What the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card Is
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is an online pre-arrival registration for foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia. Instead of relying on paperwork at the border, you enter your traveler and trip details online before you arrive, and then show your MDAC registration and passport at the immigration counter.
According to the Malaysian Immigration Department, completing MDAC has been mandatory since 1 January 2024, except for the exempt groups listed below. MDAC is separate from visa requirements: it does not replace a visa, and being able to enter without a visa does not exempt you from MDAC.
Do You Need to Complete MDAC?
Foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia need to complete MDAC unless they belong to one of these exempt groups:
- Citizens of Singapore
- Diplomatic and official passport holders
- Malaysia Permanent Residents and long-term pass holders
- General Certificate of Identity (GCI) Brunei Darussalam holders
- Brunei-Malaysia Frequent Traveller Facility holders
- Thailand Border Pass holders
- Indonesia Cross-Border Travel Document (PLB) holders
These groups are defined by citizenship, passport type or a specific pass or status, not by whether your nationality needs a visa. Most tourists are not in an exempt group. If you are unsure about your own status, check with Malaysian Immigration before you travel.
When to Submit: The 3-Day Window
The registration form carries this note: your trip must be within 3 days, including the date of submission. MDAC is therefore meant to be completed in the days just before you travel, rather than well ahead of your trip. Follow the date guidance on the form when you submit.
What to Have Ready
Gather these details before you start. The registration form asks for them directly:
Personal and Passport Details
- Name
- Passport number
- Date of birth
- Nationality or citizenship
- Place of birth
- Sex
- Passport expiry date
Contact Details
- Email address (you enter it twice to confirm it)
- Country or region code
- Mobile number
Travel Details
- Arrival date
- Departure date
- Flight, vessel or transportation number
- Mode of travel: air, land or sea
- Last port of embarkation before Malaysia
Accommodation Details
- Accommodation type
- Address in Malaysia
- State
- Postcode
- City
Your passport is the best reference for the personal details, so keep it beside you. Your booking confirmations are the best reference for dates, transport number and accommodation address.
Step-by-Step: Completing the Registration
Step 1: Confirm That You Need to Register
Check the exempt groups above. If none applies to you, continue. Remember that visa status is a separate question and does not change this.
Step 2: Wait for the Right Moment
Plan to submit within the 3-day window described above. Have your trip dates confirmed before you start.
Step 3: Open the Registration Form
The MDAC registration form is provided by the Malaysian Immigration Department. The form itself does not ask you to create an account or a password: it starts directly with your personal details.
Step 4: Enter Your Personal and Passport Details
Enter your name, passport number, date of birth, nationality or citizenship, place of birth, sex and passport expiry date. Copy your name and passport number exactly as they appear in your passport.
Step 5: Enter Your Contact Details
Enter your email address and confirm it by entering it a second time, then choose your country or region code and enter your mobile number. Check the spelling carefully: a mistake here is easy to miss.
Step 6: Enter Your Travel Details
Enter your arrival and departure dates, your flight, vessel or transportation number, your mode of travel (air, land or sea) and the last port of embarkation before Malaysia. If you travel on a long-haul flight that crosses midnight, enter the date you arrive in Malaysia as your arrival date.
Step 7: Enter Your Accommodation Details
Select the accommodation type, then enter the address, state, postcode and city of where you will be staying in Malaysia.
Step 8: Review Everything
Before you submit, compare every entry with your passport and bookings: name, passport number, dates of birth and expiry, email address, mobile number, travel dates, transport number and address.
Step 9: Submit
Submit the registration. The form includes an on-screen verification step before it can be sent.
Step 10: Keep a Record
Save whatever the system shows you after you submit, for example by taking a screenshot or saving a copy to your phone. You will show your MDAC registration, together with your passport, at the immigration counter when you arrive in Malaysia.
What the Form Does Not Ask For
Older guides sometimes describe extra steps. The current registration form does not ask you to create an account or a password. It does not ask for health or vaccination details, an emergency contact, a passport photo, a document upload, proof of funds or a return ticket upload.
MDAC and Visa Exemption: Understanding the Difference
| Aspect | MDAC | Visa exemption or visa |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An online registration of your traveler and trip details | Whether you need to obtain a visa to enter Malaysia |
| Who it applies to | Foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia, except the seven exempt groups | Depends on your nationality and purpose of visit |
| When it is dealt with | Submitted in the 3-day window before travel | Checked as you plan your trip |
| Does one replace the other? | No | No |
Being able to enter Malaysia without a visa does not exempt you from MDAC. Likewise, completing MDAC does not give you permission to stay: the period of stay is a separate immigration matter, recorded when you enter.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Name Mismatch
Entering a nickname, leaving out a middle name or misspelling your name makes your registration differ from your passport. Copy your name exactly as printed.
Wrong Passport Number
A single wrong character in the passport number is easy to make. Read it slowly and compare it with your passport before you submit.
Wrong Dates
Double-check your arrival and departure dates against your flight booking, especially on overnight or long-haul flights.
Email Address Typos
Use an email address you can access, and enter it carefully in both fields.
Submitting Outside the 3-Day Window
Remember that your trip must be within 3 days of submission, including the date of submission. Plan your submission around your confirmed arrival date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to complete MDAC?
Foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia, except the exempt groups listed above.
When should I submit MDAC?
The form states that your trip must be within 3 days, including the date of submission. Submit in the days just before you travel.
Do I need MDAC if I do not need a visa?
Yes, unless you are in an exempt group. MDAC and visa requirements are separate.
Do I need to create an account?
The registration form does not ask for an account or password.
What do I show at the border?
Show your passport and your MDAC registration at the immigration counter.
Is MDAC a visa?
No. It is a registration of traveler and trip details and does not replace any visa requirement.
Ready to Travel
Once you have confirmed that you need to register, gathered your details and submitted within the 3-day window, you are set for the MDAC part of your trip. Keep a record of your submission and have your passport ready at the immigration counter. If you are still deciding where to go, see our 7-day Malaysia itinerary.
If you would like help completing your MDAC submission, you can use our MDAC application service.