You May Need a Visa to Travel to Malaysia 

Before you sit down to fill out an application for a Malaysian Visa, you should check the Malaysian Immigration website. Very few foreign visitors need a visa to visit Malaysia. Citizens of the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands, for example, do not need a visa for Malaysia.

Documentation: If you find out that your country is one of the few whose citizens must have a visa to visit Malaysia, you will need to have the required documentation. You need to provide two photocopies of every document requested. A valid passport, round-trip airline tickets, bank statements, travelers’ checks and two passport-sized photographs will be required. To see if there are any other documents you need, can check the Department of Immigration, Malaysia website at http://www.imi.gov.my/ .

Visas: The country of Malaysia has two types of visas. A “Visa without References” is for anyone who visits the country to sightsee or on vacation. “Visa’s with References” are for individuals visiting relatives, attending school, involved in research, or who are visiting Malaysia for employment. This type of visa requires a letter of approval from the Malaysian High Commission and additional documentation such as a letter from your employer, student enrollment letter and verification that tuition has been paid.

Application: Visa application forms are available from all Malaysian Embassy’s and consulates. An online application form is also available. Check the immigration website for the application form. If you are filling out the application by hand it is recommended that you print to avoid any delays in processing.

Visa Extensions: Most Malaysian visas are valid for 3 months. You will need to make Request for extensions to the Immigration department. Visitors who have a “visa without reference” usually qualify for a two-month extension. “Visa’s with references” must verify that they are ill or have been in an accident, that a war has broken out in their country of origin, and that they can afford to return home.

Fees: The fee for a Malaysian visa is about $3 American dollars. However, the charge for citizens of India must pay twice that amount. These fees are not refundable. It is often possible to have your visa approved the same day.

Just remember, you may not need a visa to visit Malaysia, and that may make Malaysia the perfect exotic vacation destination.

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