Quick answer: Indian passport holders can enter Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days per visit until 31 December 2026, for tourism, business visits, family visits and transit. Work and study still need a visa. You must also file the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within 3 days before you arrive. As of 2 November 2026, Malaysia has not announced an extension beyond 31 December. The last extension was announced on 20 December 2024, 11 days before the earlier deadline ran out, so a decision may come late or not at all. Plan any trip that ends after 31 December around a visa, and book 2027 trips with that in mind.

What Is Ending, and When

Malaysia started visa-free entry for Indian passport holders on 1 December 2023 as part of its visa liberalisation plan. The first period ran to 31 December 2024 and was extended once, in December 2024, to 31 December 2026. That date is the end of the current exemption.

• Stay allowed: up to 30 days per visit
• Covered purposes: tourism, business visits, social and family visits, and transit
• Not covered: work and study, which need a visa before you travel
• Cost: no visa fee

Which Trips Are Affected

It depends on when your trip falls against 31 December:

• Trips that start and end on or before 31 December: covered by the exemption. You need the MDAC and the usual entry documents, and no visa
• Trips that start before 31 December and end after it: Malaysia has not published a rule for these. A late-December arrival with a 30-day stay runs into January. The safe options are to leave by 31 December or to hold a visa that covers the whole trip
• Trips that start on or after 1 January 2027: not covered unless Malaysia extends the exemption. Plan on needing a visa

Year-end holidays and honeymoons fall in the first and second group, so check your return date before anything else.

What You Need for Visa-Free Entry Now

Visa-free does not mean paperwork-free. For a trip inside the exemption, have these ready:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from your travel date
• MDAC confirmation, filed online within 3 days before your arrival date
• Confirmed return or onward ticket showing you leave within 30 days
• Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking or your host's address
• Proof of funds for the stay

The MDAC replaced the paper arrival card and is free on Malaysia's official Immigration Department portal. Lookalike sites that charge for it are not the official one. Check the web address before you enter your passport details.

What Happens After 31 December

There are two possible outcomes, and Malaysia has not said which one it will pick:

• The exemption is extended: nothing changes for you, and you still file the MDAC
• The exemption lapses: Indian travellers would need a visa before travel, applied for online, as they did before December 2023. That means a government visa fee plus a portal processing fee, a few working days of processing, and a printed approval to carry

The last extension was announced on 20 December 2024, with the old deadline 11 days away. If you wait for the same kind of announcement this year, you may have under two weeks to sort out a visa for a January trip, at the time of year when applications are heaviest.

Booking a 2027 Trip Now

Until Malaysia confirms what happens after 31 December, treat any 2027 booking as one that may need a visa:

• Choose refundable or changeable fares and hotels where you can
• Check your passport validity, since both the visa-free rule and a visa application look at the 6-month mark. If it is close, renew first
• Keep a buffer of a few weeks before departure, enough for an online visa application if one becomes necessary
• Do not assume a 30-day stay: the 30-day limit applies to the visa-free route, and a visa may carry different terms

Where DocuPro Fits In

DocuPro helps Bangalore travellers with visa applications from start to finish: checking your documents, filing the application correctly and tracking it until approval. If the exemption ends and your 2027 trip needs a Malaysia visa, we handle the eVisa application for you. We also file your MDAC if you want it done for you.

We won't promise approval, since the decision sits entirely with Malaysia's Immigration Department. What we take off your hands is making sure your application is complete and consistent the first time, so a deadline like 31 December does not catch you with a rejected or incomplete file. Government and portal fees are charged separately at actuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Malaysia visa-free for Indians in 2026?

Yes. Indian passport holders can stay up to 30 days per visit without a visa until 31 December 2026, for tourism, business visits, social visits and transit.

2. What happens on 1 January 2027?

As of 2 November 2026, no extension has been announced. If the exemption is not extended, Indian travellers would need a visa before travelling to Malaysia.

3. My trip starts in late December and ends in January. Is that allowed?

Malaysia has not published a rule for trips that cross 31 December. The safe options are to leave by 31 December, or to hold a visa that covers your whole stay.

4. Do I still need the MDAC if I do not need a visa?

Yes. The MDAC is compulsory for visa-free travellers too. It is free, filed online within 3 days before you arrive, and it is not a visa.

5. Can I stay longer than 30 days on the visa-free route?

No. The limit is 30 days per visit. Work and study are not covered and need a visa before travel.

6. Will Malaysia extend the exemption again?

Malaysia has not said. It extended the exemption once before, in December 2024, shortly before the deadline. Do not plan a 2027 trip on the assumption that it will happen again.

7. Should I book flights for January 2027 or later now?

You can, but choose refundable or changeable options and keep a few weeks free for a visa application until Malaysia confirms the rules after 31 December.

Visa rules and policy announcements referenced in this article reflect the situation as of 2 November 2026 and are set by Malaysia's Immigration Department, which can confirm, change or end the exemption at any time. Always verify current entry requirements on Malaysia's official immigration website before applying or booking travel. DocuPro is an independent service provider, not a government agency. Our fee covers assistance only. Government fees are charged at actuals. DocuPro does not guarantee visa approval.