The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is Malaysia's online pre-arrival form. Submit it on the official Immigration portal within 3 days before arrival unless exempt.

Yes. The official MDAC is free; avoid third-party sites that charge fees for arrival-card submission.

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France to Malaysia visa requirements

Q: Is Sarawak also less than 90 days?

No. Sarawak has separate immigration control; tourists entering Sarawak normally receive a local permit valid for 30 days on arrival.

Q: Can I extend my stay?

Do not assume a routine tourist extension. Malaysia Immigration says Social Visit Pass extensions may be granted only on special consideration, with evidence and onward travel.

Q: Can I work or study on visa-free entry?

No. Employment, study, residence, journalism, long stays, and other non-visitor purposes require the correct Malaysian visa or pass.

Q: Do I need a yellow fever certificate?

Only if you arrive from, or transit through, a country where yellow fever risk triggers Malaysia's vaccination-certificate requirement.

French ordinary passport holders can visit Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah visa-free for less than 90 days; submit the MDAC online within 3 days before arrival. Sarawak issues a separate 30-day permit on entry. French ordinary passport holders do not need a visa for short visits of less than 90 days in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. Sarawak has separate immigration control: tourists entering Sarawak receive a local permit that France Diplomatie lists as valid for 30 days on arrival. Travellers entering Malaysia must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within 3 days before arrival unless exempt, such as Malaysian permanent residents, Malaysian long-stay pass holders, and diplomatic or service passport holders. Carry an undamaged passport valid at least 6 months after the planned end of stay, a return or onward ticket, and normal trip evidence such as accommodation and funds. Social Visit Pass activities cover tourism, social visits, visiting relatives, attending meetings, and discussing business; employment, study, residence, journalism, and stays over 3 months require the correct Malaysian visa or pass before travel. Extensions are discretionary and reserved for special circumstances, so do not rely on a routine 30-day tourist extension.

VISA-FREETOURISMEACH ENTRY IS ASSESSED BY IMMIGRATIONLast verified 2026-06-21

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →France (PR)Living in France as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-21

Visa type

Visa-free short-term visit / Social Visit Pass

Maximum stay

Less than 90 days in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah; Sarawak permit normally 30 days

per entry

Entries

Each entry is assessed by immigration

from issue date

Visa fee

No visa fee; official MDAC is free

consular fee only

Processing time

MDAC online within 3 days before arrival; pass issued at the border

standard track

Validity

Passport valid 6+ months after planned departure and undamaged

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Check passport validity

Use an undamaged French ordinary passport valid at least 6 months after the planned end of stay in Malaysia.

· 6 months validity· undamaged

/02

Complete MDAC online

Submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card on the official imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main portal within 3 days before arrival unless you qualify for an exemption.

· MDAC required· official portal

/03

Prepare trip evidence

Carry a return or onward ticket, accommodation details, and proof of funds in case airline staff or immigration asks.

· onward ticket· funds

/04

Enter Malaysia

Present passport and MDAC confirmation. French visitors can be admitted visa-free for less than 90 days in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

· visa-free· less than 90 days

/05

Check Sarawak rules

If you enter Sarawak, expect a separate Sarawak entry permit that is normally valid for 30 days; check the stamp or permit before leaving the counter.

· Sarawak 30 days

/06

Stay longer only with permission

For stays over 3 months or non-visitor purposes, arrange the correct visa or pass before travel. Social Visit Pass extensions are discretionary and usually require special circumstances.

· not routine

/07

Leave before expiry

Overstaying can lead to fines, detention, deportation, and being listed as undesirable for future entry.

· no overstay

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

11 items

Personalized checklist

France -> Malaysia · Visa-free short-term visit / Social Visit Pass

0 / 11 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredFrench ordinary passport

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

Undamaged, valid 6+ months after planned departure

RequiredMDAC confirmation

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Submitted on the official portal within 3 days pre-arrival

RequiredReturn/onward ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Evidence of departure before the permitted stay expires

RequiredAccommodation details

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Hotel booking or host address

ConditionalSufficient funds

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

Cash, cards, or statements if asked

ConditionalSarawak permit check

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

If visiting Sarawak, verify the local entry permit duration, normally 30 days

ConditionalYellow fever certificate

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Required only if arriving from or transiting through a yellow-fever-risk country

RecommendedTravel insurance

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

Recommended for medical care and evacuation

ConditionalOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Visa-free routes usually do not require a visa form; submit any arrival card or authorization if required.

