Malaysia visaStudy in MalaysiaMalaysia Student Pass for Indian students
Indian students admitted to a Malaysian university or college apply through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), the Ministry of Higher Education's one-stop agency: the institution uploads the offer and documents, EMGS issues an electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL) in about two to six weeks, and the Student Pass is endorsed in the passport after arrival. The Immigration Department charges MYR 60 a year for the pass; EMGS adds its processing fee (about MYR 1,000 to 1,500 including the medical screening, insurance and the iKad), paid through the institution. Students may work up to 20 hours a week during holidays of seven days or more, and tuition at Monash, Nottingham or Taylor's runs MYR 40,000 to 100,000 a year.
6 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against imi.gov.my · How we verify
Malaysia student pass: quick answers
- Who qualifies for a Student Pass?
- Anyone holding an unconditional offer from an institution registered with the Ministry of Higher Education or Ministry of Education for a full-time course: public universities (Universiti Malaya, UKM, UPM, USM), private universities and the Malaysian campuses of Monash, Nottingham, Heriot-Watt and Southampton, colleges and language centres. The student must be over 18 for tertiary study (or have a guardian for school), hold a passport valid for 18 months, pass the medical screening and meet the institution's English requirement, usually IELTS 5.5 to 6.0.
- What does it cost?
- MYR 60 a year for the Student Pass itself, MYR 50 for the single-entry visa with reference on arrival and the EMGS package of about MYR 1,000 to 1,500 covering processing, the medical screening in Malaysia, the iKad student card and the compulsory health insurance; institutions collect these with the first tuition payment. Renewals each year cost MYR 60 plus the EMGS renewal fee.
- How long does it take from India?
- EMGS targets 14 working days for a complete application and most eVALs arrive in two to six weeks; the institution then sends the eVAL, you travel on a single-entry visa or under the exemption with the eVAL, complete the medical in seven days and the pass is endorsed within two weeks. Start three months before the intake in February, July or September.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Student Pass endorsed in the passport, 1 year at a time |
| Government fee | MYR 60 per year; MYR 50 visa on arrival with the eVAL; EMGS processing about MYR 1,000 to 1,500 |
| Processing | eVAL 2 to 6 weeks; endorsement within 2 weeks of arrival |
| Funds | Tuition receipt and living costs of about MYR 1,500 a month shown to the institution |
| Work rights | 20 hours a week in holidays of 7+ days, with institution and immigration approval |
| Dependants | Spouse and children on Dependant Pass for postgraduate students |
| Reporting | Attendance of at least 80 per cent for renewals |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against imi.gov.my and educationmalaysia.gov.my |
Who qualifies, and how EMGS works
Malaysia centralises student immigration in EMGS, so the applicant never deals with the Immigration Department directly. After an unconditional offer, the institution's international office creates the EMGS application with the passport (valid 18 months), the offer letter, academic certificates, a pre-arrival medical report from an EMGS-registered clinic in India, passport photos on a white background and a no-objection or sponsor letter where applicable. EMGS checks, collects its fee and forwards the file to the Immigration Department, which issues the electronic Visa Approval Letter.
Indian students are a large group at Malaysian branch campuses and medical colleges (MAHSA, Manipal's Melaka campus, UCSI, Taylor's) because degrees are UK- or Australia-awarded at a third of the cost; the Ministry of Higher Education requires a minimum English level that institutions apply as IELTS 5.5 to 6.0 or MUET Band 3 to 4, with foundation and language students exempt. Applicants must be free of tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV at the medical screening repeated in Malaysia within seven days of arrival.
The Student Pass allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week during semester breaks of seven days or longer, in restaurants, petrol stations, mini-markets and hotels only, and only with the institution's letter and the Immigration Department's approval; internships that are part of the course are permitted with the institution's confirmation. Postgraduate students and those on courses of 12 months or more can bring a spouse and children on a Dependant Pass.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Student Pass | MYR 60 per year | Student, via the institution |
| Single-entry visa with reference (Indian nationals) | MYR 50 | Student, at the High Commission or on arrival |
| EMGS processing, medical, iKad, insurance | About MYR 1,000 to 1,500 | Student, via the institution |
| Pre-arrival medical in India | About INR 3,000 to 5,000 | Student, EMGS-registered clinic |
| Renewal (pass + EMGS) | MYR 60 + about MYR 300 to 500 | Student, yearly |
| Tuition | MYR 20,000 to 100,000 a year | Student |
Malaysia has no financial-guarantee deposit for Indian students; funds are checked by the institution rather than by immigration. Vistolane charges the MYR 60 pass fee at the official rate, books the EMGS-registered medical in India and tracks the eVAL on the EMGS portal.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Secure the offer
Unconditional offer from a registered institution; pay the deposit and the EMGS fee.
