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Visas · Official websites 2026
What is the official website
What is the official website
for the Malaysia visa?
One single address for the eVisa, one single address for the MDAC. Here's how to avoid sites that charge for procedures that are actually free.
Key takeaways
- ✔The official portal for the visa and eVisa is malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my, confirmed by a notice from Malaysian Immigration on imi.gov.my.
- ✔The MDAC (digital arrival card), free and mandatory since December 1, 2023, can only be filed on imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main, within 3 days before arrival.
- ✔French citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than 90 days in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah; Sarawak applies a separate entry regime.
- ✔If a website charges for an "express MDAC" or asks for a bank card for a free service, check that the URL actually ends in .imi.gov.my before paying.
Sources: Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my), French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked on 07/07/2026.
What is the official website for the Malaysia visa?
The official website for any visa or eVISA application to Malaysia is malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my. Malaysian Immigration confirmed this in a notice posted on its institutional site imi.gov.my: "For official Malaysia eVISA applications, visit the website: malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my" (imi.gov.my, notice checked on 07/07/2026).
This detail matters. Dozens of third-party sites copy a design close to the Malaysian government's and charge processing fees for a service that, on the official site, costs the actual administrative fee, or nothing at all depending on nationality. One simple reflex is enough before reaching for your bank card: check the end of the URL.
To find the exact fee for your passport, see our dedicated page on official Malaysia visa fees, which details the eVisa and Employment Pass amounts published by Immigration.
What is the MDAC and where do you fill it in?
The MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) is the digital arrival card that every foreign traveler must complete before entering Malaysia, whether or not they need a visa. Since December 1, 2023, this step has been mandatory and is done exclusively on imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main (source: Malaysian Immigration Department, imi.gov.my, and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked on 07/07/2026).
The form opens 3 calendar days before arrival and stays accessible until landing. It is entirely free on the official site: no Malaysian authority charges for the MDAC. Exempt from this formality are Malaysian permanent residents, holders of a long-term residence pass, holders of diplomatic or service passports, and Singaporean citizens (source: imi.gov.my).
Many travelers only discover the MDAC at the airport, scrambling to find wifi to fill it in at the last minute. It is far better to do it from home, within the three days before the flight, to avoid last-minute stress and the fake sites that specifically target rushed travelers. For matters related to an employment contract, our guide to visas and work permits in Malaysia covers the Employment Pass and other residence statuses in detail.
The form asks for basic information: identity, passport number, flight and address of stay in Malaysia. No supporting document is required for a simple tourist MDAC, contrary to what some sites claim when they ask for a scan of your bank card or passport "for verification." These requests appear on no official imi.gov.my form.
Do I need a visa as a French citizen?
No, if the stay is under 90 days and remains within Peninsular Malaysia or the state of Sabah, no visa is required for French citizens (source: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, checked on 07/07/2026). This exemption does not, however, remove the obligation to complete the MDAC.
One point deserves attention, as it regularly catches travelers off guard: the state of Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, applies an immigration regime separate from the rest of the country. On arrival in Kuching or Miri, a local 30-day residence permit is issued separately, even for a traveler who has already entered Peninsular Malaysia (source: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs). If your trip includes Sarawak, plan for this internal border crossing.
For a longer stay, whether for an employment contract or a permanent move, head to our complete guide to visas and work permits in Malaysia. For retirement, our page on the MM2H visa details the financial tiers and application conditions.
How do you spot a fraudulent Malaysia visa website?
Three signals should raise an immediate red flag: a domain name that resembles the government's without actually being one (variants with hyphens, .com or .net extensions), a request for payment for an MDAC that is free on the official site, and pressure toward "urgent processing" for an extra fee. Malaysian Immigration's official notice states plainly that the only valid eVISA portal ends in imi.gov.my (source: imi.gov.my, checked on 07/07/2026).
Not sure about an address found through a search engine or a shared link? It's best to type malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my or imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main directly into your browser rather than clicking a sponsored result.
This administrative information changes over time: always check the current conditions on imi.gov.my before booking a ticket or paying for any procedure. This article is for information only and does not constitute legal immigration advice.
Official portal or fraudulent site: the comparison
Fraudulent sites often copy the layout of government portals but let slip a few telltale details. Here are the signals that set an official imi.gov.my portal apart from a commercial imitation.
| Criterion | Official portal (imi.gov.my) | Typical fraudulent site |
|---|---|---|
| Domain name | Ends in .imi.gov.my (e.g. malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my, imigresen-online.imi.gov.my) | Domain in .com, .net or .org with words like "evisa-malaysia," "mdac-online," sometimes with hyphens |
| MDAC cost | Free (RM 0) | Charged between €15 and €50 as a "service fee" or "express processing" |
| Stated turnaround | Standard processing, no urgency upsell | Countdown timer, paid "express" offers designed to create a sense of urgency |
| Payment method requested | Only for genuinely paid visas (eVisa depending on nationality), amounts matching the official fee schedule | Bank card required even for free procedures such as the MDAC |
| Contact and legal notices | Contact details of the Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, verifiable administrative address | Generic contact form, no physical address or official phone number |
Source: signals compiled from official Malaysian Immigration notices (imi.gov.my) on MDAC and eVISA fraud, checked on 07/07/2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MDAC a paid service?
No. The MDAC is 100% free on the official portal imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Any site that charges a fee for this form is not the Malaysian government (source: imi.gov.my, checked on 07/07/2026).
How far in advance of arrival should I fill in the MDAC?
The MDAC form opens 3 calendar days before the expected arrival date and stays available until landing. It has been mandatory since December 1, 2023 for almost all foreign travelers (source: imi.gov.my, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Does Malaysia require an e-visa for French citizens?
No, for a tourist stay of less than 90 days in Peninsular Malaysia or Sabah, French citizens need neither a visa nor an eVISA. The MDAC nonetheless remains mandatory for everyone (source: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Where do you apply for the Malaysia visa online?
Only on malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my, the official portal of the Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia. This is the address that Malaysian Immigration explicitly recommends in its official notices (source: imi.gov.my).
Who is exempt from the MDAC?
Malaysian permanent residents, holders of a long-term residence pass, holders of diplomatic or service passports, and Singaporean citizens do not need to fill in the MDAC (source: imi.gov.my).
Does Sarawak follow the same rules as the rest of Malaysia?
No. Sarawak manages its own immigration separately: a 30-day residence permit is issued on arrival, even for a traveler already admitted to Peninsular Malaysia (source: French Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
Sources & last update
Information checked on 07/07/2026: Malaysian Immigration Department — official eVISA notice, imi.gov.my — MDAC, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (90-day exemption, Sarawak). This article is for information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice: rules change, always check on official websites before traveling.
