Student Visa for Malaysia – Eligibility, Requirements, Costs, & more

If you plan to study in Malaysia, you will need a student visa for Malaysia. This visa is also known as a Malaysia Student Pass. Both terms mean the same thing.

This is what you need to enter Malaysia for studying purposes. In this article, we will see how you can get one and what you will need. 

We will also discuss the Malaysia student visa, its eligibility, visa requirements, documents needed, costs, and more. So, let’s get started.

Key Takeaways

• Apply for a Malaysian Visa With Reference if required, or obtain a Malaysia Visa On Arrival (VOA) with the VAL.
• Upon arrival, go through immigration, register at your school, and undergo a health check at an approved clinic.
• Renew your student pass online with good academic standing and attendance.
• To cancel your student pass, request assistance from your school through EMGS.

• International students can work up to 20 hours per week during university holidays, subject to certain restrictions on job types.
• Monthly expenses in Malaysia range from $700 to $800. It covers accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, and personal expenses.
• In case of visa rejection, understand the reason and seek clarification from the embassy or consulate.

Why Should You Study in Malaysia?

Here is why you should study in Malaysia:

1. Malaysia is not just famous for its tourism. It is also a great place for education and lifestyle. 
2. The Ministry of Education handles everything about education in Malaysia. 
3. People from all around the world choose Malaysia to study. 
4. You will find top-notch educational facilities and offer lots of opportunities to study.
5. Malaysia’s education system is highly well-known and offers many career-focused courses.

What Are The Eligibility Requirements for a Student Visa for Malaysia?

When you are applying for a Malaysian Student Visa, you will need to include several documents: 

1. Make sure you have a picture of yourself with a white background. 
2. Your passport copy should show your details, and it must be valid for at least 12 months. 
3. If you are from certain countries like Iran or Iraq, you will need to provide all passport pages. 
4. Include your acceptance letter from the Malaysian school and your previous academic certificates. 
5. Provide a medical certificate proving you are healthy and a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate if needed. 
6. You will also need to sign a Personal Bond to follow Malaysian laws. 
7. Also, please show proof of English proficiency with a test certificate from exams like IELTS or TOEFL. 
8. If you are from Sudan or Iran, you will need extra certificates from your embassy in Kuala Lumpur. 
9. Lastly, don’t forget to attach student health insurance proof.

How To Get a Malaysia Student Visa?

To get a Malaysia student visa, you need to follow these steps:

1. First, you have to get accepted into a Malaysian school. 
2. Then, you apply for a Visa Approval Letter (VAL). 
3. If you need a visa to enter Malaysia, you apply for it. 
4. Once you arrive in Malaysia, you go through immigration. After that, you register at your school. 
5. Finally, you get your Student Pass from the Malaysia Immigration Department.

How To Apply for a Malaysian Student Visa Approval Letter (VAL)?

Once you are accepted into a Malaysian school, you have two ways to apply for your Visa Approval Letter:

You can do it yourself through the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) website, or you can ask your university to do it for you. 

To apply, you need to gather all the necessary documents to prove you qualify for a student visa in Malaysia. Then, you create an account on the EMGS website. 

Since it is an online application, you will need to upload electronic copies of your documents. 

You also have to pay a visa processing fee. It varies by country, and a personal security bond.

If your visa is approved, you will get the Visa Approval Letter (VAL) by email. Please remember to print it out and keep both the electronic and printed versions with you.

Who Needs a Student Visa for Malaysia?

After you get your Visa Approval Letter, some people from certain countries also need a visa to enter Malaysia.

If you are from one of these countries, you need a Malaysian Visa With Reference:

• A 
  • Argentina
  • Austria

• B 
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil

• C 
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Chile
  • China
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Czech Republic

• E 
  • Egypt

• F 
  • Finland
  • France

• G
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Guinea Republic

• H
  • Hong Kong (C.I / D.I)
  • Hong Kong SAR / BNO
  • Hungary

• I
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Italy
• J
  • Japan
  • Jordan
• K
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
• L
  • Lao PDR
  • Lebanon.
  • Liechtenstein
• M
  • Malta
  • Mexico
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
• N
  • Nepal
  • Netherland
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
• O
  • Oman
• P
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Poland
• Q
  • Qatar
• R
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
• S
  • Samoa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Marino
  • Sweden
  • Syria
• T
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
• U
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Nations
  • United States of America
  • Uzbekistan
• V
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam

• W
  • Western Samoa

• Y
  • Yemen

If your country is not on the list, you can go to Malaysia without a visa and get a Malaysia Visa On Arrival (VOA) after showing your Visa Approval Letter.

Documents Required For Malaysia Student Visa

When you want to study in Malaysia, you will need two important things: a Visa with Reference (VDR) and a Student Pass. 

The VDR lets you enter Malaysia with a special letter from the immigration department. 

The Student Pass lets you stay and study in Malaysia for your entire course. To get these, you will need a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) from your Malaysian school.

Here is what you need for your application:

• Fill out the visa form.
• Have the original VDR approval letter.
• Bring your passport, which should be valid for at least 6 months after you plan to arrive in Malaysia, and have 3 blank pages.
• Make 2 copies of the main page of your passport.
• Show proof of your academic history in India.
• Provide a recent photo of yourself, about 3.5cm by 5cm, with your face clearly visible on a white background.
• Get a support letter from the Ministry of Education or the Department of Skill Development.
• Show the offer letter from your school, university, language center, or training center in Malaysia.
• Prepare two sets of Form Imm.14.
• Fill out the Personal Bond form and get it stamped.
• If you are transferring to a different university or college, you will also need a release letter from your previous school, an attendance report, an academic performance report, and another support letter from the Ministry of Education.

How To Apply for a Malaysian Student Entry Visa?

