Malaysia visa-free entry: India’s High Commission warns it is for tourism, and lists what to carry
India’s mission in Kuala Lumpur says the 30-day visa-free stay is for tourism and social visits only, and that genuine visitors should carry a return ticket, a hotel booking and the MDAC arrival card.
What the High Commission said
The High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur issued an advisory on 22 September 2026 after what it called “a noticeable increase in Indian nationals arriving in Malaysia using the 30-day visa-free facility, to seek employment”. It said the facility is for tourism and social visits, and that using it to look for work breaks Malaysia’s immigration rules. “Many Indian nationals are misled by unscrupulous agents with false job promises, leading to overstay, illegal status, exploitation, detention, and legal action,” the mission said, in the advisory posted on its official X account and reported by Bernama and ETV Bharat.
Working in Malaysia needs a work permit or a visa with reference (VDR), obtained before travel. The High Commission “strictly advised” against travelling for employment on a visa-free entry.
What genuine visitors should carry
The advisory lists what tourists should have to avoid problems on arrival: a confirmed return ticket, a hotel booking, the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) submitted online within three days before arrival, and a passport valid for at least six months. None of this is new — the advisory restates what Malaysian immigration already expects — but it is the checklist to use.
No rule has changed. Malaysia’s Home Ministry extended visa-free entry of up to 30 days for Indian citizens until 31 December 2026, an extension reported in January 2025, when the ministry also said immigration would check return tickets and proof of accommodation. The advisory does not say how many Indians have been refused entry.
What it means if you are going
A holiday in Malaysia needs no visa until the end of 2026, but immigration officers can ask for your onward ticket and where you are staying, so keep both on your phone and on paper. Fill in the MDAC before you fly. If anyone offers you a job in Malaysia that starts with a tourist entry, treat it as the scam the High Commission describes.
Sources
This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.
- India warns citizens against using Malaysian visa-free entry for jobs — Media Selangor (Bernama), 22 September 2026
- India warns nationals against using Malaysia’s visa-free entry to seek employment — ETV Bharat, 22 September 2026
- Malaysia extends visa exemption for India citizens to 31 December 2026 — Human Resources Online, 02 January 2025
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