On 17 July 2026, the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia issued a safety notice confirming that people had been defrauded by fake MDAC websites: after travellers entered their details, the fake sites asked for credit card information under the name of a processing fee. This is a reminder, not a new rule. Mandatory MDAC filing has been in force since 1 January 2024. It does point to three things to settle before you travel to Malaysia: whether you need to file, where to file, and whether you should pay anything. This guide explains who the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) applies to and how to file it.
The short answer: foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia must file the MDAC within 3 days before arrival. Singapore citizens, Malaysian permanent residents, long-term pass holders and the other categories in the official announcement are exempt. Filing is free and needs no credit card. The official portal is imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Filing is not permission to enter: on arrival you still show your registration and an immigration officer verifies your passport.
This guide answers:
- If you hold a passport from Hong Kong, Taiwan or mainland China, or live in Singapore or Malaysia, who must file and who is exempt?
- How is the 3-day window counted, and what do you need to prepare?
- How do children, filing on someone’s behalf, transit stops and long-term passes still in approval work?
- What if you made a mistake, forgot your PIN or landed on a site that charges a fee?
Key Points
- Who should pay attention: travellers holding Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or mainland China passports, or a BN(O) document; people who live in Singapore but are not Singapore citizens; applicants for and holders of work, student, Malaysia My Second Home and other long-term statuses; families travelling with children; people transiting Kuala Lumpur; and anyone visiting Malaysia to view or manage property.
- Visa-free does not mean filing-free. Visa exemption deals with the visa. The MDAC is a separate declaration.
- The 3 days include the day you submit. The official form says the trip must fall within 3 days, including the date of submission.
- Filing is free. A genuine MDAC registration never charges a fee or asks for credit card details.
- One form per person. Infants and children are included. Group filings are not accepted, but a family member can file for you.
- An approval letter is not a pass. People who are approved but have not yet received a physical long-term pass must still file.
- The MDAC is not an entry permit. The immigration officer at the border makes the final decision on entry.
Do You Need to File?
You need to file if you are a foreign citizen who does not fall into an exempt category, and the answer depends on your travel document, your nationality and your residence status in Malaysia. It does not depend on where you live or on your ethnicity.
The Immigration Department of Malaysia’s MDAC infographic lists 7 exempt categories. Check them one by one:
- Citizens of Singapore
- Diplomatic and official passport holders
- Malaysian permanent residents and long-term pass holders
- Brunei Darussalam General Certificate of Identity (GCI) holders
- Brunei Malaysia Frequent Traveler Facility holders
- Thailand Border Pass holders
- Indonesia international travel document (PLB) holders
Foreign citizens who are not on this list follow the rules for foreign visitors. The table below covers the situations travellers ask about most.
| If you hold or live under | Must you file? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong SAR passport | Yes, unless you also hold an exempt status | The Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong asks you to select Hong Kong as nationality (the dropdown shows HKG – HONG KONG SAR) so that you get the correct visa-free stay period |
| Macao SAR passport | Yes, unless you also hold an exempt status | Select Macao as nationality (the dropdown shows MAC – MACAO SAR) |
| BN(O) | Not on the exempt list, so prepare as a foreign visitor | The nationality dropdown has a separate entry, GBN – BRITISH NATIONAL OVERSEAS. The Consulate General’s visa table lists BN(O) separately from the Hong Kong SAR passport (the visa-free periods also differ). Choose according to the document you actually use to enter; if unsure, confirm with the Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong |
| Other Hong Kong travel documents (such as C.I. or D.I.) | Confirm with the Consulate General in Hong Kong before using them | The Consulate General’s visa table lists these documents separately from passports and shows that a visa is required (page marked as updated 1 June 2026). Do not apply the visa-free approach for the Hong Kong SAR passport to them |
| Taiwan passport | Yes, unless you also hold an exempt status | Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs notes that even if you use the autogate at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you must still file within 3 days before entry |
| Mainland China passport | Yes, even if visa-free | China’s consular service website states that diplomatic and official passport holders, and holders of Malaysian long-term visas such as work, student and My Second Home, do not need to file. The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia’s holiday safety reminder of 23 September 2026 again asked travellers to file truthfully; this reminds travellers of an existing rule and is not a new one |
| Singapore citizen | Exempt | Malaysia’s list says “citizens”. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Singapore passport holders are exempt at all entry points, but those who want to register fingerprints for later autogate use should file an MDAC first |
| Other nationalities living in Singapore (permanent resident, work pass, student pass) | Depends on your passport | Singapore residence status is not an exempt category. Holders of other countries’ passports are judged by their passport; if you are a Malaysian citizen, see the next row |
| Malaysian citizen | Not a filing subject | The Immigration Department’s announcement applies to foreign citizens |
| Malaysian permanent resident or long-term pass holder | Exempt | You must already hold the physical pass. See “Long-Term Pass Still in Approval” below |
| Other nationalities, including people of Chinese descent living overseas | Depends on the document and status | Do not assume an exemption from ethnic origin, place of departure or residence rights in another country |
When to File and What to Prepare
File within 3 days before arrival, including the day you submit. The wording on the official form is “within 3 days (including the date of submission)”. Filing too early does not work either: the High Commission of Malaysia in Fiji explains that the MDAC can only be filled in within 3 days before entry.
