Malaysia MDAC: Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out the Digital Arrival Card, Sample and Entry Rules

What is MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) and what you need to know before filling it out

Since December 2023, it has been necessary to fill out the electronic Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) for entry into Malaysia on the website https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my; this is now a mandatory entry requirement.

Here's the most important information you need to know about filling it out, in Q&A format:

• Is this a replacement for a visa? No, MDAC is not an authorization document, i.e., it is not a visa or visa waiver, but rather a replacement for the standard immigration card. However, without it, you will not be allowed into the country.
• Who needs to fill out MDAC? All tourists must fill out the form, regardless of whether you have a visa-free regime or not. There are exceptions (diplomats, delegations, etc. do not fill it out), but they are few.
• Is it paid? No, filling out MDAC is completely free.
• If I leave Malaysia for Thailand or Singapore and then return to Malaysia, do I need to fill it out again? Yes, a new arrival form must be filled out for each entry.
• When to fill out MDAC? You can fill it out no earlier than three days before entry; the system simply won't let you select dates earlier than that.
• Can I fill out MDAC upon arrival? Yes, you can, but before going through passport control. It will take 5-10 minutes to fill out, after which you can immediately go to passport control. However, keep in mind that the form may be checked upon departure from another country during check-in for your flight, ferry, or bus, and if you don't have it, they may refuse boarding. So it's still better to fill it out in advance. Also, the airport or port of arrival might not have free Wi-Fi, forcing you to use expensive roaming.
• Do I need to fill out MDAC for children (including infants)? Yes, it must be filled out for everyone.
• What if I'm arriving by bus or ferry from Thailand, do I still need to fill it out? Yes, you still need to fill it out. Select the appropriate mode of transport from the list.
• Can I fill out MDAC without a return ticket? Yes, you can. You can even fill it out without a ticket to Malaysia, but you'll need to enter some data in those fields when filling out the form. However, remember that if you don't have an onward ticket, you could theoretically be denied entry.
• Do I need to fill out MDAC during transit/connection in Malaysia? If you are not going through passport control and remain in the airport transit zone, you do not need to fill out MDAC. If you plan to go into the city (e.g., a long layover), you need to fill out the form in advance.

Step-by-step guide and sample for filling out MDAC

Here is what a fully completed MDAC form looks like. We will break down each step in detail below.

Here is a sample of a completed real form (personal data is placeholder) with explanations.

Filling out the form is extremely simple and takes 5-10 minutes. You can fill it out on a computer or a mobile device. We'll be honest, the form is not the most user-friendly (just selecting dates is a hassle), so we recommend filling it out on a computer.

Step 1. Fill in your personal information (sample)

1. Go to the website https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my and fill in your personal information in the top section of the page, exactly as it appears in your passport.

Step 2. Trip details: dates, transport, country of departure, flight number

This is done further down the same page — just scroll down. But some explanations are needed here:

Selecting travel dates and type of transport

If you plan to temporarily leave Malaysia for Thailand, Singapore, or other neighboring countries, you should enter the date of your planned temporary departure, not the date of your return ticket home.

How to correctly specify the country of departure

Here you need to specify the country you flew from. For connecting flights, it's better to specify the country from which your flight to Malaysia departs, but overall it's not critical.

Flight number and specifics for connecting flights

If you are arriving by plane, you need to enter the number of the last flight to Malaysia, not the flight you took from your home country (if you have a connection).

If you are arriving by ferry or bus, enter what is indicated on your electronic ticket. If you can't find it, you can simply write the name of the carrier. For example, for the ferry, we wrote Bundhaya.

Step 3. Address of stay: type of accommodation and how to enter your hotel

Select the type of accommodation

At this stage, you need to specify where you will be staying in Malaysia, first by selecting the type of accommodation. If you have multiple places to stay on your itinerary, choose the one where you will be staying first. In most cases, select the first option "Hotels".

Enter the address of your hotel/accommodation

Here's where a bit of a "quest" begins. You need to enter the exact address of the hotel, select the state and city from the list, and also the postal code. You can find all this in your hotel booking or tour voucher, but not always. So here are some tips:

• What's inconvenient is that you cannot copy and paste addresses and codes into the form; you have to enter everything manually.
• Find your hotel on Google Maps; the description there usually includes the address, postcode, state, and city. The address is not always precise, so if there's no street and building number, you can just enter the name and city (we did this, and it worked).
• For Langkawi, select the state – Kedah. For Penang – Penang. For Kuala Lumpur – WP Kuala Lumpur.
• Sometimes the site may complain that the address is entered incorrectly; in that case, add commas or periods between the hotel name and the street name, or it might require adding a building number (we just inserted the postcode there, and it worked).

Step 4. Submitting the form and what to do next

That's it. All that's left is to click the Submit button at the bottom, and the form is ready.

An email will be sent to you containing the form's PIN code. You can use this PIN code to check the form on the website by selecting the Check Registration option in the menu.

After this, your information is already in the system, and you don't even necessarily need to show the form at the checkpoint unless asked. However, it's still better to take a screenshot of the email so you don't have to frantically connect to the internet and search for the email in your mailbox in front of the check-in counter or border guard.

Bonus: Fast passport control at Kuala Lumpur Airport with MDAC