For a Malaysia trip, you get the option of acquiring a visa depending on your travel purpose. Malaysia visitors apply for a Malaysia visit visa when they are planning a Malaysia holiday. However, what would you do if you need to stop in Malaysia just to catch a connecting flight to your next destination? In such a case, travellers would require a transit visa. If you are not familiar with this type of visa, check out this short guide that puts light on the Malaysia transit visa and Malaysia transit pass.
Who needs a Malaysia Transit visa?
A transit visa allows a person to temporarily land in a foreign country for a short duration for the sole purpose of changing flights. If you are a foreigner who wants to stop at Malaysia as a transit point before connecting to a flight that goes to a different destination, you will need a transit visa. In other words, with a Malaysia Transit visa, you only land at the airport and do not have the intention of staying in Malaysia. Those travellers from countries who require a pre-approved valid visa to enter Malaysia are also required to apply for a transit visa to catch connecting flights from Malaysia. It is needed for individuals who will have to pass through Immigration to board the next connecting flight and the transit time is more than 24 hours. A transit visa is not required if you do not have to change terminals or step out of the flight you have currently boarded which will fly to your final destination on your journey. A transit visa is procured in the same way a normal Malaysia visit visa is obtained. For a Malaysia transit visa apply online, through a visa servicing consultant, or directly through the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate. A transit visa is frequently used at airport immigration but is not limited to just air travel. It is also used at Malaysia’s borders and seaports that offer access to Malaysian land.
What is a Malaysia transit pass?
Many travellers who stop at Malaysia airport to board a connecting flight to another destination are not familiar with the Malaysia transit pass. This travel pass is available for citizens of selected Asian countries. Certain citizens of non-visa-exempt Asian countries for Malaysia visas can avail of a Malaysia transit pass if they are eligible and tick all the boxes of requirements for a Malaysia transit pass. This transit pass lets its holder transit and clear immigration for a period of 120 hours without a transit visa in hand. It is a visa-free facility allotted only to certain countries where the citizens travelling to Malaysia as a stopover destination for connecting to an onward flight do not require to acquire a Transit visa before their arrival.
What are the requirements for a Malaysia transit pass?
One of the requirements to avail of a Malaysia transit Pass is that your citizenship belongs to a selection of Asian countries. For instance:
- Citizens of Bhutan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, and China can get a Malaysia Transit Pass if they arrive at Kuala Lumpur International airport and depart on an Air Asia or Malaysian Airlines flight to their onward destination within 120 hours of landing at Kuala Lumpur International airport.
- Citizens from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka can acquire a Malaysia transit pass provided they additionally hold a valid visa or residence permit of one of the following countries:
- USA
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Taiwan
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
Furthermore, you must be arriving from one of the countries mentioned in the list above or must have a confirmed flight ticket to any of these countries as your onward destination from Malaysia. Your flight must be from Kuala Lumpur International Airport or Low-Cost Carrier Terminal.
If you fulfil the above conditions, Then you do not require to apply for a Malaysia transit visa. The hassles to pre-acquire a transit visa by cumbersome paperwork, filling out application forms, and submitting them to the embassy before you arrive in Malaysia are no longer needed. Instead, you can just present the immigration with the following documents to get a transit pass.
- A valid passport with a 6-month validity from the time you arrive in Malaysia
- The visa and residence permit of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, China, and South Korea if applicable.
- Confirmed flight tickets that show that you will fly to your destination within 120 hours.
- Financial proof such as bank statements that reflect your ability to stay in Malaysia for the stipulated time and cover all expenses as needed by you.
In any case, you can stay for transit in Malaysia with a Transit pass for 120 hours only and you cannot leave the airport and enter Malaysia for social or travel purposes. Also, the decision of whether you will receive a transit pass or not even after you are eligible depends on the immigration department at the Malaysia airport.
However, having a free transit pass eases your stress in transiting through Malaysia for your onward journey and is an option a traveller should try out if he or she fits the criteria.
Asslam o Alikum Bundle of thanks to provide here a brief details for Transit Pass , am plan to visit Malaysia by Transit Pass, I have residence permit of China also have confirmed return tickets of Air Asia & Malindo airline. Thanks