How to Count the 3 Days Safely
Count the 3 days as the form words it, and Zagdim recommends leaving a margin rather than working to the hour.
- Follow the form’s prompt. The Immigration Department’s infographic and the MyNIISe announcement both say within 3 days before arrival, and the form adds that the day of submission counts.
- Do not convert it into exact hours. Zagdim recommends not working to the hour, because the form does not explain time zones or how midnight is handled. If you arrive close to midnight, do not sit on the boundary; submit one or two days before arrival.
- The Hong Kong Consulate General words it differently. That page says “no later than THREE (3) DAYS BEFORE”, which literally reads as at least 3 days ahead, the opposite direction from the form. In practice follow the form’s prompt. If you hold Hong Kong documents and your timing is tight, you can check with the Consulate General.
- If you only remember on the day. On the form’s wording, submitting and arriving on the same day is still within range, but do not plan around that. Finish before you leave.
What to Prepare
The form has a personal section and a trip section. All the fields below are required.
| Section | Fields |
|---|---|
| Personal Information | Name, passport number, date of birth, nationality, place of birth, gender, passport expiry date, email (entered twice to confirm), phone country code, mobile number |
| Traveling Information | Date of arrival, date of departure, flight, ship or vehicle number, mode of travel (AIR, LAND, SEA), last port of embarkation before Malaysia, accommodation type, Malaysian address, state, postcode, city |
Three more points before you fill it in:
- What “departure date” means. Date of Departure is the day you leave Malaysia for another country. A connecting flight within Malaysia does not count.
- Passport validity. The Immigration Department’s general entry conditions require your travel document to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
- If you need a visa. The MDAC does not replace a visa. Foreign citizens who must hold a visa should first apply through a Malaysian mission overseas.
For staying with friends or family, no accommodation, staying in several hotels, or entering by car or on foot, there are no complete official filling examples. Do not enter N/A on your own, and do not invent a postcode or licence plate. Confirm how to fill the form with the Immigration Department of Malaysia or a Malaysian mission before you leave.
How to File, Step by Step
Filing takes eight steps, on the official web portal or in the MyNIISe app.
- Check the list above and confirm that you need to file.
- Type the official address yourself, https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main , or use the MyNIISe app.
- On the web page, click Registration to open the declaration form.
- Fill in Personal Information. Choose the nationality that matches the document you use to enter.
- Fill in Traveling Information. The arrival date must fall within the 3-day window.
- Check your passport number, dates and email, complete Drag To Verify on the page, and submit. You are never asked to pay during this process.
- Keep what the system gives you, including the email and the PIN. You can later look up your registration under Check Registration, which requires your passport number, nationality and PIN.
- On arrival, show your MDAC registration and have your passport verified at the immigration counter.
Do You Need the MyNIISe App?
It is optional; the official web portal still works. On 21 January 2026 the Immigration Department announced that the MDAC can be filed directly through the MyNIISe app, with the same deadline of 3 days before arrival.
The MDAC and the MyNIISe QR clearance are two different things. Filing an MDAC does not give you a QR clearance code, and it does not mean you can leave your passport behind. If you want the app, go to the app store through the link on the Immigration Department’s website.
Should You Print It?
Zagdim recommends keeping a copy on your phone and a printed copy. The Immigration Department’s infographic asks you to show your MDAC registration on arrival but does not say whether every entry point uses phone or paper.
