Yes. Japanese ordinary passport holders must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arriving in Malaysia.

No. MDAC is an arrival card. It does not change the visa-free status or authorize work, study, residence or stays beyond 90 days.

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Japan to Malaysia visa requirements

Q: How long can I stay visa-free?

Up to 90 days per entry, with the actual period granted by the immigration officer at arrival.

Q: What documents should I carry?

Carry a Japanese passport valid for more than 6 months from entry, MDAC confirmation, return or onward travel, accommodation details and funds evidence.

Q: Can I extend the 90 days in Malaysia?

Do not assume a routine tourist extension is available. Malaysia says short-term social visit pass extensions may be given only on special consideration, such as illness, accident or war in the home country.

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

No. Work, study, residence and other non-social-visit purposes require the appropriate Malaysian visa or pass before travel.

No visa needed for short tourism or social visits up to 90 days. Submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days before arrival. Japanese ordinary passport holders do not need a visa to enter Malaysia for a social visit not exceeding 90 days. Malaysia's short-term social visit pass covers tourism, visiting relatives and other short non-employment visit purposes admitted by immigration; work, study, residence or a stay beyond 90 days requires the correct Malaysian visa or pass before travel. Beginning 1 January 2024, foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days before arrival unless they are in an exempt category; Japanese ordinary passport holders are not listed among the exemptions. Carry a passport valid for more than 6 months from the proposed entry date, return or onward travel proof, accommodation details and funds evidence in case officers ask. Extensions of a short-term social visit pass are discretionary and normally reserved for special circumstances such as illness, accident or war in the home country.

VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-20

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 →Japan (PR)Living in Japan as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-20

Visa type

Visa-free short-term social visit pass

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days per entry

per entry

Entries

Multiple, subject to border officer discretion

from issue date

Visa fee

Free for visa-free entry; MDAC has no official visa fee

consular fee only

Processing time

On arrival after MDAC submission

standard track

Validity

No visa required for social visits not exceeding 90 days

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Check passport validity

Use a Japanese ordinary passport valid for more than 6 months from the proposed date of entry into Malaysia.

· 6+ months validity

/02

Confirm the visit is short-term

Tourism, visiting relatives and other short social visit purposes can use the 90-day visa-free entry. Work, study, residence or longer stays require the correct visa or pass.

· 90 days· no work

/03

Submit MDAC

Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card through the official imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main portal within 3 days before arrival.

· MDAC required· within 3 days

/04

Prepare supporting proof

Carry return or onward travel, accommodation details and funds evidence because airlines or immigration officers may ask for them.

· onward ticket· accommodation

/05

Clear immigration on arrival

Present your passport and MDAC details. Immigration grants the actual short-term social visit pass period at the port of entry.

· arrival· social visit pass

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

11 items

Personalized checklist

Japan -> Malaysia · Visa-free short-term social visit pass

0 / 11 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredJapanese ordinary passport

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

Valid for more than 6 months from entry

RequiredMDAC submission

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

Complete within 3 days before arrival on the official portal

RequiredReturn or onward ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Carry proof within the permitted stay

RequiredAccommodation address

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

Hotel booking or host address in Malaysia

ConditionalFunds evidence

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

Cash, cards or statement if asked

RequiredShort visit purpose

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

Tourism, social visit or other permitted non-employment purpose

ConditionalYellow fever certificate

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

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

ConditionalLong-stay approval if needed

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

Required before travel for work, study, residence or stays beyond 90 days

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 sourcesEmbassy of Malaysia in Tokyo - Visa Application (Last Update: 1 October 2025)Malaysian Immigration Department - Visa Requirement by Country Malaysian Immigration Department - Short Term Social Visit Pass

Application link included: Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo - Visa Application (Last Update: 1 October 2025)

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Visa-free entryFreeJapanese citizens do not need a visa for social visits not exceeding 90 days

MDACFree on official portalSubmit through imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main within 3 days before arrival

Visa or pass for longer/other purposesVariesRequired before departure for stays beyond 90 days or non-social-visit purposes

Total estimateFree — Freeincl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

MDAC

Minutes online

Submit the arrival card on the official Immigration portal within 3 days before arrival.

Visa-free border clearance

On arrival

Immigration grants the short-term social visit pass after passport and entry checks.

Longer stay or other purpose

Apply before travel

Use the relevant Malaysian visa, approval letter or pass for work, study, residence or stays beyond 90 days.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

Missing or late MDAC

Most foreign visitors, including Japanese ordinary passport holders, must submit MDAC within 3 days before arrival.

Medium

/02

Passport validity under 6 months

The Malaysia Embassy in Tokyo visa guidance uses more than 6 months from the proposed entry date as the passport validity standard.

Medium

/03

Weak onward or stay evidence

Immigration can ask for return or onward travel, accommodation details and proof of funds.

Low

/04

Purpose outside a short social visit

Employment, study, residence or a stay beyond 90 days needs the correct Malaysian visa or pass before departure.

Low

/05

Overstay or routine extension expectation

Short-term social visit extensions are discretionary and generally limited to special circumstances.

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

2026-06-19

Reviewed by Claude Code

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

2026-06-20

Codex checked Japan to Malaysia route

Reverified against Malaysia Immigration and Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo evidence; confirmed 90-day visa-free social visit access and mandatory MDAC within 3 days before arrival.

2026-05-27

Japan to Malaysia route verified

Confirmed visa-free 90-day entry, MDAC mandatory for foreign visitors.

2024-01-01 · major

MDAC required for most foreign arrivals

Malaysia required foreign citizens travelling to Malaysia to complete MDAC within 3 days before arrival, with listed exemptions that do not include Japanese ordinary passport holders.

/09 — The questions