Costs and processing

Is the MDAC free?

Yes. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is provided free of charge by the Malaysian Immigration Department. There is no official application fee, processing fee or service charge attached to the form itself.

Several private websites offer to submit the MDAC on behalf of travellers for a fee. These services are not necessary; the official form can be completed directly by anyone in a few minutes.

How long does the form take to complete?

With the passport, itinerary and accommodation address on hand, the MDAC typically takes between three and five minutes to complete. Travellers who need to look up details mid-form should expect a little longer.

How quickly is the MDAC processed?

The MDAC is a declaration rather than an application, so there is no approval queue. Submissions are recorded almost immediately and a confirmation email is sent within minutes. During very busy periods the confirmation may take longer to arrive.

How long does immigration take on arrival?

• Off-peak arrivals: typically 10 to 20 minutes from disembarkation to exit
• Peak times at major airports: 30 to 60 minutes is not unusual
• Land borders during weekends and holidays: queues can exceed an hour

A correctly submitted MDAC speeds up the process because the immigration officer can retrieve the declaration directly from the system when the passport is scanned.

What happens if the official site is slow?

The Malaysian Immigration Department's MDAC portal occasionally experiences high traffic, particularly around major holidays. Practical steps when encountering slowness include using a different browser, disabling VPNs and trying again at a less busy time of day. Avoid creating multiple accounts; use the same email address each time.

Refunds and cancellations

Because no fee is charged, there is no refund or cancellation procedure. If your travel plans change, simply submit a new MDAC closer to the new arrival date. The system uses the most recent declaration linked to the passport.