Malaysia is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its beautiful rainforests, breathtaking beaches, amazing architecture, interesting culture, and delicious food. The Malaysia tourism and travel guide will tell you all about the reasons for traveling to this exotic country. Apart from tourism, people visit Malaysia for work and study purposes as well. Whatever might be the reason, every foreigner needs to get a Malaysia visa before visiting the place. While getting to know the requirements for a Malaysia visa is important, it is also necessary to know the processing time for the visa. This will help you to apply for the Malaysia visa on time. Let us check the Malaysia visa processing time for different types of visas.
Malaysia Visa Types and Processing Times
On an average, the processing time for Malaysia visa is somewhere between 5-7 business days. However, the duration changes depending on the type of visa you are applying for. For instance, the Malaysia e-visa processing time is lesser than a regular tourist visa or even a work visa.
Malaysia Visit Visa (Processing Time: 5-7 Business Days)
Malaysia visit visa is the visa you need if you want to visit the country for tourism or business. This visa is valid for 30 days. The Malaysia visit visa comes as a sticker visa (which is stamped on your passport). It is available as single-entry and multiple-entry visa. You need to apply for this visa through the Malaysia embassy or consulate in your city or country.
Malaysia E-Visa (Processing Time: 2-4 Business Days)
Some countries are eligible to apply for a Malaysia e-visa. The e-visa is available for both tourists and business visitors. The e-visa is available as single-entry and multiple-entry visa. With the e-visa, you can stay in the country for up to 30 days. The entire process of applying for an e-visa happens online. You need to submit the scanned copies of all your documents. Once approved, you will receive your visa in your email.
Malaysia Visa
Easy Documentation
Online Payment Option
Malaysia Transit Visa (Processing Time: 3-5 Business Days)
If you are traveling to an international destination via Malaysia, you will need to get a Malaysia transit visa even if you are not stepping out of the airport. The Malaysia transit visa is valid for 120 hours, i.e., 5 days. The requirements for this visa are a valid passport and a confirmed ticket for your onward journey.
Malaysia Student Visa (Processing Time: 4-6 Weeks)
If you have enrolled for a course in one of the colleges or universities in Malaysia, you can apply for a Malaysia student visa. The student visa is usually valid for one year, open for yearly renewals. Sometimes, the visa is issued for the entirety of the course. As it is a long duration visa, the processing time is also longer.
Malaysia Work Visa (Processing Time: 3-8 Weeks)
If you have got a job opportunity in Malaysia, you need to apply for a work visa. The work visa is a long-term visa that is issued for 1-5 years, depending on the type of job offer, qualifications, and salary as well. An employer has to sponsor this visa. The application for Malaysia work visa involves lot of paperwork, including medical checkups, and hence the processing time is also longer. It is important to start the application process as early as possible.
Malaysia Dependent Visa (Processing Time: 7 Days to 1 Month)
Malaysia Dependent Visa is given to the dependents of people who hold Malaysia work or student visa. The dependent can stay in Malaysia as long as the visa of the primary visa holder is valid. The dependent visa holder cannot work in Malaysia with this visa. In case they want to work, they will have to apply for a Malaysia employment pass.
Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa (Processing Time: 6-8 Weeks)
Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa is offered to those foreign nationals who want to work remotely from Malaysia. You can apply for this visa if you are a remote work or a freelancer. The digital nomad visa is valid for one year with the chance to extend it for one more year.
What are the Factors that Affect Malaysia Visa Processing Time?
While all the visa types have standard processing times, these can be influenced by several factors. Here are some of the things that can affect your Malaysia visa processing time.
Peak Season: The embassy/consulate/visa application centers have to deal with thousands of visa applications before and during the peak holiday season in Malaysia. Hence, it is likely to take longer than usual if you are applying for a Malaysia visa during these months. It would be better to apply a bit earlier, so that you get your visa on time.
Incomplete/Incorrect Application: Your Malaysia visa application process may get delayed if your application is not complete. For instance, if you have not filled some of the fields on the application form, the chances are high that your visa application will be rejected. Similarly, if there is a mistake on your application form, either spelling or factual one, this can also put a stop to the process, thus delaying your visa.
Additional Documentation Requirement: In some cases, the visa officer may ask you to submit additional documents (more than the required ones) after receiving your visa application. This happens if they feel that you require additional security or background checks. This would also add to the processing time, further delaying the arrival of your visa.
Tips for Ensuring a Smooth Malaysia Visa Process
In some ways, it is possible to avoid delays and get your Malaysia visa well before you are scheduled to fly to the country. Here are some useful tips for ensuring a smooth visa process.
- One of the most important tips is to start the visa process early. You must apply for your Malaysia visa at least 2-4 weeks (for tourist/business visa) before your date of travel. This will give you enough time even if there are delays. In case of work/student visa, the process should begin at least a few months before the intendent date of travel.
- If you are traveling during peak holiday season, apply at least a month before the date of traveling.
- As missing documents can lead to delay of your visa process, it is important that you double check all the documents before you submit. This also includes checking whether your passport has enough validity.
- Go through your application form once you have filled it. This is to check if you have made any factual or spelling errors. Rechecking will give you the chance to catch mistakes on time and rectify them before submission.
- Keep tracking your visa application online regularly. In case, your visa application process is paused due to any reason, you can make changes/supply additional documents on time.
- If the Malaysia visa application process feels a bit difficult or overwhelming, it would be best to check with a visa consultant. A visa expert has years of experience and will guide you through the entire process and ensure that you get your visa on time.
Conclusion
The key to get your Malaysia visa on time is to ensure that you are aware of the processing time and apply with enough time in your hands for any kind of delays. But the best thing is to get it right at the first time itself by ensuring your Malaysia visa application and documents are flawless.
Frequently Asked Questions
