Malaysia warns of copycat MDAC websites charging fees for the free arrival card

The MDAC remains mandatory for nearly all foreign visitors (air, land and sea), must be submitted within 3 days of arrival, and takes about 5 minutes on the official site. There is no published flat fine for skipping it, but non-compliant travelers risk being denied boarding by their airline or turned back at the Malaysian border, at their own cost. Indian and Chinese nationals continue to enjoy 30-day visa-free entry through December 31, 2026, but still must file the MDAC separately — a visa or visa-free status does not replace it.