Yes, Pakistanis need a visa for Malaysia, and you must get it before you travel. For tourism or a family visit, you apply online for a single entry eVISA at malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my, the Immigration Department of Malaysia's official portal. The visa fee for a Pakistani passport is RM 20, plus a processing fee and card charge. You must also submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before you land.
Do Pakistanis need a visa for Malaysia?
Yes. The Immigration Department of Malaysia lists Pakistan among the countries whose citizens must apply for a visa to enter. Pakistan is not among the countries restricted to entering Malaysia by air only.
Two points cause confusion:
- India is different. The same page says Indian citizens are visa exempt until 31 December 2026. That exemption does not cover Pakistanis.
- Other visas do not help. Malaysia's official pages list no exemption or shortcut for Pakistanis who hold US, UK or Schengen visas, so you need the eVISA either way.
Which Malaysia visa do Pakistani visitors apply for?
Malaysia has two kinds of visa for people who need one:
| Visa | Who it is for | How you apply |
|---|---|---|
| Visa without reference (VTR), social visit | Tourism, visiting family or friends and other social visits | Online eVISA at malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my |
| Visa with reference (VDR) | Students, people taking up employment, dependants and professionals | Only after approval from the Immigration Department in Malaysia |
For a holiday or a family trip, you need the VTR. The eVISA portal describes it as the visa for those visiting family, friends or engaging in other social activities. Medical travellers use a separate route through the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.
How to apply for the Malaysia eVISA from Pakistan
The High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad tells Pakistani applicants to apply online at malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my. Type that address yourself, because look alike websites with similar names charge extra for the same visa.
- Sign up with your email address. The portal logs you in with a one time password.
- Choose the social visit visa and upload a clear colour photo of your passport data page. The portal reads your details from the two machine readable lines at the bottom.
- Upload your documents using the checklist below, and enter your address in Malaysia.
- Pay online. The payment screen shows the visa fee, processing fee and convenience fee before you confirm. An unpaid application expires after 7 working days.
- Wait for the email. The portal says you will hear within 2 to 7 working days, while the Islamabad High Commission quotes 2 to 10.
- Download and print the eVISA on A4 paper. The printed copy must be shown at the Malaysian entry checkpoint.
- Submit the MDAC within 3 days before you arrive.
One account can hold up to 5 active applicants, which helps when a family travels together.
How much is the Malaysia visa fee for Pakistanis?
As of 15 October 2026:
- Visa fee: RM 20 for single or multiple entry on a Pakistani passport (Immigration Department of Malaysia).
- Processing fee: RM 105 per application, as listed by Malaysia's High Commission in Dhaka for the eVISA system.
- Convenience fee: 0.8% of the total for card payments, or 1.7% for e wallets such as Alipay or UnionPay.
That puts a card payment at about RM 126 per person. The portal shows the exact total before you pay, and fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
Malaysia eVISA requirements: document checklist
The eVISA portal's own upload instructions, checked on 15 October 2026, ask for the following.
| Document | What the portal asks for |
|---|---|
| Photo | Studio taken, plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, full face from chin to crown without headgear, 35 x 50 mm. Scanned and selfie photos are not permitted |
| Passport data page | A full colour scan from the original passport. Black and white photocopies are not accepted. The passport must be valid at least 6 months ahead |
| Return flight ticket | The original ticket document the airline emailed you. Screenshots and travel agency itineraries may not be accepted |
| Accommodation | A paid and confirmed booking, as the original confirmation in PDF and in English. Staying with relatives? Upload a cover letter in English with the address details |
| Previous passport | The page showing your old passport number, or a blank page if there is none |
| Travel history | Stamps from the last country you visited, mandatory if you have travelled before |
| Bank statement | Not on the standard list, but the officer may ask for one, especially if you show no travel history |
Unlike many embassies, Malaysia asks for an issued ticket and a paid booking, not reservations. Choose refundable fares and rooms where you can. If you have never travelled, prepare a clean statement in advance using our guide to bank statements for a visit visa.
How long can you stay in Malaysia on a visit visa?
Malaysia's High Commission in Dhaka sets out how the visa without reference works:
- a single entry visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue;
- it becomes invalid as soon as you enter Malaysia;
- on arrival you get a social visit pass for a stay of up to 30 days.
