Malaysia visa for South African citizens
Malaysia visa for South African citizensWhat South African citizens need to enter Malaysia, with the official source for every fact.
Visa-freeMaximum stay: 90 days
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: imi.gov.my (opens in a new tab)How to apply
No visa application is needed for a short visit.
Yellow fever certificate
Arriving from South Africa, no yellow fever certificate is required: WHO does not list South Africa as a transmission risk. It can still be demanded if you have been in a risk country shortly before arriving.
Driving on a South Africa license
Malaysia and South Africa are both party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so an International Driving Permit issued in South Africa is one Malaysia is bound to recognize.
Whether a permit is required alongside your national license is set by national road law, which we have not checked for this pair.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: treaties.un.org (opens in a new tab) · Convention on Road TrafficOther entry requirements
- Passport validity — Malaysia's Immigration Department says travel documents must be valid for six months or more from the date of entry into Malaysia.
- Onward or return ticket — Required
- Proof of funds — Required
- Staying past your permitted stay — Fine: up to 10,000 MYR. Penalties in Malaysia, compared with every country
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) — The Immigration Department requires visitors to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my and to present their passports together with a complete MDAC to the Immigration Officer. The MDAC registration form says your trip must be within 3 days, including the date of submission. Canada's travel advice says the MDAC is free and warns against websites that charge fees for it. The UK government says you do not need to complete an arrival card if you are not passing through immigration.
No official source states a rule on: travel insurance.
Full wording and sources of these rules: All Malaysia entry requirements
The other way round
Malaysian citizens travelling to South Africa: Visa-free. Up to 90 days.
Compare this across every country
Each of these tables states one rule for all 199 destinations, with the government source behind every row. Malaysia has a row in each.
- What staying past your permitted stay costs, country by country
- Compulsory government charges beyond the visa, country by country
- Digital arrival cards and entry declarations
- How long your passport must be valid, country by country
- Vaccination certificates required at the border
- How many blank passport pages each country requires
- Which International Driving Permit each country recognizes
- How much money you must be able to show at the border
- Where you must show a return or onward ticket
- How much cash you can carry before you must declare it
All Malaysia entry requirements · Everywhere South African citizens can travel
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Malaysia?
No. South African citizens can enter Malaysia without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can South African citizens stay in Malaysia?
Up to 90 days per entry.
Sources & verification
- High Commission of Malaysia, Pretoria — Visa requirements for foreigners (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Entry requirements into Malaysia (PDF, item 1.3) (opens in a new tab)
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Frequently Committed Offences (opens in a new tab)
Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), s.15(4); Immigration (Compounding of Offences) Regulations 2003
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) registration, Traveling Information step (opens in a new tab)
- Malaysia eVisa — official portal, FAQ (Immigration Department of Malaysia) (opens in a new tab)
- UN Treaty Collection — Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva, 1949), status of parties (opens in a new tab)
Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva, 19 September 1949 (UNTS vol. 125, p. 3)
- WHO — International Travel and Health country list: vaccination requirements (Malaysia) (opens in a new tab)
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source