- 2
Pre-arrival medical and documents
EMGS-registered clinic in India; passport valid 18 months; certificates and photos.
- 3
Institution lodges on EMGS
EMGS checks and forwards to the Immigration Department; track the status online.
- 4
eVAL issued (2 to 6 weeks)
Travel with the eVAL: obtain the single-entry visa with reference at the High Commission or use the exemption and pay MYR 50 at entry where offered.
- 5
Arrive and endorse
Medical screening within 7 days, institution submits the passport, Student Pass sticker and iKad issued within about 2 weeks.
Timeline for an Indian student
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Offer and deposit | 1 to 3 weeks | Institution issues the unconditional offer |
| EMGS processing | 2 to 6 weeks (target 14 working days) | Institution lodges; you track online |
| Travel | Within 6 months of the eVAL | Single-entry visa or exemption + eVAL |
| Endorsement | About 2 weeks after arrival | Medical, passport submission, iKad |
| Renewal | Yearly, 2 months before expiry | Attendance and results checked |
Intakes fall in February, July and September; EMGS queues are longest in June and August. Students should not travel before the eVAL is issued, because arriving as a tourist and enrolling is a breach that blocks the pass.
After arrival: renewals, work and switching
The pass is renewed each year through the institution two months before expiry with attendance of at least 80 per cent and satisfactory results; a change of institution or course needs a new EMGS application. Students must carry the iKad, report address changes and leave within the grace period after the course ends.
Graduates have no automatic post-study work visa. Those hired by a Malaysian company switch to an Employment Pass (Category II or III) through ESD if the salary meets the June 2026 thresholds, and TalentCorp's Graduate pass for selected fields allows a 12-month job search for top graduates. Vistolane's partner tracks renewal dates and prepares the Employment Pass file for graduates with offers.
Document checklist: identity and forms
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 18 months with blank pages | Colour scans of all pages for EMGS |
| Passport photos, white background | EMGS specification, 35 by 45 mm |
| Malaysia Digital Arrival Card | Within 3 days before arrival |
Study
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Unconditional offer letter | Registered institution, full-time course |
| Academic certificates and transcripts | Class 12 and degree; English test if required |
| Pre-arrival medical report | EMGS-registered clinic in India |
| No-objection or sponsor letter | Where the institution asks for it |
Funds and insurance
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Tuition receipt and funds proof | Institution checks living costs of about MYR 1,500 a month |
| EMGS health insurance | Included in the EMGS package |
| Guardian consent | Students under 18 |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Medical screening failure
Tuberculosis, hepatitis B or HIV found at the India or Malaysia screening.
The fix. Treat and re-screen where permitted; some conditions are a bar to the pass.
Passport validity under 18 months
EMGS rejects or holds the application.
The fix. Renew the passport before the institution lodges.
Institution or course not registered
Private colleges without MOHE approval for international students.
The fix. Check the EMGS institution list; Vistolane verifies the registration code.
Travelling before the eVAL
Student entered as a tourist and started classes.
The fix. Wait for the eVAL; the exemption cannot be converted retrospectively.
Attendance below 80 per cent
Renewal refused and the student asked to leave.
The fix. Keep attendance records; appeal with medical evidence through the institution.
Official sources
Malaysia student pass questions
Other Malaysia routes
Visit Malaysia
Visa-free entry with the MDAC
Free under the visa exemption to 31 Dec 2026; MDAC free
Read the route
Work in Malaysia
Employment Pass (Categories I to III)
MYR 200 pass fee per year + MYR 125 processing (employer-paid)
Read the route
Join family in Malaysia
Dependant Pass and Long-Term Social Visit Pass
MYR 60 per year per dependant
Read the route
Remote work from Malaysia
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
MYR 1,000 main applicant (MYR 500 per dependant)
Read the route
