Malaysia MDAC for Indians: Complete Guide 2026
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is the one mandatory pre-trip task for every Indian traveling to Malaysia. It is free. It takes 5 minutes. It replaced the paper arrival card from December 2023. Without it, you may not be allowed to board your flight to Malaysia, and if you do arrive without it, you face delays and potential denial of entry at KLIA immigration.
Step-by-Step MDAC Submission
- Go to imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main — the ONLY official portal. Completely free.
- Click Register. Do not submit more than 72 hours before arrival — system rejects early submissions.
- Enter full name exactly as in passport, passport number, nationality, date of birth.
- Enter flight details: flight number, arrival date, country of embarkation (India).
- Enter your Malaysia accommodation address — hotel name and full address. Must match what you declare at immigration.
- Enter an active email address you can access immediately.
- Click Submit.
- Check your email for a PIN from the MDAC system. Check spam folder if not received within 15 minutes.
- Return to the MDAC website. Click Check Registration.
- Enter passport number, nationality, and PIN. Download the MDAC PDF.
- Save the PDF on your phone. Show to airline at check-in and to immigration officer on arrival.
The Scam Problem — Read This Before Googling MDAC
Searching ‘Malaysia MDAC India’ or ‘Malaysia arrival card’ returns multiple fake websites designed to look like the official immigration portal. They use similar colors, similar logos, and charge Rs 599 to Rs 1,500 for submitting your MDAC. The official portal is imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. The official domain always ends in.imi.gov.my. Any other domain –.com,.in,.org, anything that is not.imi.gov.my — is a scam. Do not enter your passport details on these sites. Do not pay.
MDAC vs Other Countries’ Arrival Systems: How Malaysia Compares
Malaysia’s MDAC is the simplest of the pre-arrival digital systems Indian travelers face in Southeast Asia. For comparison: Bali/Indonesia requires three separate steps (e-VOA, Tourist Levy, and Arrival Card). Thailand is visa-free with no digital form required. Vietnam requires an e-visa with a 3 to 5 day processing wait. Malaysia sits in between — one free form, 5 minutes, submit within 72 hours.
MDAC vs Other Countries: How Malaysia Compares
Malaysia’s MDAC is the simplest pre-arrival digital system Indian travelers face in Southeast Asia. Bali/Indonesia requires three separate steps: e-VOA (Rs 2,600), Tourist Levy (Rs 780), and Arrival Card (free) — total 30 minutes across three portals. Thailand is visa-free with no digital form. Vietnam requires an e-visa with 3 to 5 day processing and a fee. Malaysia: one free form, 5 minutes, submit within 72 hours. If you have done Bali’s entry process, Malaysia’s MDAC feels trivially simple by comparison.
Common MDAC Problems and Solutions
PIN email not received: Check your spam folder. The email comes from a Malaysian government system and is frequently flagged as spam by Indian email providers. If not in spam either, wait 30 minutes and check again. If still not received, resubmit — use a different email address if the first one was a problem.
Error on submission — name mismatch: Your name must match your passport exactly, including middle names, initials, and spacing. If your passport says RAVI KUMAR SHARMA, enter exactly that. Do not abbreviate.
Submitted too early — system rejected: The system only accepts submissions within the 72-hour window. If rejected for being too early, note your arrival date and resubmit within 72 hours of that date.
Lost MDAC PDF: Return to imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main, click Check Registration, enter your passport number and PIN (from the original email) and download again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Malaysia MDAC?
MDAC stands for Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. It is a mandatory online pre-arrival form introduced on 1 December 2023, replacing the old paper arrival card. All foreign nationals entering Malaysia must submit it, including Indian tourists, business visitors, and transit passengers who clear immigration. Submit at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. It is completely free.
How do I fill the Malaysia MDAC form?
Go to imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Click Register. Fill in your full name (exactly as passport), passport number, date of birth, nationality, flight number, arrival date, country of embarkation, and your Malaysia accommodation address. Enter an active email. Submit. Check email for PIN. Return to site, click Check Registration, enter passport number and PIN. Download the PDF confirmation.
How much does the Malaysia MDAC cost?
The MDAC is completely free of charge. Submit it at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main — the official Malaysian Immigration Department portal. Any website or agent charging for MDAC submission is running a scam. Reported scam sites charge Rs 599 to Rs 1,500 for submitting information you can enter yourself for free in 5 minutes.
What happens if I do not submit MDAC before flying to Malaysia?
Without MDAC, airlines may deny you boarding since they face fines for carrying passengers who fail immigration. If you do manage to board and arrive without MDAC, you face manual processing at immigration, potential secondary screening, and possible delays or denial of entry. Submit it 1 to 2 days before your flight to avoid all of this.
How early can I submit the Malaysia MDAC?
The MDAC system only accepts submissions within 72 hours (3 days) before your arrival in Malaysia. Earlier submissions are rejected by the system. The earliest you should submit is 3 days before your Malaysia arrival date, not your departure date from India.
See also: Complete Malaysia Visa Guide for Indians