The regime that applies
Most nationalities enter visa-free for thirty or ninety days. An electronic arrival card must be submitted online in the three days before arrival — free, on the official immigration portal. Passport validity of six months beyond arrival is required, and the stamp given on entry is what governs, not the published maximum.
Drug offences carry the death penalty
Malaysia retains capital punishment for trafficking, and the quantities that trigger the presumption of trafficking are small. This applies to transit as well as entry. There is no discretion and no consular remedy.
Sabah and Sarawak are separate
The two Borneo states control their own immigration. Travelling from peninsular Malaysia to Sabah or Sarawak means passing immigration again and receiving a new stamp, and the permitted duration can differ. This surprises visitors who assume a single national entry — and it matters for anyone planning to work or stay.
Health
No vaccinations compulsory from Europe. Dengue is endemic and the practical precaution is mosquito protection during the day as well as at night. Healthcare in the private sector is excellent and reasonably priced; Malaysia is a significant medical tourism destination.
Three rules that hold for every destination
- Use the official portal. Sites that "facilitate", "expedite" or "check" a visa charge for a service the state does not require, and collect your identity documents on the way. The official site is always cheaper and usually faster.
- A visa is not a right of entry. It is permission to present yourself at the border; the officer there decides. Carry the return ticket, the address of your stay and evidence of funds.
- Read your own foreign ministry's travel advice before booking, not after. It conditions your insurance and your consulate's ability to help.
The passport comes first
The commonest reason for being refused boarding is not the visa but the passport: insufficient validity beyond the return date, no free pages, a damaged document. Check it the day you decide to travel, not the week you leave — a renewal takes weeks.