platform's processing fees are added to the visa fee and displayed before payment.
| Nationality | Visa fee (RM) | Equivalent ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| France (if a visa is required: long stay, etc.) | RM 12.90 | ≈ USD 3 |
| Pakistan | RM 20 | ≈ USD 4.50 |
| China | RM 30 | ≈ USD 7 |
| India | RM 50 | ≈ USD 11 |
| Countries not listed in the schedule | RM 20 | ≈ USD 4.50 |
Source: official visa fee schedule, Immigration Malaysia (JIM), consulted in June 2026. Indicative conversions at USD 1 ≈ RM 4.4. Moroccan and Algerian nationals benefit from a tourist visa exemption: check your own situation on the MyVISA portal before paying anything.
Long-stay visas: how much for the first year?
Official first-year administrative fees (excluding insurance, airfare and any security deposit):
The breakdown by long-stay visa
| Visa | Official fees | Also budget for |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | RM 2,160 ESD application fee (RM 2,000 + 8% SST) + RM 200 per year of validity at endorsement | Fees usually covered by the employer; Dependent Pass for family members |
| DE Rantau (digital nomad) | RM 1,080 per applicant (RM 540 per dependent) + Immigration Pass RM 90 per 3 months | Refundable security deposit depending on nationality (RM 1,500 for Europe) + multiple-entry visa |
| Student Pass | EMGS processing ≈ RM 1,000-1,500 + RM 60 per year of pass, i.e. RM 2,650 to 3,850 all-in for the first year (insurance, medical screening) | Annual renewal ≈ RM 750-800; apply only through your university and EMGS |
| MM2H (retirees, investors) | Not a "visa price" but a locked bank deposit: from USD 32,000 (SEZ tier, age 50+) to USD 1,000,000 (Platinum) | Mandatory property purchase depending on the tier + application fees; see our MM2H guide |
Sources: official ESD fee table (in force since Sept. 2024), ESD, Employment Pass, MDEC (DE Rantau), EMGS (Student Pass). June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a visa for Malaysia cost?
For tourists from France, most EU countries, the UK, US, Canada or Australia: $0. The visa exemption covers up to 90 days, and only the free MDAC is required. For visa-required nationalities, the official fee ranges from RM 20 to RM 50 (≈ USD 4.50 to 11) plus the eVisa processing fees. Long-stay visas run from RM 1,080 (DE Rantau) to RM 2,160 (Employment Pass) in application fees.
Does the MDAC (arrival card) cost anything?
No, the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is completely free on the official website imigresen-online.imi.gov.my. Any site that charges you for it is an unofficial middleman, if not an outright scam.
How much does the Malaysia eVisa cost?
The official visa fee depends on nationality: RM 30 for China, RM 50 for India, RM 20 for most other visa-required countries. The official MyVISA platform adds processing fees that are displayed before payment. The tourist eVisa generally allows a 30-day stay.
How much does a work visa for Malaysia cost?
The Employment Pass application costs RM 2,160 (tax included) through the ESD, plus RM 200 per year of validity when the pass is endorsed. In practice, the Malaysian employer almost always covers these fees.
Is the Malaysia visa free for Moroccan and Algerian citizens?
Yes, for tourism: Moroccan and Algerian nationals benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays (90 days). The free MDAC is still mandatory before arrival. To work or study, the long-stay visas apply just as they do for other nationalities.
Can you extend your stay without paying for another visa?
The 90-day exemption cannot be extended in-country for tourism. To stay longer, you need to switch to an appropriate visa (DE Rantau, Employment Pass, MM2H, Student Pass); see our visa renewal guide.
Sources & last updated: June 2026
Official rates verified in June 2026: Immigration Malaysia, Visa Fees, official eVisa portal MyVISA, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (90-day exemption, MDAC), ESD fee table (Employment Pass), MDEC (DE Rantau), EMGS (Student Pass). This article is for information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice: fees and rules change, so always double-check on official websites before paying anything.