Malaysia Tightens Multiple-Entry Visa Access to 31 Nationalities and Four Travel Purposes, Including Business

Since September 1, 2026, Malaysia has significantly tightened access to its Multiple Entry Visa (MEV), according to the Malaysian Immigration Department. The visa is no longer available to all nationalities and is now limited to four specific travel purposes: business, “Fly & Cruise” trips combining air travel with a cruise, medical treatment, and wedding tourism. Regular tourism, vacations, and ordinary family or social visits no longer qualify for a multiple-entry visa.

Immigration authorities confirmed the MEV is now limited to 31 eligible nationalities, though a named list has not been officially published. According to Malaysia’s MyVISA e-Visa portal, the 31 nationalities likely include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nigeria, and several African and Balkan nations. Tests conducted by VisasNews and Action-Visas on the official portal support this list, as applicants from these nationalities were shown only the four newly approved travel categories when selecting an MEV.

Travellers not covered by the new eligibility rules will generally need to apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) instead for tourism purposes. The visa’s validity conditions remain unchanged, up to six months from issuance, with a maximum stay of 30 days per entry.