Malaysia to United Kingdom visa requirements

Malaysian ordinary passport holders need a UK ETA, not a visitor visa, for ordinary short visits. The ETA costs GBP 20 and allows visits of up to 6 months. Malaysian ordinary passport holders do not normally need a Standard Visitor visa for UK tourism, family visits, permitted business visits, short study of up to 6 months, or landside transit. They do need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling unless exempt. Malaysia is on GOV.UK's current ETA-eligible nationality list, and non-European ETA-eligible visitors needed an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025. The ETA costs GBP 20, is linked to the passport used to apply, lasts for 2 years or until that passport expires, and can be used for multiple visits of up to 6 months each. GOV.UK says decisions usually arrive by email within a day, but travellers should allow up to 3 working days and wait for approval before travel. Airside airport transit without passing UK border control is exempt from ETA; passing border control for landside transit requires an ETA. ETA does not guarantee entry: Border Force can still ask about purpose, funds, accommodation, onward travel, and visitor-rule compliance. Malaysia is not listed among the non-European passports eligible for automatic UK ePassport gates, so travellers should expect staffed passport control unless directed otherwise.