Planning a Malaysia tour next year? Indian travellers can rest easy after the announcement that the country has extended its visa-free entry until December 31, 2026. The visa exemption extension is strategically timed to coincide with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, as well as the government’s aim to attract more tourists, boost the local economy and position Malaysia as a leading travel hub in Southeast Asia.
Under the visa exemption rules, which began on December 1, 2023, Indian nationals can stay in Malaysia for up to 30 days by presenting a return flight ticket and proof of sufficient funds for their stay, either in the form of a bank statement or credit cards, upon arrival. In addition to this, travellers are required to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC).
The extension mirrors a similar policy for Chinese nationals. Indian travellers have been pivotal to Malaysia’s tourism industry, with over 735,000 arrivals from India recorded in 2019, before the pandemic. Following the introduction of the visa exemption, Malaysia witnessed a remarkable surge, surpassing one million Indian tourists in 2024.
From January to November 2024, Indian tourist arrivals reached 1,009,114, compared to 587,703 during the same period in 2023 and 686,338 in 2019, marking a 47 per cent increase over 2019 and a 71.7 per cent rise over 2023.
To avail of the visa exemption policy, Indian travellers must have a valid passport of at least six months beyond their intended stay. While the visa exemption primarily concerns tourists, those on short business trips to Malaysia are also eligible under the policy.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)
