The Malaysia MDAC, explained without a fee.
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is free. Here is the official Immigration Department site, every field it asks, and how to tell real from fake.
What the MDAC actually is
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is a digital pre-arrival declaration required for most foreign visitors entering Malaysia. It was introduced by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (the Immigration Department of Malaysia) in January 2024.
It replaces the paper arrival card you used to fill on the plane. You now file it online, within 3 days before your arrival.
It is free.
No one can charge you for it. The only legal destination is imigresen-online.imi.gov.my, a subdomain of .gov.my, which is restricted to Malaysian government entities.
Who must file and who is exempt
You must file the MDAC if you are a foreign national entering Malaysia, with the following exceptions:
- Singaporean citizens — exempt.
- Malaysian citizens returning home — exempt (you are not a visitor).
- Passport holders of Brunei and Thailand entering by land — exempt (special bilateral arrangements).
- Diplomatic and official passport holders under specific agreements — exempt.
- Transit passengers who do not clear immigration (staying airside at KUL, for example) — exempt.
- Permanent residents of Malaysia (MyPR holders) — exempt.
If you do not fit into any of those categories, you must file. When in doubt, file. A filed MDAC is never a problem at immigration. Missing one when you needed it means filling it in front of the officer, on airport wifi, while the line behind you grows.
The problem
Search Google for “Malaysia arrival card” and several top results are paid ads from middlemen charging $19 to $35 to fill a free form. Some file the real MDAC. Some do not.
The MDAC is newer than the other cards in this guide (launched January 2024), and the scam ecosystem around it grew fast. Multiple Malaysian news outlets and the Immigration Department’s own social media accounts have warned travelers about unauthorized resellers.
Before you touch any form
Check the address bar. The official site is imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main and nothing else.
Not malaysia-mdac.com. Not mdac-malaysia.org. Not mdac-official.net. Those are open TLDs. .gov.my is restricted to Malaysian government.
Before you paste anything into the official site
Type your details below. We never send them anywhere. This runs 100% in your browser. View source to verify.
✓ Rules last verified 2026-04-24.
Every field the official form asks
The MDAC has about 9 fields across 3 sections: traveler identity, trip, and stay in Malaysia.
None of them require a photo upload.
None of them require payment.
If a site asks for either, you are not on the official site.
For a field-by-field walkthrough, read our how to fill the MDAC guide.
Known sites that are NOT the MDAC
Screenshots captured April 2026. Archived on Wayback Machine.
Frequently asked
Is there a fee for the MDAC?
No. The Malaysian Immigration Department does not charge for the MDAC.
Can I fill it on my phone?
Yes. The official site is mobile-friendly. The site is occasionally slow during peak booking hours; if it times out, wait a few minutes and retry.
When should I fill it?
Within 3 days before arrival. Earlier submissions get rejected.
Is the MDAC the same as a Malaysian visa?
No. They are separate. The MDAC is an arrival declaration. A visa is a separate authorization to enter. Many nationalities (US, UK, EU, Japan, etc.) get visa-free entry to Malaysia and only need the MDAC. Others need both a visa and the MDAC.
I already paid a middleman. Can I get a refund?
Dispute the charge with your credit card issuer. “Service not rendered” or “deceptive practice” usually works. Best within 60 days.
I filled out the form but didn’t get a confirmation email.
Check spam. If still missing after 1 hour, refile. Duplicate submissions are harmless.
Do I need to show the MDAC confirmation at immigration?
Not required. The officer looks you up by passport. But keeping the confirmation email on your phone is a zero-cost safety net if their system has issues.
This guide is maintained by entrycardguide. We have no affiliation with Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia or any travel service. Our only revenue is from travel insurance and eSIM affiliate links at the bottom of this page.