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Get Your Malaysia Student Visa From India: A Step-by-Step Guide

13-Mar-2023

12 min read

Are you a student looking to pursue higher education in Malaysia? In that case, you will need a Malaysia student visa for Indians.

Is A Visa Required?: Yes, Indians need a student visa before traveling to the country.

Visa Fees: MYR 530 or approx. INR 10,000 up to MYR 1060 or approx. INR 20,000 for Student Pass, depending on the course. Additional fees might be charged.

Visa Processing Time: Approximately 14 working days, but it can take longer.

Visa Validity: It can be valid for 6 months, 1 year, or the duration of the course, depending on the course.

In this blog, we'll dive deeper into the details of Malaysian student visas, including eligibility criteria, required documents, validity, the application process, and more.

So, let's get started!

Batu cave, hinduism temple in a sunny day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

What Is Malaysia Student Visa?

If you are planning to study in Malaysia, one of the essential things you need to obtain is a Malaysia student visa. This visa will enable you to stay in Malaysia and study at a recognized educational institution.

The Malaysian student visa is available for students who wish to pursue higher education in Malaysia. This visa is valid for 6 months, up to 12 months, or for the duration of your study program.

To study in Malaysia, you first need to get a single entry visa and a visa approval letter. Then you can travel to the country to complete the rest of the procedures to get your student pass.

But we will discuss everything related to a study visa in detail in this blog.

What Is A Malaysia Student Pass?

A Malaysian student pass, also known as a study visa, is a long-term visa you receive through the Immigration Department of Malaysia Headquarters in Malaysia.

Once you have your visa approval letter and single entry visa, you must travel to Malaysia to apply for a long-term visa. This long-term visa will be your Malaysian student visa or student pass.


Eligibility And Documents Required For Malaysia Student Visa

Before starting the application process, you must meet the following eligibility criteria and have the necessary documents. So let's look at those in this section.

Eligibility Criteria For Malaysia Student Visa

To be eligible for a Malaysia student visa, you must meet certain requirements. Those criteria are as follows:

  • Meet the requirements set by the university to get admission to the desired courses.
  • Meet the health and English language proficiency requisites to get the Malaysia student visa approval letter.
  • You must have an offer letter from a recognized educational institution in Malaysia, which means you must be enrolled in a course from a recognized university or educational institution.
  • You must be between the ages of 18 to 45 to be eligible for a language institute. However, for other institutes, there are no age limits.
  • Have a Visa Approval Letter or VAL from Education Malaysia Global Services or EMGS.
  • Additionally, you must have a valid passport and sufficient funds to support your stay in Malaysia.
  • You will be required to submit the required documents for the visa application.

Required Documents for Malaysia Visa Approval Letter

Before you can apply for your entry permit, you need to get your visa approval letter. These are the documents required for the Malaysia visa approval letter:

1. A valid passport: Your passport must be valid for 18 months when applying or valid for more than 12 months after your course has been completed. I suggest getting a new passport if your passport is about to expire in a year.

2. One Passport Photograph: One colored passport-sized photo on a white background must be submitted. It should be in size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm.

3. Offer letter from the educational institution: The offer letter from the educational institution confirms that the student has been accepted into the program and provides information on the duration and cost of the course.

4. Medical Certificate: You must undergo several medical tests to prove that you are fit from a registered clinic or hospital in India. The document must complete the health declaration form, which must be uploaded with the required documents.

5. Yellow Fever Vaccination: If you are traveling from a high-risk country with yellow fever, you must also submit a copy of your yellow fever vaccination card.

6. Academic Reports: When applying, you must have all your academic reports, mark sheets, certificates, etc. Depending on the course entry requirements, you might need to upload a few additional documents requested.

7. Personal Bond Form: It's a rule from the Immigration Department that every school has to follow. To follow this rule, the school will ask the student to give them a security deposit. Then, when a student finishes studying or decides to leave, they will get their money back, but only if they didn't break any of the immigration laws in Malaysia.

8. Language Requirement: You must take an English proficiency test to apply for your visa approval letter. You can take PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, CPE, or MUET and upload it with your application.