One exception to note: China’s consular service website says that Chinese citizens entering Sabah or Sarawak visa-free must show a paper MDAC confirmation. Zagdim also recommends that travellers on other passports going to these two states carry a paper copy as a backup.
Fees and Validity: Do You Pay, and How Long Does It Last?
Filing the MDAC is free, and each filing covers one trip only.
| Item | Fee or validity |
|---|---|
| MDAC filing | Free, no credit card details needed |
| Autogate (Taiwan travellers) | Listed as free by Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency |
| Checking entry and exit movement records | The official Check Visit Pass page shows only the last 3 months |
The MDAC is not a visa, and it is not a long-term permit you can reuse. The form records the arrival and departure dates of one trip, so prepare a new one for the next trip. For how repeated short-term trips are treated, ask the Immigration Department of Malaysia before you leave.
Can You Use the Autogate After Filing?
That depends on your passport and the purpose of your entry. The MDAC is only one of the conditions. The Check Egates Eligibility Status page on the official portal lets you check autogate eligibility and lists holding an electronic passport as a condition of use.
- Hong Kong and Macao SAR passports: the Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong says they can be used at Malaysian airports that offer the service. Eligible Macao passports can use it from 15 January 2026.
- Taiwan passports: Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency says you need to be at least 120 cm tall (no age limit), hold a chip passport valid for at least 6 months, and file the MDAC within 3 days before arrival; no prior registration at a manual counter is needed. Clearance relies mainly on face recognition and does not require fingerprints. These conditions apply to Taiwan travellers only.
- Mainland China passports: China’s consular service website distinguishes visa-free tourism, social visits, and first entry for work and study. Check carefully if your purpose differs.
- Travellers from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia and Timor-Leste: the official eligibility page marks the service as departure only.
Two cautions when reading the official data:
- “63 countries” is not the full current total. The eligibility page refers to business and social visitors from 63 countries, but Macao was added later, so do not treat that number as a closed list.
- Whether first-time manual registration is needed differs by passport. The current explanation for Taiwan travellers is that no registration is needed, and this cannot be applied to other passports. Available entry points also vary; follow on-site instructions and use the manual counter if the autogate is not available.
Families, Children, Transits and Other Common Situations
Every foreign traveller needs their own MDAC, and the situations below cover the cases people ask about most.
Do Infants and Children Need to File?
Yes. Each foreign traveller files one form, including infants and children; group filing is not accepted. The Malaysian Embassy in Bahrain’s MDAC reminder states this explicitly. Do not assume that children below a certain age are exempt. If a child belongs to an exempt category, such as a Singapore citizen, follow the exemption list.
Can You File for Family Members?
Yes. The Immigration Department’s KLIA FAQ places no restriction on filing for family members, elderly relatives or children, but the traveller must still appear at the immigration counter for inspection and be able to provide the declared information.
For example, a couple flying from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur with an infant, all three on Hong Kong SAR passports, should submit three MDACs. One of them can fill in all three, nationality is Hong Kong for each, and the three go through inspection together on arrival.
Do You Need to File When Transiting?
It depends on whether you will leave the same terminal. The table follows the Immigration Department’s KLIA FAQ; do not apply it directly to other airports.
| Situation | Must you file? | How to fill in |
|---|---|---|
| Transit within the same terminal, without passing the immigration counter | Strongly recommended, in case of emergency entry | Select OTHERS for accommodation type and enter In Case of Emergency – Transit Only [Flight No#] as the Malaysian address |
| Arrive at Terminal 1, depart from Terminal 2 | Required | Fill in according to your actual itinerary |
| Arrive, then depart from another Malaysian airport (for example Subang) | Required | Fill in according to your actual itinerary |
The address wording in the table applies only to same-terminal transits. Do not use it for same-day return trips or other itineraries without accommodation.
Long-Term Pass Still in Approval
You must file. The Immigration Department’s KLIA FAQ states that foreign citizens who have been approved through VDR or eVAL but have not yet received the physical long-term pass must still file the MDAC.
The exemption is for people who already hold a long-term pass; the FAQ’s examples include the Employment Pass, Temporary Work Visit Pass and Student Pass. If you hold another kind of approval document, do not treat an approval letter as a pass you already hold; confirm with the processing agency before you leave. The APEC Business Travel Card is not on the exempt list, so cardholders are judged by their own passport and status.