You have two options for applying for a visa to enter Malaysia:

1. You can go to a Malaysian Embassy or Consulate in your country. Here’s what you need to do:
   • Find the nearest Malaysian Embassy or Consulate and check their website for their hours and what you need to bring.
   • Download and fill out the Malaysia visa application form.
   • Get all the documents you need and take them with you, along with your passport, two copies of the application form, and a copy of your Visa Approval Letter (VAL).
   • Once everything is submitted, you will get your visa as a sticker on your passport.
2. Only people from certain countries can apply for a Malaysian visa online. These countries are:
   • China
   • India
   • Sri Lanka
   • Nepal
   • Myanmar
   • Bangladesh
   • Pakistan
   • Bhutan
   • Serbia
   • Montenegro

What To Do After You Arrive in Malaysia?

Once you arrive in Malaysia, you need to go to the immigration officers at the entry point and ask to enter the country. 

Please make sure that you have your printed VOA, entry visa, and any other documents they might need.

After that, go to your school and sign up there. You also have to go to a special clinic approved by EMGS for a check-up within a week of arriving.

Once you finish registering and have your health checked, you can ask for your Malaysia Student Pass and i-Kad.

How To Get a Malaysia Student Pass and i-Kad?

Once you are enrolled at your school, you can ask for your Malaysia Student Pass from the Malaysia Immigration Department. 

This pass shows that you are allowed to stay in Malaysia for your studies. Your school can help you arrange it.

Once you have your Student Pass, you will also get an i-Kad. It’s like an ID card for foreigners, and it proves that you are legally staying in Malaysia.

What Is The Malaysia Student Pass Processing Time?

If you want to get a Malaysian student visa it is pretty fast and easy. Usually, it takes about four to six weeks from applying to getting your visa. 

The Visa Approval Letter (VAL) takes about 14 days to process, and the entry visa takes one to three weeks. It is a good idea to start your application early just in case there are any unexpected delays.

Can You Renew a Malaysia Student Visa?

When it is time to renew your Malaysia student pass, you can do it online on the EMGS website. To renew it, you need to have a CGPA of at least 2.0 and an attendance of at least 80%. 

You will need to give a copy of your passport (with the important pages) and any school papers you have. The other things you need for renewal are the same as what you need to get into your school.

Malaysia Student Pass Cancellation

If you decide you do not want to study in Malaysia anymore, you need to ask your school to cancel your Malaysia Student Pass through EMGS. You cannot cancel it yourself.

Can You Work With a Student Visa for Malaysia?

In Malaysia, if you are an international student, there are rules about working. During university holidays, you can work for up to 20 hours each week. But, when classes are in session, you cannot work. 

There are also limits on the types of jobs you can do. You can work in places like restaurants, petrol stations, or hotels, but not as a cashier, musician etc.

What is the Cost of Living in Malaysia?

Living in Malaysia is pretty nice and it does not cost too much, especially compared to places like Singapore, the US, or the UK. You will spend about 700 to 800 USD every month. It covers everything you need.

Services / Items	Cost per Month (USD)
Off-Campus Accommodation	200 – 600
On-Campus Accommodation	80 – 150
Food	150 – 250
Transportation	20 – 50
Utilities	80 – 100
Personal Expenses	30 – 100

What To Do if your Visa Application is Rejected? 

If you want to get your student visa for Malaysia it is usually smooth, with about 90% of applications getting approved. But sometimes, things do not go as planned, and your application might get rejected. It is not the end of the world though. Here is what you can do if that happens:

1. First, figure out why your application got rejected. Look carefully at the letter you received from the immigration authorities. It might be because of missing documents or not enough money in your bank account.
2. If you are not sure why you got rejected, you can ask for more information from the Malaysian embassy or consulate in your country.
3. You might have the chance to appeal the decision. This means you can ask them to take another look at your application. But keep in mind, there is no guarantee they will say yes.
4. If your application was turned down, it can be disappointing. But don’t give up. You can fix any problems and try again. Make sure all your documents are complete and your finances are in order.
5. If you are feeling lost or confused, it is okay to ask for help. Talk to a visa consultant or a legal advisor. They can give you expert advice on what to do next.
6. While you are working on your Malaysia visa, you can also explore other options. Maybe there are different schools you could apply to, or you might consider studying in another country instead. 

Student Visa for Malaysia Summary

Criteria	Description
Eligibility	Accepted by a Malaysian school, meet financial requirements
Documents	Passport (copy, valid at least 12 months), Acceptance Letter, Medical Certificate, Previous Academic Certificates, Proof of English Proficiency, Personal Bond, Student Health Insurance
Application Process	1. Get accepted into a school 2. Apply for VAL (online or through school) 3. Apply for a visa (if needed) 4. Enter Malaysia, register at school, get Student Pass
Cost	Varies by country, processing fees typically around USD 40
Renewal	Online application, maintaining good academic standing and attendance
Work Permit	Allowed part-time during holidays (up to 20 hours/week)
Cost of Living	USD 700-800/month (including accommodation, food, transportation, utilities, personal expenses)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Malaysia is a great place for students from around the world. It offers diverse courses and top-notch education. Also, it is a vibrant country with lots of job opportunities after graduation. 

If you want to study and work here, you will need a study visa. It is also known as a student pass. This visa lets you stay in Malaysia for your studies and work part-time during breaks.

If you want to get a student visa for Malaysia, it is easy, but you need some planning and must follow certain rules. Make sure you have everything you need, like an acceptance letter from a university and enough money. 

If you miss anything or make a mistake, it might delay your visa or even get rejected. So, it is important to double-check everything and get help if you need it. 

Please remember to start early and get advice from reliable sources, like the Malaysian embassy or your chosen university.