Malaysia Student Visa Requirements For Indian Citizens

When you apply for your entry permit to travel to Malaysia as a student, you must have the following documents to apply for your visa:

  • Copy of the biodata page of your passport.
  • Passport-sized photograph.
  • Travel itineraries such as flight tickets and hotel accommodation.
  • Copy of your eVAL or eVisa Approval Letter.
  • Additional documents might be required.
Top view of Kuala Lumper skyline at twilight, Malaysia

Steps to Apply for a Malaysia Student visa

The Malaysia student visa application can be complicated for many, and it's easy to understand why. So here are the steps broken down to easily apply for a Malaysia student visa:

Step 1: Getting Admission To Malaysian University

Get an offer letter from a recognized educational institution in Malaysia. You can get admission to one of the following higher education institutions:

  • Private Higher Education Institute (IPTS)
  • Private Education Institute (IPS)
  • International Accreditation Centers (IAC)
  • Public Higher Educational Institutions (PTA)

Once this is done, you can apply for your student visa approval letter and travel visa.

Step 2: Apply For Malaysia Student Visa Approval Letter

After getting into a Malaysian university, you can start the procedure to get a visa approval letter or VAL.

You can get the VAL from Education Malaysia Global Services or EMGS website, or you can request the university to apply for a VAL on your behalf. However, remember that they might charge additional fees for the service.

To apply, you can create your online account on the EMGS website using your name, email address, and desired password.

Once the account is created, you must provide the university and course details to start the application process. You must fill out your personal information and upload the required documents mentioned in the blog.

Malaysia visa appoal letter application on the EMGS website

Once you have done that, you must pay the Malaysia student visa application fee and submit your application.

After the application is accepted, you will receive your Malaysia student visa approval letter electronically. This is also known as eVAL.

Step 3: Get A Malaysian Entry Visa

Once you have your VAL, Indian nationals must apply for their entry permit online.

Though Indians can get a Malaysia visa on arrival, in this case, when traveling for study purposes, you must apply on the online Malaysia visa portal. This will be a single-entry visa or SEV valid for 3 months from the issue date.

To apply for a SEV, you must create a new account, or if you have an existing account, you can simply log in. The visa application steps are similar to applying for a Malaysia eVisa for Indians.

The only difference is you must select 'Student' as shown below to start your eVisa application.

Applying for a Malaysia student visa on the online government portal

Once you have selected the option, you must provide the 'Visa Approval Letter Reference Number' and 'Passport Number' to start the application.

Providing the Visa Approval Letter reference number and Passport number for the second step of applying for a Malaysia student eVisa

From there on, it's simple, complete the online application form, upload the required documents, pay the relevant visa fees, and submit your document.

Once your application is approved, you will get an email confirmation. Then, you can visit the online portal to check the status and download your approved visa. You must print the downloaded eVisa before your trip.

You can even apply for a visa through the Malaysia visa application center or VAC near you. However, for this, you must travel to the VAC to submit your application.

When applying on the portal, if you experience any payment issues, make sure to read the guide on the Malaysia eVisa problems.

Step 4: Travel To Malaysia

Once you have your approved eVisa or a sticker visa, you are ready to travel to Malaysia. However, upon reaching the immigration counter in Malaysia, you must have the necessary documents ready with you, such as:

  • Your passport.
  • Your printed eVisa.
  • Your flight ticket and boarding pass.
  • Your confirmed and paid proof of accommodation.
  • Your university acceptance letter or offer letter.
  • The copy of your Visa Approval Letter.
  • Proof of financial support while in the country.
  • And other supporting documents you might need to prove you're a legit student.

I suggest you keep a file with you in your carry-on to show the immigration officer in case they request to show the proof.

Step 5: Get Your Malaysian Student Pass

Upon arriving in Malaysia, you must register at your educational institution and complete a medical screening within seven days. The medical screening must be done through a hospital or clinic registered with EMGS.

Lastly, you can now get the student pass through the Immigration Department of Malaysia Headquarters near you. Or you can request your university to complete the process on your behalf.

Once approved, your passport will be attached with a sticker which will be your student pass. As I said earlier, it will be valid for 6 months, 1 year, or for your entire course.


Important Information On Malaysia Student Visa

Now that you understand the ins and outs of the Malaysian student visa application process, let's look in depth at the fees, validity, and processing times.

What Are The Malaysia Student Visa Fees For Indians?

A new Malaysia student visa or visa approval letter costs the following depending on the educational institution:

  • Private Higher Education Institute costs MYR 1060 or approx. INR 20,000
  • Private Education Institute costs MYR 530 or approx. INR 10,000
  • International Accreditation Centers costs MYR 530 or approx. INR 10,000
  • Public Higher Educational Institutions cost MYR 1060 or approx. INR 20,000

However, you might have to pay additional fees for eVisa, Medical Screening, Immigration, Insurance, and iKad, which is your student ID. For example, for an eVisa, the visa fee is RM 105 or approximately INR 2000, and an additional service charge of 0.8% to 1.7% is also applicable.

