Country topic
Visas in Malaysia
Malaysia’s immigration department lists Canada, Australia and New Zealand among the countries whose citizens need no visa for any purpose of entry. The United States is on neither of its lists, and the page gives no length of stay. The US State Department says business or tourism of 90 days or less needs no visa, Canada’s advice gives 90 days for Canadians, and Smartraveller says Australians can in most circumstances get a 90-day tourist visa on arrival. For New Zealand passports we found no official stay length, so it is unknown: confirm with Malaysian immigration or the High Commission. [Visas V1] [V2] [V3] [V4] [V5] Canada’s travel advice says you must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), a free online form that can be filled in up to three days before you arrive, and warns against sites that charge fees for it. Smartraveller and the US State Department also say it is required; the State Department exempts permanent residents and long-term pass holders. Immigration’s MDAC portal lists a card submitted three days before arrival among its e-gate conditions. [V3] [V4] [V2] [V6]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Malaysia’s immigration department lists Canada, Australia and New Zealand among the countries whose citizens need no visa for any purpose of entry. The United States is on neither of its lists, and the page gives no length of stay. The US State Department says business or tourism of 90 days or less needs no visa, Canada’s advice gives 90 days for Canadians, and Smartraveller says Australians can in most circumstances get a 90-day tourist visa on arrival. For New Zealand passports we found no official stay length, so it is unknown: confirm with Malaysian immigration or the High Commission. [Visas V1] [V2] [V3] [V4] [V5]
- Canada’s travel advice says you must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), a free online form that can be filled in up to three days before you arrive, and warns against sites that charge fees for it. Smartraveller and the US State Department also say it is required; the State Department exempts permanent residents and long-term pass holders. Immigration’s MDAC portal lists a card submitted three days before arrival among its e-gate conditions. [V3] [V4] [V2] [V6]
- We found no official statement that remote work is allowed on a visit. MDEC says you can stay on a tourist pass while a DE Rantau application is processed, but a tourist pass cannot be converted to the nomad pass, and if approval comes while you are in Malaysia you must leave and may need a Visa with Reference before re-entering, depending on your nationality. Sources differ on business trips: Canada’s advice says a business visa is required, while Malaysia’s list shows Canada exempt, and Smartraveller says to arrange a visa before travelling for business. [V7] [V3] [Visas V1] [V4]
- The DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass valid for 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 more (24 months at most), with multiple entries. It is open to all nationalities except Israel, the main holder must be over 18, and you do not need to be in Malaysia to apply. It covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan; entering Sabah or Sarawak uses a tourist pass. MDEC says most banks do not accept the pass for opening an account. [V7]
- MDEC asks for a minimum annual income of about US$24,000 for tech and digital roles (to be safe, more than US$25,000) and about US$60,000 for other roles such as founders, consultants, finance, sales and legal (to be safe, more than US$61,000). Remote employees must work for a company not registered in Malaysia. Employees send a signed contract, payslips and bank statements; freelancers send client contracts, invoices, proof of payment and bank statements. All contracts must have started at least three months before you apply, and everything must be in English. [V7]
- MDEC’s fee is RM1,080 per applicant and RM540 per dependant (including 8% SST), non-refundable even if you are rejected. At endorsement you also pay an immigration pass fee of RM360 for one year (RM90 per three months). MDEC says applications take six to eight weeks. If MDEC is your sponsor, you pay a bond refunded when the pass expires: RM2,000 for the USA and Canada, RM1,500 for Australia. New Zealand is not named in its table and its “Others” line is RM1,500, so confirm your rate with MDEC. Since 1 August 2026, rejections cannot be appealed. [V7]
- On the DE Rantau pass, MDEC lets a spouse or common-law partner, a child, adopted child or stepchild under 18, a disabled child of any age, and the main holder’s parents apply as dependants. A spouse cannot work on the pass, each dependant application is assessed separately, and children who attend school need a Student Pass applied for through the school. MM2H also allows a spouse, children under 21 (21 to 34 if unemployed and single), disabled children, and parents or parents-in-law. [V7] [V8]
- MM2H asks for a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank: Silver about US$150,000 (to be safe, more than US$160,000), Gold about US$500,000 (more than US$510,000) and Platinum about US$1 million (more than US$1.1 million). Each tier requires buying a home (about RM600,000, about RM1 million and about RM2 million or more) and 90 days a year in Malaysia, which the guidelines apply to participants under 50. To be safe, have more than RM610,000. Passes run 5, 15 and 20 years; Silver and Gold do not allow career work, Platinum does. The SEZ/SFZ tier asks for about US$65,000 at ages 21 to 49 (more than US$66,000) or about US$32,000 at 50 and over (more than US$33,000), and a home in Forest City, Johor. [V9] [V10] [V11] [V12] [V8]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades visas, by passport.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Visa, United States passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: a stay of a year or more is open without a Malaysian job offer (DE Rantau Nomad Pass: 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 more, 24 at most), the main holder must be over 18, and there is no deposit or investment. The income test is above US$60,000 a year for most roles (above US$24,000 for tech roles), so the about US$60,000 limit for a strong grade is not met for non-tech work. To be safe, have more than US$61,000. US citizens are not on the immigration list of countries that need no visa for any purpose, so a visa with reference may be needed to re-enter for the pass endorsement.
