All international students who would be undertaking full-time studies in Malaysia are required to have a Student Pass (Visa). Typically, a student pass is valid for one year (or part of a year), depending on the programme.

Besides having the necessary visa, to ensure that your experience coming to Malaysia for studies runs smoothly, it is important to check all immigration requirements regularly and before travelling as immigration requirements may change from time to time.

At IMU, our team at the University’s Student Visa Office will manage your application for student pass and will be able to advise you on the latest immigration requirements.

Please take note that it is the prerogative of the Malaysian Immigration Department and the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to approve or reject any visa application.

EDUCATION MALAYSIA GLOBAL SERVICES (EMGS)

The Ministry of Higher Education, has established the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) as the one-stop centre for processing student pass. As part of this arrangement, EMGS will coordinate student pass application and the arrangements for medical health checks. A visa application fee will be charged.  The fee includes EMGS processing fee, medical insurance, health examination, i-Kad, multiple-entry visa and visa office administrative charges.

PRE-ARRIVAL

International students who wish to study in a Malaysian institution must apply for a Student Pass before entering Malaysia. Conversion of a Social Pass (Tourist Pass) is STRICTLY not allowed. Student Pass application takes 8 weeks for approval. This duration is just an estimation and it is dependent on EMGS and the Malaysian Immigration Department. Students who are holding the following passes are exempted from applying for the Student Pass and Visa:

  • Malaysian Permanent Residents (PR) – with Malaysian identity cards

In the event of any changes in visa policies, it is pertinent for students to abide with the conditions set.

APPLYING FOR YOUR STUDENT PASS

Upon receiving the Letter of Offer, students must ensure that they accept the offer before the deadline by making payment for the necessary tuition fee and visa application fee as stated in the letter. Also, we would advise you to ensure that all documents are sent to us three (3) months prior to the intake date. It is important that you follow the guidelines strictly to avoid delays in your visa application. The University holds no responsibility for any late submission.

If you are a student applying less than 2 months before the intake date, please reach out to our Student Visa Office at visa@imu.edu.my for further information about visa matters.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR STUDENT PASS APPLICATION
  • Student Pass / Visa processing fee of RM2,500; fee is paid to EMGS (non-refundable) via IMU
  • Completed Health Declaration Form [Download Form]
  • Passport-size photographs (white background – size 3.5cm X 4.5cm)
    Passport photo guidelines [Read Guidelines]
  • Scanned copies of passport (ALL pages including blank pages. Passport copies should be clear, in full color and scanned on single-sided A4 paper)
  • Please ensure that your passport has a validity of at least 18 months from intake date.
OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
  • A copy of Release Letter, including attendance & academic record and visa cancellation letter with an acknowledgment from EMGS/Immigration (for applicants transferring from other institutions in Malaysia)
  • An original copy of Sponsorship letter (for applicants financed by scholarship/sponsorship/study loan)
  • A photocopy of School Leaving Certificate (for applicants graduating from high schools)
  • Statutory Declaration confirming identity (for applicants with names spelt differently in academic transcripts and documents)
  • Resume/Character Reference Letter (for applicants above 23 years old, required by the Malaysian Immigration Department)
  • No Objection Certificate (NOC) (for applicants from South Sudan) or Letter of Eligibility (for applicants from Iran) and scratch card (for Nigerian students)
  • A photocopy of your Resident Pass (for expatriates residing out of country of origin)
  • For Chinese applicants (mainland China) and those with the qualifications from China:
    The online verification report of the academic certificate can be obtained through the China Credentials Verification (CSSD) / Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC)  / Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange
  • Libyan students who wish to study in private and public education institutions in Malaysia are required to obtain a Letter of Eligibility (LoE) from the Academic Affairs of the Embassy of Libya-Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur by applying through this link, click HERE.

WHEN YOUR STUDENT PASS HAS BEEN APPROVED

Upon approval by EMGS and Malaysian Immigration Department, a Visa Approval Letter (VAL) will be issued. The Student Visa Office will send a copy of VAL to your email address or to your official representative (if you apply via IMU official representative).

