Official System: Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) & KLIA Autogate Enrollment
2026 Quick Answer
Foreign travelers entering Malaysia must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days prior to arrival (including the arrival date itself). Completing the MDAC is mandatory for entry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA T1 & KLIA2), Penang, and Johor Bahru, and unlocks Malaysia's automated e-Gates for 63+ eligible nationalities.
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in Malaysia so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| 4+ days before arrival | Too Early | MDAC date picker only allows today plus the next 2 calendar days (3 days inclusive). Wait until 2 days before departure. |
| 3 days to 1 day before arrival | Window Open | Submit your MDAC online so your passport chip is pre-registered for KLIA Terminal 1 or KLIA2 biometric Autogates. |
| Day of departure | Priority Window | File before boarding your flight to Kuala Lumpur or crossing the Johor Causeway from Singapore. |
| Arrival at KLIA / Johor Bahru | Final Cutoff | Without a submitted MDAC, the KLIA Autogate will reject your passport scan and direct you to manual counters. |
Compliance tip: A PIN confirmation is sent to your email to retrieve your MDAC slip.
Compliance tip: Day-trippers from Singapore should enter their primary destination address in Johor Bahru.
Eligible Passports: 63+ nationalities holding ICAO biometric e-passports (including UK, USA, EU/Schengen, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc.).
How Airport Clearance Works: Submit your MDAC at least a few hours before landing. At KLIA, eligible e-passport holders can walk straight to the Autogate, scan their passport bio page, and complete facial recognition in 15 seconds.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUL | Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA Terminal 1 & KLIA2) | Air | Major AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines hub with full biometric Autogate lanes for 63+ nationalities. |
| PEN | Penang International Airport | Air | Northern Malaysia gateway supporting MDAC digital verification. |
| BKI | Kota Kinabalu International Airport (Sabah) | Air | East Malaysia Borneo hub requiring MDAC for international arrivals. |
| BSI / KSAB | Johor Bahru Checkpoints (Bangunan Sultan Iskandar & Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar) | Land | Singapore–Malaysia land causeway and Second Link crossings with e-Gate support. |
Malaysia counts the arrival day as Day 1 of the 3-day window (for example, if you land on Friday, the window opens on Wednesday).
Enter passport bio details, flight or bus/train mode, and Malaysian hotel address. No fee is charged by the Malaysian government.
Once your MDAC is processed, eligible biometric passport holders can use the automated e-Gates at KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA2 without queuing for a manual stamp.
If you fly into KLIA2 on a separate low-cost ticket and clear Malaysian immigration to collect bags before flying AirAsia to Phnom Penh (KTI) or Siem Reap (SAI), you need BOTH the Malaysia MDAC and the Cambodia e-Arrival Card (CeA).
Regional SE Asia Loop Advisory:
KLIA2 Self-Transfer Alert: Many travelers fly into Kuala Lumpur (KLIA2) on separate bookings before connecting to Phnom Penh (KTI) or Siem Reap (SAI). If your tickets are not on a single PNR and you must clear Malaysian immigration to re-check luggage, you must file the Malaysia MDAC (3-day window) AND the Cambodia CeA (7-day window).
Yes. Singapore citizens, Malaysian Permanent Residents, and MACS pass holders are exempt from submitting the MDAC. All other foreign visitors must file it within 3 days before every entry.
For most of the 63+ eligible nationalities holding a biometric e-passport, submitting the MDAC prior to arrival syncs your passport with the KLIA T1 and KLIA2 Autogate system immediately.
If you stay airside on a single through-ticket within the same terminal, you do not need an MDAC. However, if you self-transfer between KLIA Terminal 1 and KLIA2 or clear immigration to re-check bags for your flight to Phnom Penh (KTI) or Siem Reap (SAI), you must submit the MDAC.
Malaysia includes your arrival date in the 3-day count. If you arrive on the 10th of the month, you can submit the MDAC starting on the 8th, 9th, or 10th.