21 January 2025 - Rewrite of the first post

To save folk scrolling through the entire thread, I am seeking to crystallize all the relevant info in this post. Please reply (especially if you are one of the local travellers) if your experience suggests I've got something wrong, or missed something important, or there has been a new development.

(Update 14 May 2025)



Apologies in advance for formatting quality, struggling to make it more user friendly!



(1) All foreign travellers to Malaysia must now submit a Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before entering the country. The requirement extends to all foreigners crossing land, sea, and air borders. It does not apply to Malaysian permanent residents, Malaysia Automated Clearance System pass holders, and those transiting or transferring through without seeking immigration clearance.



(2) There is no charge for the card, the link is here: https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main If you find you are being charged; you've probably stumbled onto a scam site, and you will be paying for something that it free and giving scammers a lot of personal information. (As a rule, for customs and immigration clearance always look for a ".gov" on the address). (Thanks to IAN-UK for the link.) The MDAC is not a visa, or eVisa, so if your passport requires you to have visa, you will still need this.



(3) The MDAC replaced the old landing card that used to be handed out on planes. Although you need to complete it before arrival, this means completing it before you pass through immigration, though be aware you may need the post code (zip code) from the location where you are staying to complete the form. Also be aware in some airports the quality of the signal may not be that great, (Kuching for example), so you may struggle. Many, (if not all) airports have a QR code to access the MDAC in case you don't have the link above. (Mrs. M and I frequently inly remember to complete it when taxiing after landing). Of course there may be airlines that require evidence the card has been completed before checking you in either generally, or for those with specific passports. The form is a "faffy" especially entering the dates from the pre-populated calendars, in my experience you're better of doing it on a PC than a phone.



(4) If you forget and can't complete it, approach an immigration desk and let them know. I have personal experience of doing this successfully, (Kuching where I couldn't get a signal) though that doesn't mean it will always work.



(5) You can only complete it when your arrival is three days or less away. If you try earlier, the date option for your arrival date will not be pre-populated onto the form.



(6) It worth printing off the .pdf confirmation that will be sent to you, in general it is not requested, though I have been asked once. (In the interest of full disclosure, that was my fault, I missed out a digit of my passport and immigration couldn't find my MDAC).



(7) It is also worth keeping your boarding card in case it is asked for and the advice from others when on a connecting flight is to enter your embarkation port as the last connecting airport. 14 May 2025 - Connecting through KUL ex international to domestic, the e-gates are for Malaysians / PRs only, immigration wanted to view my inbound boarding card in addition to the boarding card for the domestic flight.



(8) There is only one field for your name, advice from others is to enter it as it appears in your passport.



(9) If you are connecting between KUL T1 and T2, you have to enter the country and will need to complete the MDAC.



(10) Surprising to some visitors is the fact that if you enter through say KUL, and travel to Sabah/Sarawak, you need to clear both immigration at KUL and on entering Sabah/Sarawak, however the evidence is that no second MDAC is required for Sabah/Sarawak or when returning to KUL.



E-Gates



(11) There are E-gates at KUL. (I don't know about other arrival points, but not Perlis, Kuching, Penang or KK last time I visited).



(12) 63 countries are now included in the program. See: https://www.fragomen.com/insights/ma...-autogate.html



(13) At one time you needed to register for the E-gates, but the reports now are that the MDAC will suffice.

(14) Experience is that for a new passport, just put the new details in the landing card and you should be good to go for the e-gates.

For Msian passport holders, there is now the QR code gates where instead of scanning the passport, you just scan the QR code from your MyBorderPass app.

Once again corrections / additional info welcomed.