With close to 200,000 international students pursuing their higher education in Malaysia, the visa application process to Malaysian universities is the most regulated. Yet, it is important to know and understand the entire visa application procedure before you apply to a University there.
Obtaining a Student Pass
All international students wanting to apply to a Malaysian university will need a valid Student Pass and Visa. It is important to know here that by law, only public or private Malaysian institutions under the jurisdiction of either the Ministry of Higher Education or the Ministry of Home Affairs are permitted to accept international students.
In order to obtain a Malaysian student visa, you will first need to apply for a Student Pass. Once you have an approved provisional Student Pass, a student visa will be issued to you at your point of entry into Malaysia – provided you have a letter of approval for a Student Pass ready with you. You will receive a permanent Student Pass once in the country. You will need both the Student Pass and the Visa to study in Malaysia.
Before you leave your native country
Once you’ve been enrolled by a Malaysian institution, they will submit an application for a Student Pass on your behalf. After you have submitted all the relevant documentation and paid the requisite fees to your host, and once your application is successful, the Malaysian Immigration Department will issue a letter of approval to your host for a Student Pass. It is then your host’s responsibility to send the completed letter to you while you are still in your home country, along with a signed Personal Bond document that serves as an endorsement letter for your good character. This letter of approval will act as a provisional Student Pass that will allow you to enter the country as a student.
Important Note
All students except those from the People’s Republic of China will be able to enter Malaysia once they have a letter of approval. Students from PRC will need to secure a Single-Entry Visa directly from their local Malaysian embassy or the Council of Malaysia before they arrive.
The entire application process may take anywhere between 2-3 weeks.
At the Point of Entry
At the immigration point in Malaysia, you will need to have your Student Pass approval letter handy.
When you arrive at the airport, a representative from your host university meets you for further procedures. They issue a special pass (valid for two weeks) that will enable a student to enter the country.
Once you are in Malaysia
Within 2 weeks of your arrival in Malaysia, your host institution will submit your passport to the Immigration Department so that you can get a full Student Pass. This may take anywhere between six-eight weeks. You will get your passport back with a Student Pass sticker inside it that you will need to renew every year.
Documents needed to Apply for a Student Visa
To apply for a student pass, you will need to submit the following documents on your behalf:
- An official letter of acceptance from your host institution
- Two photocopies of a valid passport photo page
- A completed Student Pass application form
- Proof of purchase of Malaysian Health Insurance
- A photocopy of your medical health examination report
- Three passport-sized photos
- Proof that you will able to financially support yourself for the duration of your study programme
- A Personal Bond document that has been signed by your host institution
It is mandatory by law for your host institution to sign the Personal Bond document if they have accepted you as a student against the payment of a fee. Universities will not accept/lodge your application until you’ve paid all relevant fees.
Someone who is coming to Malaysia for graduation won’t be allowed to be accompanied by spouse, children or any relative. However, if someone is coming to the country for Post graduation or Doctorate, they can.