Source: DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026); Visa requirements by country (Keperluan Visa Mengikut Negara). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Canada passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: a stay of a year or more is open without a Malaysian job offer (DE Rantau Nomad Pass: 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 more, 24 at most), the main holder must be over 18, and there is no deposit or investment. The income test is above US$60,000 a year for most roles (above US$24,000 for tech roles), so the about US$60,000 limit for a strong grade is not met for non-tech work. To be safe, have more than US$61,000. Canada is on the immigration list of countries that need no visa for any purpose.
Source: DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026); Visa requirements by country (Keperluan Visa Mengikut Negara). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Australia passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: a stay of a year or more is open without a Malaysian job offer (DE Rantau Nomad Pass: 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 more, 24 at most), the main holder must be over 18, and there is no deposit or investment. The income test is above US$60,000 a year for most roles (above US$24,000 for tech roles), so the about US$60,000 limit for a strong grade is not met for non-tech work. To be safe, have more than US$61,000. Australia is on the immigration list of countries that need no visa for any purpose.
Source: DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026); Visa requirements by country (Keperluan Visa Mengikut Negara). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, New Zealand passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: a stay of a year or more is open without a Malaysian job offer (DE Rantau Nomad Pass: 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 more, 24 at most), the main holder must be over 18, and there is no deposit or investment. The income test is above US$60,000 a year for most roles (above US$24,000 for tech roles), so the about US$60,000 limit for a strong grade is not met for non-tech work. To be safe, have more than US$61,000. New Zealand is on the immigration list of countries that need no visa for any purpose.
Source: DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026); Visa requirements by country (Keperluan Visa Mengikut Negara). Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Malaysia.
Topics
More about Malaysia.
Questions about Visas in Malaysia.
How long can I stay in Malaysia without a visa?
The US State Department says business or tourism of 90 days or less needs no visa; Canada’s advice gives 90 days for Canadians, and Smartraveller says Australians can usually get a 90-day visa on arrival. For New Zealand passports we found no official stay length, so it is unknown. Confirm with Malaysian immigration.
Do I have to fill in anything before I arrive in Malaysia?
Yes. Canada’s advice says you must complete the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online, up to three days before you arrive, and not to use sites that charge fees. The US State Department and Smartraveller say the same; permanent residents and long-term pass holders are exempt, according to the State Department.
How much income do I need for Malaysia’s Nomad Pass?
MDEC sets an income test for tech and digital roles (to be safe, more than US$25,000 a year) and a higher one for other roles (to be safe, more than US$61,000). Employees must work for a company not registered in Malaysia. The pass covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only, not Sabah or Sarawak.
What does Malaysia’s MM2H programme require?
A fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank: Silver (to be safe, more than US$160,000), Gold (more than US$510,000), Platinum (more than US$1.1 million). Each tier also requires buying a home and 90 days a year in Malaysia. Silver and Gold do not allow career work.
Can my family come with me on the DE Rantau pass?
MDEC lets a spouse or common-law partner, a child under 18, a disabled child of any age, and the main holder’s parents apply as dependants, at RM540 each. A spouse cannot work on the pass, and each dependant is assessed separately, so approval for you does not guarantee theirs.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [K1] DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Checked 15 October 2026. Professional Visit Pass for remote workers and freelancers: 3 to 12 months, renewable once for 12 more (24 months at most); income above US$24,000 a year for tech roles and above US$60,000 for other roles; open to all nationalities except Israel; main holder over 18; stay only in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, not Sabah or Sarawak; most banks do not open accounts for pass holders.
- [MY V1] Visa requirements by country (Keperluan Visa Mengikut Negara), Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia). Checked 15 October 2026. Page shows Australia, Canada and New Zealand among the countries that need no visa for any purpose of entry; the United States is not on that list, so a visa with reference (VDR) may be needed before re-entry for the pass endorsement. Page header dated 15 October 2026.
- [Visas V1] Visa requirements by country (Keperluan Visa Mengikut Negara), Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V2] Malaysia international travel information, US Department of State (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V3] Malaysia travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 11 October 2026.
- [V4] Malaysia travel advice, Australian Government, Smartraveller (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V5] Malaysia travel advice, SafeTravel (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V6] Egate user eligibility - Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), Immigration Department of Malaysia (official MDAC portal). Checked 11 October 2026.
- [V7] DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V8] MM2H application guidelines, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), MM2H portal. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [V9] MM2H Silver category, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), MM2H portal. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [V10] MM2H Gold category, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), MM2H portal. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [V11] MM2H Platinum category, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), MM2H portal. Checked 10 October 2026.
- [V12] MM2H SEZ/SFZ category, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), MM2H portal. Checked 10 October 2026.