The Immigration Department says a social visit pass may be extended only on special consideration, such as illness or an accident, with evidence and a confirmed return ticket. Plan your trip to fit inside the stamp you receive.
Do Pakistanis need the MDAC arrival card for Malaysia?
Yes. The Immigration Department says all foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, and that it has been mandatory since 1 January 2024. The exemptions cover groups such as Singapore citizens and diplomatic passport holders, not ordinary Pakistani travellers.
- Submit it within 3 days before arrival at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac.
- Show your MDAC registration and passport at the immigration counter.
- Declare cash or bearer instruments worth more than US$10,000 to customs.
Can you work in Malaysia on a visit visa?
No. Malaysia's High Commission in Dhaka states that a social visit pass is for social visit purposes only and does not allow work, work related training or study. The Immigration Department does allow some business activity on a short term social visit pass, such as meetings, business discussions, conferences and signing agreements. Taking up a job needs a separate approval through an employer in Malaysia. Via Nova does not arrange jobs, job offers or work visas.
Why are Malaysia eVISA applications refused?
The portal warns that failure to follow its instructions may result in rejection at the officer's discretion. Common problems are:
- a selfie, scanned or old photo, or one with headgear;
- a black and white or blurred passport scan the system cannot read;
- screenshots of tickets, or travel agency itineraries instead of an airline e ticket;
- an unpaid or screenshot hotel booking;
- missing stamps from earlier trips, which leads the officer to treat your passport as new and ask for more;
- a passport with less than 6 months of validity.
The portal also warns that any discrepancies in your eVISA may lead to administrative or criminal penalties under Malaysian law, and the Dhaka High Commission says a visa can be refused without a reason. Our guide to visit visa refusal reasons for Pakistanis covers how to fix a weak file. Planning a two country trip? Read our Thailand visa guide for Pakistanis too.
Not sure where you stand?
Send a Via Nova counsellor a WhatsApp message at +92 316 4448062 with your travel dates, who you will visit, your job or business, your travel history and any past refusals. You will get an honest view of your file and what is missing before you pay a fee that is not refunded. See our visit visa service for how we help, online or at our office in Lake City Meadows (Ex State Life), next to DHA Phase 5, Lahore. We are not immigration officers, and only Malaysian immigration decides.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Malaysia visa fee for Pakistani citizens in 2026?
The Immigration Department of Malaysia sets the visa fee for Pakistani passports at RM 20. The eVISA system adds a processing fee, listed by Malaysia's High Commission in Dhaka as RM 105, plus a 0.8% charge for card payments. That comes to about RM 126 per person, as of October 2026. Agents add their own charges on top.
How long does the Malaysia eVISA take from Pakistan?
The High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad gives a processing time of 2 to 10 working days. The eVISA portal itself says you will receive the result by email within 2 to 7 working days, not counting weekends and public holidays. Apply well ahead of your flight, because a rejected application means paying again.
Is a bank statement required for a Malaysia visit visa?
It is not on the portal's standard upload list for the social visit eVISA, as of October 2026. The officer can still ask for one, and the portal says this may happen if you do not upload stamps from earlier trips. Keep recent statements in your own name ready, showing enough money for your trip.
Can Pakistanis get a Malaysia visa on arrival?
No. Pakistan is on the Immigration Department's list of countries whose citizens must apply for a visa to enter Malaysia, so you need the eVISA before you travel. Print it on A4 paper, carry it with your passport, and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before you land.
What is the MDAC and is it compulsory for Pakistanis?
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is an online arrival form run by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. It has been mandatory for foreign visitors since 1 January 2024, and ordinary Pakistani passport holders are not exempt. Submit it at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac within 3 days before arrival, then show the registration at the immigration counter.
Want this done for you?
Talk to a counsellor about your plans on WhatsApp, or visit our Lahore office in Lake City Meadows (Ex State Life), next to DHA Phase 5. We reply within one working day.
Sources
- Visa requirement by country, Immigration Department of Malaysia
- Visa fees, Immigration Department of Malaysia
- Short term social visit pass, Immigration Department of Malaysia
- Malaysia eVISA portal, Immigration Department of Malaysia
- For foreigners, High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad
- Visa requirement for foreigners, High Commission of Malaysia in Dhaka
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), Immigration Department of Malaysia
Checked against these official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules change often, so confirm the latest position with a counsellor before you apply.