To study at a university or college in Malaysia, you need a Student Pass. Applications go through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), the agency under the Ministry of Higher Education that handles international students, and final approval comes from the Immigration Department. Rules can change, so always check the EMGS website and follow your institution’s instructions.
Who applies
After you accept an offer, your institution normally submits the application to EMGS for you, and you can track its progress on the EMGS website or app. The Immigration Department says higher education applicants must be outside Malaysia when the application is submitted.
Documents you will need
EMGS lists the following for a new Student Pass:
- A passport photograph with a white background, 35mm by 45mm.
- Copies of your passport: the bio-data page, any pages with visas, and the observation page. The passport must be valid for at least 18 months, and EMGS recommends extra validity beyond your course end date.
- Your offer letter from the institution.
- A completed Health Declaration Form.
- Copies of your academic certificates and transcripts.
- An English language certificate, such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, MUET or a Cambridge English exam. Without one, your application may be delayed or your pass may not cover your whole course.
- A yellow fever vaccination card, if you are coming from a high-risk country.
- Extra letters for some nationalities, such as a No-Objection Certificate for Sudanese students or a Letter of Eligibility for Iranian students.
Applicants from some countries, including Yemen, Iran and Sudan, must copy every passport page.
Fees and the personal bond
Fees depend on your nationality and situation; EMGS has an online fee calculator. Your institution will also ask you to lodge a personal bond, a sum it holds as required by the Immigration Department. It is returned when you complete or withdraw from your studies, provided you have not broken immigration law.
Processing and your eVAL
EMGS’s client charter is 14 working days for a complete application. Incomplete or incorrect documents take longer, so check everything before it is submitted.
When your application is approved, you receive an electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL). It is valid for six months from the date it is issued. Do not travel to Malaysia before you have it.
Single Entry Visa
Nationals of many countries also need a Single Entry Visa (SEV). It is applied for through Malaysia’s eVISA system after the eVAL is approved, and before you travel. In October 2026, the EMGS list included China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Yemen, among many others. Check the current list on the EMGS website.
Arriving in Malaysia
- Before you fly: complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) on the official Immigration Department portal. It is free.
- What to carry: keep your passport, eVAL, offer letter and, if needed, your yellow fever card in your hand luggage.
- At KLIA: the EMGS International Student Arrival Centre (ISAC) in Terminals 1 and 2 helps students before immigration and operates 24 hours.
Medical screening
All new international students must have a post-arrival medical screening at an EMGS panel clinic within seven working days of arriving. Public university students may be screened at their university’s in-house clinic instead.
Without it, your Student Pass cannot be endorsed. If your result is unsatisfactory, you can appeal at the same clinic within three days of being notified.
Insurance
Medical insurance is compulsory for the whole of your studies and is normally bought through your institution from insurers listed by EMGS. For new students, cover starts on the date you enter Malaysia, provided your institution knows your arrival date.
Passport endorsement
After your medical screening, your Student Pass is issued in your passport. This is called endorsement, and your institution coordinates it with EMGS.
Renewing your Student Pass
A Student Pass is usually issued for up to one year at a time and must be renewed before it expires. EMGS recommends applying as early as three months ahead. Renewals need no new medical screening, but your insurance must cover the renewed period.
Changing course or institution
Changing programme or institution usually means a new eVAL and Student Pass, and in some cases you must leave Malaysia first. Talk to your institution before making any change.
Working while you study
The rules are strict. According to EMGS, students at public and private higher education institutions:
- When: may work part-time only during semester breaks or holidays of more than seven days.
- How much: up to 20 hours a week.
- Where: only in approved sectors, such as restaurants, petrol stations, mini markets, hotels and on campus.
- Approval: need prior approval from the Immigration Department, applied for through their institution.
Some jobs, such as cashier work, are not allowed even in those sectors, and students at language and training centres cannot work at all. Breaking these rules can cost you your Student Pass.
Family members
Postgraduate students can generally apply for dependant passes for close family members. Undergraduates are eligible only in limited cases. Check with your institution before making plans.
After you graduate
Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree or higher from a Malaysian institution can apply for a Graduate Pass. It allows them to stay for up to 12 months after graduation and work in permitted sectors without employer sponsorship. Conditions apply, so check EMGS for details.
Avoiding problems
- Use official channels only, and be wary of anyone promising a faster or guaranteed visa.
- Know your pass expiry date and keep copies of your passport and pass.
- Never overstay or work without approval. Both are serious immigration offences.
How AntsEducare can help
Your institution’s international student office handles your Student Pass with EMGS, so it is the right place for questions about your own application. Decisions are made by EMGS and the Immigration Department.
Once you have settled in, come and meet other students at our events.