Passport Atlas
Malaysia

Passport Atlas

Entering Malaysia

Malaysia playbook updated 2026-09. Openness first, then how to apply and how to stay.

Openness rank

#31

Entry openness

167

Visa free

167

Visa required

2

Malaysia digital nomad visaDE Rantau Nomad Pass · US$24,000/yr (≈ US$2,000/mo)

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Country profile

Capital

Kuala Lumpur

Population

34.2 million

Area

329,750 km²

Currency

Malaysian ringgit MYR

Languages

English, Malay

Time zone

UTC+08:00

Foreign-born

3.8 million · 2024

Migrant share

10.7%

Ethnic groups · 2023

  • Bumiputera63.8%
  • Chinese20.6%
  • non-citizens9%
  • Indian6%
  • other0.6%

Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.

Travel notes

Plug

Type G

Mains

230 V · 50 Hz

Driving

Left

Emergency

Police 999 · Ambulance 999

Dialing code

+60

Airports

KUL · BKI · PEN · SZB

Highlights

  • Petronas Towers
  • George Town
  • Mount Kinabalu
  • Langkawi
  • Malacca

Malaysia PassportGuides · MalaysiaVisa siteImmigration site

How to get a visa

  • Short visa-free / eVisa

    Visit / tourism · Often 14–90 days

    • Visa-free at the border; otherwise eVisa or a mission.

  • Malaysia My Second Home

    Investment · 5–10 year social visit, by tier

    • Meet deposit and income thresholds under federal MM2H or the Sabah/Sarawak variants.

  • DE Rantau digital nomad

    Remote / nomad · Up to about 12 months

    • File remote-work and income proof with MDEC.

Immigration routes

  • Employment Pass

    Employer sponsor

    Company-sponsored work pass — the main employment route.

    Leads to PR：PR is rarely granted to foreign employees; most renew EP.

PR & citizenship

Permanent resident

Time to PR：No stable public formula; tightly screened

  • Long stay, investment or Malaysian family ties.

Citizenship needs residence, language and allegiance, and usually dropping prior nationality.

Passports that enter without a prior visa

FVisa free167

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