Your VAL is only valid for six (6) months from the date of issuance. However, you are advised to arrive in Malaysia as early as 2 weeks before the date of the programme’s commencement. It is not advisable to come earlier than that because your student visa will be approved based on the duration of your programme at IMU. Therefore, it is best to endorse your student visa nearer to the commencement date to ensure your visa doesn’t expire before the completion of the programme.

Important note for Singapore citizens and other nationalities residing in Singapore

You are required to travel by air and enter KLIA or KLIA2. This is to avoid from being given an incorrect pass by the Malaysian Immigration which will result in you not being able to obtain the student pass endorsement on your passport. Refer to image* on the right for sample.

*Sample of immigration stamp

SINGLE ENTRY VISA

Apply for your Single-Entry Visa (SEV)
  • Single Entry Visa (SEV) with VAL reference is required for selected nationalities entering Malaysia as students. Please click this link for the list of countries that requires Single Entry Visa (SEV) prior to entering Malaysia. Nationals from most Commonwealth countries do not need to apply for a Single Entry Visa.
  • You may skip the following steps if you do not require a SEV.
  • You may also apply for the SEV online at eVISA.
  • You can refer to the Malaysian Immigration Department’s website for further clarification regarding to the procedures to apply for the eVISA [Visit Website].
  • Normally, there will be a fee imposed if you apply for a SEV. Any fee incurred will be borne by the student. Please visit the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate Office in your home country for confirmation to avoid a fine or being turned back at the airport.
MALAYSIA DIGITAL ARRIVAL CARD (MDAC)

All new students are required to obtain the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within 3 days prior to your arrival date. Please click HERE to learn more about MDAC and the registration process.

YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE

Students from yellow fever endemic areas (e.g. Africa, Central & South America) are required to take the necessary inoculations. The vaccination certificate will be verified by the Malaysian Health & Quarantine officers at the airport.

IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE

As a  Tier 6-Outstanding rated higher education institution, IMU students do not need to wait for an IMU staff to meet/ escort them through the Immigration desk. Present the following documents to the Malaysian Immigration Department Officer at the airport in order to obtain clearance and the correct stamp:

  • VAL
  • SEV
  • Offer letter
  • Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

You will be given a temporary pass stamp in your passport. A temporary pass is only valid for 14-30 days. Please ensure that you check the validity given on your passport before leaving the Immigration counter.

Please check your passport to ensure that you have received the correct stamp (Special Pass) before leaving the Immigration counter. Failure in getting the correct immigration stamp would result in the Malaysian Immigration not endorsing the Student Pass on your passport and you will be required to leave and re-enter to obtain the correct stamp.

If you face any visa related issues, you can contact our Visa Hotline Number at  03-27277484.

NEW STUDENT PASS, VISA ENDORSEMENT AND HEALTH SCREENING

  • You MUST report to the Student Visa Office located at the Admissions & Marketing Department within seven (7) days of your arrival. We will then advise you on how to proceed with the Post Medical Health Check and to get your Student Pass endorsed.
  • Your passport will be submitted to EMGS for student pass (visa) endorsement. This process takes 4-6 weeks. Do not to make any travel plans until the endorsement process is completed and your passport is returned to you. The Student Visa Office will issue official identification documents to you whilst your passport is being endorsed at the Immigration Office.
  • Endorsement will only be given once you have passed the post medical health check. EMGS reserves the right to request a repeat test should there be any doubt in the findings of the initial medical report. You may appeal and redo the test but additional cost will be incurred and borne by you. Should the report fail for the second time, you will be refused a student pass and are required to leave the country before the temporary pass expires.
  • It is your responsibility to hand in your passport for endorsement. Failure to do so will result in you overstaying your temporary pass and be classified as illegal immigrant by the Malaysian Immigration Department.
  • Overstaying is a criminal offence under Malaysian law. It will have serious consequences for any future immigration applications that you make, including applications for countries other than Malaysia. It can result in imprisonment and deportation.