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

RecommendedTravel medical insurance

Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates

Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.

Official sourcesFrance Diplomatie - Malaisie entree/sejour (updated 09 Jun 2026)Malaysian Immigration Department - Visa Requirement by Country (accessed 2026-06-21; no visible page date)Malaysian Immigration Department - Short Term Social Visit Pass (accessed 2026-06-21; no visible page date)

Application link included: Malaysian Immigration Department - Visa Requirement by Country (accessed 2026-06-21; no visible page date)

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Visa-free Social Visit PassNo visa feeFor eligible short visitor stays by French ordinary passport holders

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)FreeUse only the official Immigration portal; avoid paid third-party arrival-card sites

Long-stay visa or other passVariesRequired before travel for stays over 3 months or non-visitor purposes

Extension requestVariesDiscretionary and normally limited to special circumstances such as illness, accident, or war in the home country

Overstay or invalid stayPenalties possibleMay include fines, detention, deportation, and future entry restrictions

Total estimateNo visa fee — No visa feeincl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

MDAC online

Within 3 days before arrival

Submit on the official imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main portal.

Visa-free arrival

At the border

Immigration decides entry and issues the Social Visit Pass or equivalent visitor permission.

Sarawak entry permit

On arrival in Sarawak

Sarawak immigration issues a separate local permit, normally 30 days for tourists.

Extension request

Before pass expiry

Apply through Immigration only if special circumstances justify it; approval is not guaranteed.

Long-stay visa or pass

Before travel

Arrange through the relevant Malaysian authority before a long stay or non-visitor activity.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

MDAC not submitted

Ordinary French visitors entering Malaysia must complete MDAC online within 3 days before arrival unless exempt.

Medium

/02

Passport problem

A passport valid for less than 6 months after the planned stay, damaged, torn, expired, or otherwise abnormal can lead to refusal.

Low

/03

Trip evidence not ready

Immigration may expect a return or onward ticket and may ask for accommodation or funds.

Low

/04

Sarawak stay misread

Sarawak has separate immigration control and normally gives tourists a 30-day local permit, not the Peninsular/Sabah under-90-day stay.

Low

/05

Wrong purpose or long stay

Work, study, residence, journalism, and stays over 3 months need the appropriate visa or pass before travel.

Low

/06

Overstay

Overstaying can trigger fines, detention, deportation, and future entry restrictions.

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Present passport, MDAC acknowledgement, return or onward ticket, and accommodation details if asked.

/02

Entry stamp

Check the Short Term Social Visit Pass stamp immediately. Overstays can affect future Malaysia entries.

/03

Connectivity

Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are available at KLIA, major malls, and convenience stores.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-06-21

Reviewed by Claude Code

Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.

2026-06-21

Codex checked Malaysia entry rules

Rechecked France Diplomatie, Malaysia Immigration/MDAC, and Canada travel advice sources; kept the visa-free conclusion, added checked-date/lastVerifiedAt, added the Sarawak 30-day permit nuance, and corrected passport, MDAC, extension, fee, and overstay wording.

2026-05-27

France to Malaysia route verified

Confirmed 90-day visa-free + MDAC for French citizens.

2024-01-01 · major

MDAC mandatory

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card required for most foreign visitors before arrival.

/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do French citizens need a visa for Malaysia?—

No for ordinary short visits. French ordinary passport holders can visit Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah visa-free for less than 90 days, subject to immigration approval.

Is Sarawak also less than 90 days?+

What is the MDAC?+

Is the MDAC free?+

Can I extend my stay?+

Can I work or study on visa-free entry?+

Do I need a yellow fever certificate?+

/11 — Passport tools