Aircrew
International aircrew on duty who submit a General Declaration form to the crew inspection counter are exempt. This does not cover off-duty entry or general airline staff.
Same-Day Return by Land from Singapore
Check your passport first: Singapore citizens are exempt; other passports follow the rules above, and living in Singapore or returning the same day does not create an exemption. The mode of travel field has a LAND option, but for a same-day return without accommodation, how to fill in the address and vehicle number needs to be confirmed with the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
What If You Made a Mistake or Did Not File?
In every case, file a new MDAC at the official portal as early as you can.
You Entered Wrong Information
Submit a new form with the correct details. The Immigration Department’s FAQ describes resubmitting, not editing the old form. It does not say further how old and new declarations are handled, so bring the record of the latest one when you enter.
Your Flight or Dates Changed
Zagdim recommends resubmitting, as for a mistake; the new arrival date must also fall within the 3-day window. The official FAQ covers only how to deal with incorrect data, and once your itinerary changes, the dates on the old declaration are wrong.
No Email, or You Forgot Your PIN
- Forgot PIN: on the Check Registration page, click Forgot your PIN? and enter your passport number and nationality. A new PIN is sent to your email, and you can reset it once a day.
- No email received: Zagdim recommends checking your spam folder first, then use Check Registration to look up the record. Not finding the email does not mean the filing failed.
- Wrong email address: the new PIN will not reach the right inbox either, so Zagdim recommends resubmitting as for a mistake. Resubmitting may not fix the email problem, so leave time to sort it out before you arrive.
You Realize You Did Not File Just Before Arrival
File at the official portal immediately; do not wait until the airport. Whether you can file on site is not guaranteed, and the immigration officer on duty decides whether you may enter. If you are already at the airport, explain the situation to the airline or the immigration officer.
How to Tell Fake Websites and Paid Agents Apart
Check the address and whether you are asked to pay. The Japanese Embassy explains that fake sites ask for credit card details under the name of a fee after you enter your information. A genuine MDAC is free and never asks for credit card details.
- The address must match exactly. The official portal is https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main . Do not enter through unknown messages or advertising links; type the address yourself or go from the Immigration Department’s website.
- Stop if payment is requested. On any page asking for a “handling fee”, “processing fee” or “express fee”, do not enter a card number.
- An agent is not required. The High Commission of Malaysia in Fiji advises that you should not pay a third party to submit an MDAC. A family member can file for you, and there is no need to pay anyone.
- Avoid sweeping conclusions. Not every paid site has been officially declared a scam, but you have no need to pay and no need to hand your passport details to an unknown site.
If you have already entered a card number on a fake site, contact your card issuer immediately, then return to the official portal and complete the declaration.
FAQ
Do I still need to file an MDAC if I enter Malaysia visa-free?
Yes. Visa exemption and the MDAC are two separate things, unless you belong to an exempt category in the announcement.
I live in Singapore with permanent residence or a work pass. Am I exempt?
Not automatically. The list names Singapore citizens. If you hold another country’s passport, your passport and your Malaysian residence status decide.
Can I still file on the day I travel?
Yes, on the form’s wording: it says 3 days including the day of submission, so same-day filing is within range. Do not leave it to the last minute; finish before you leave.
Is the MDAC free? Is a site that asks for a credit card genuine?
The MDAC is free, and genuine registration never needs credit card details. Do not enter a card number on a site that asks for payment; return to the official portal and file there.
How do I choose nationality for a Hong Kong SAR passport and for a BN(O)?
Select Hong Kong for a Hong Kong SAR passport. BN(O) is a different option (GBN – BRITISH NATIONAL OVERSEAS); choose according to the document you use to enter.
My long-term pass is approved but I do not have the card yet. Must I file?
Yes. People approved through VDR or eVAL who have not yet received the physical long-term pass must still file.
Does filing an MDAC guarantee entry?
No. The immigration officer on duty at the border makes the final decision on entry, and the MDAC is not a visa.
Important Notice
This article is a general information summary and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. It draws on public information from the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Malaysian overseas missions, and official bodies in Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan and Macao, checked on 31 October 2026. Exemption eligibility, form fields, filing methods and autogate arrangements change, so rely on the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s latest announcements and the instructions of the immigration officer on site.
Have a question about this guide? Leave a comment below, or ask Zagdim directly.
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Sources
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