You can use this online application fee tool to calculate the appropriate fees you might have to pay for your VAL.

What Is The Processing Time For A Malaysia Student Visa?

The processing time of your visa approval letter can take approximately 14 days; however, in some cases, it can take between 3 to 4 weeks.

Additionally, the single entry Malaysia eVisa takes additional 2 working days to get processed after application.

What Is The Validity Of A Malaysia Student Visa For Indians?

Malaysia student visa or student pass is valid for 6 months, 12 months, or the entire duration of the course.

Additionally, the Malaysia visa approval letter is issued with 6 months validity. Whereas your Malaysia entry visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issuance.

Other Types Of Malaysia Visa

If you are looking to apply for a visa for purposes other than study, then you might want to look at one of the following visa types:


Why Choose Atlys for A Malaysia Tourist Visa?

Looking to explore the beautiful sights and sounds of Malaysia as a tourist? You're in luck because Atlys can help make your Malaysia tourist visa application a breeze!

Applying for a tourist visa can be stressful and overwhelming, but with Atlys, you can relax and let us handle the process for you. You can complete your application on the Atlys app or on the Atlys website in a few simple steps.

Simply choose your destination, complete the application, upload the document, and pay using your preferred payment method. We will keep you updated with real-time notifications and send your approved visa directly to your email.

So why choose Atlys for your Malaysia tourist visa? Because we make it easy, affordable, and stress-free. Let us handle your visa application, so you can focus on enjoying all the amazing experiences Malaysia offers!

Buddhist temple Kek Lok Si in Penang Malaysia

Ready To Get Your Malaysia Student Visa!

Obtaining a Malaysian student visa is essential for anyone who wishes to study in Malaysia. By meeting the eligibility criteria and providing the required documents, you can easily obtain your student visa.

Remember, if you need to travel for a break and need a Malaysia eVisa, you can apply for it in a few easy steps using Atlys!

Good luck with your application!

Trusted Government Resources

You'll be happy to know that we didn't spare any resources to bring you this informative blog on Malaysian student visas! So we put our minds to it and thoroughly researched to ensure you have all the right information to successfully obtain your student visa from:

Written By: Nikhita Rathod
Fact Checked By: Richard Dettmar

Frequently Asked Questions

What If Your Visa Application Is Refused?

If your visa application is refused, you can appeal the decision soon as possible after receiving the rejection letter. Or you can reapply after ensuring you have all the necessary documents this time and avoid making the same mistake again.

How To Check My Malaysia Visa Approval Letter's Status?

To check the approval letter's status, simply visit the EMGS website, click on 'Track my application' and provide your 'Travel Document Number,' 'Nationality,' and 'Application Type' to track the status.

Tracking Malaysia visa approval letter's application on EMGS website.png
Which English Proficiency Test Can I Take For A Malaysia Study Visa?

You can take one of the following English proficiency tests:

  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System),
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language),
  • PTE-A (Pearson Test of English – Academic),
  • CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced),
  • CPE (Cambridge English: Proficiency),
  • MUET (Malaysian University English Test).
Can You Work While On A Malaysian Student Visa?

Yes, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week on a Malaysian student visa during 8 days of school holidays or longer.

Can I Study On My Malaysia Tourist Visa?

No, you cannot study on a Malaysian tourist visa. Instead, you need to obtain a Malaysia student visa to study in Malaysia.

What Happens If My Student Visa Expires Before I Complete My Studies?

Suppose your student visa expires before you complete your studies. In that case, you need to apply for a visa extension or request your university to assist you in extending it. In the worst-case scenario, you must leave Malaysia and reapply for a new student visa.

Can I Travel Outside Malaysia While On A Student Visa?

Yes, you can travel outside Malaysia while on a student visa. However, you need to ensure that your student pass or visa is valid and that you have all the necessary documents to re-enter Malaysia.

What Happens If I Violate The Terms Of My Student Visa?

Suppose you violate the terms of your student visa. In that case, you may be deported from Malaysia and blacklisted from entering the country again. Therefore, it is essential to adhere to the terms and conditions of your student visa to avoid any legal issues.

Can I Apply For Permanent Residency In Malaysia After Completing My Studies?

No, you cannot apply for permanent residency in Malaysia after completing your studies. However, you can get a job in Malaysia and apply for appropriate Malaysia work permits to stay in the country.

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