are you planning to study in Malaysia?
here is everything you need to know about securing a malaysian student visa!
summary
1. International students must apply for a Student Pass first before applying for a Student Visa.
2. Your medical screening and English language test results are compulsory to submit along with your other documents.
3. The duration of your stay depends on your institution.
4. You must carry your i-Kad with you at all times when you’re in Malaysia.
Student Pass and Student Visa
You will need a valid Student Pass and Visa to study in Malaysia. You must apply for a Student Pass first in order to apply for a Student Visa. With these, you can travel around Malaysia and work up to 20 hours a week during semester breaks for 8 days or more.
To be eligible, you must:
1. You must be 18 to 35 years old (if applying to language institutes). There is no age limit if you are applying to other higher education institutions. Please check with your university or contact us at [email protected] for more information.
2. You are required to have a medical screening post-arrival to ensure that you have a clean bill of health.
3. You must belong to either one of these categories:
- Foreigner in public higher education institutions
- Foreigner in private higher education institutions
- Foreigner in language centers
4. Other categories :
- Foreigner in Government Schools
- Foreigner in Private Schools
- Foreigner in training centers under Department of Skill
- Holder of Dependant Pass (Expatriate)Development
International students enrolled in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) with a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) must obtain a Visa with Reference (VDR) from Malaysia Representative Offices in their home country before entering Malaysia.
Exemptions
You can still enter Malaysia even if you’re from a non-Visa required country. You must still present your VAL when entering Malaysia. You can find the list of non-Visa required countries here.
What You Need
01.
Letter of acceptance from a Malaysian institution
02.
2 sets of Student Pass Application Form (Imm.14)
03.
Academic transcripts
04.
2 sets of passport copies/travel documents
05.
2 sets of passport-sized photos (3.5 cm x 3.5 cm)
06.
A copy of your medical screening report
07.
Proof of English language proficiency
08.
Financial proof that you are capable of paying for your tuition fees and living expenses
09.
A Personal Bond document stamped/signed by your host institution
10.
Support letter (Ministry of Education / Department of Skill Development)
When To Apply
International students / from outside Malaysia:
- Every higher education institution in Malaysia has different intake dates. Please refer to your host university to determine your Student Pass and Student Visa application date.
Online Visa Application
For international students in public higher education institutions:
- Apply at the State Immigration Office through your university.
- If you are from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, you need to apply for a Student Pass at the Department of Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya.
- If you are applying for the extension of your Student Pass, please do so at the State Immigration Office.
For international students in private higher education institutions:
- Apply for your new Student Pass at the Education Malaysia Global Service (EMGS) system through your institution.
- You can apply for a Student Pass extension at the State Immigration Office.
*Note: The processing time takes about 3 – 4 weeks
Fees
- Student Pass – RM60 per year
- Visa – Please refer to your home country
Post-Arrival Medical Screening
- You must submit a health declaration form when you apply for the Visa Approval Letter (VAL).
- Kindly schedule a medical screening at a panel clinic in Malaysia within 7 working days of your arrival. You can use the EMGS mobile app to look for a clinic nearest to your location.
- If you are currently on medication/have gone through a major treatment recently, please provide a letter from your doctor with information of the medicine/medical procedure. This is to ensure an accurate medical screening when you’re in Malaysia.
Yellow Fever
You must provide a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate at the port of entry if:
- You come from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission; or
- You have stayed in transit in these countries for more than 12 hours.
Duration of Stay
- For selected universities, you will obtain a Visa that lasts for the whole duration of your course as long as you have a valid passport, insurance coverage, and complete documents.
- Language school students will have a renewable Student Pass that lasts for 6 months.
Extended Stay
- If you apply for a Student Pass renewal, you will receive a renewed pass that lasts for a maximum of 12 months.
- Please submit your application no later than 6 weeks from your Student Pass expiry date to prevent overstaying.
Please provide the following documents:
- A copy of all your academic records and transcripts.
- Proof that you have at least a CGPA of 2.0 and higher.
- Proof that your overall attendance in university/college/language school is at least 80% or above.
English Language Requirements
Your English proficiency level, especially in speaking and writing must meet the minimum requirement as approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). Please submit one of the following English language tests when you apply for a Visa Approval Letter (VAL):
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- PTE-A (Pearson Test of English – Academic)
- CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced)
- CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency)
- MUET (Malaysian University English Test)
Biometric Residence Permit
- Once you receive your Student Pass, you will be issued a biometric residence permit or i-Kad that contains your photo and personal details for identification purposes. You must carry your i-Kad with you at all times when you’re in Malaysia. You can keep your passport and only bring your i-Kad when you’re already in Malaysia.
Your Arrival
- Upon arrival, you will receive your Student Visa after providing your VAL at the immigration checkpoint.
- Visa on Arrival for Students (VOAS) - If your home country requires a Visa to enter Malaysia, but do not have a Malaysia Representative office, you can still enter Malaysia provided that you are issued a VAL by the Department of Immigration Malaysia. Then, a Visa on Arrival for Students (VOAS) will be issued upon entry.
