Indian travellers visiting Malaysia might expect troubled circumstances, particularly if they intend to travel during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. This comes after the Malaysian government recently decided to halt the issuance of online visas for visitors from India. Indian nationals must now personally submit their visa applications to the Malaysian consulates in Chennai, Mumbai, or New Delhi in order to receive a visa for Malaysia.
The Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi, which is tasked with fostering diplomatic relations and other links between Malaysia and India, announced the decision on Twitter. Notably, since September 26 the Malaysian e-visa application website has been unavailable. The Malaysian High Commission had already tweeted about this information as well.
Visa applications will be processed directly by the Visa Section at the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, and New Delhi under the new regulations, which went into effect on October 11. According to the High Commission, Indian citizens can submit applications based on their place of residence. Whereas, Kerala residents can directly visit the consulate in Chennai.
Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bengal, Andaman Nicobar, Chandigarh, and Delhi should apply at the Chanakyapuri Visa Application Centre in New Delhi. Visa applications will also be accepted at the Mumbai centre.
The processing of visa applications might take up to six days. In other words, obtaining a Malaysian visa would require travellers to physically visit the centre twice over the course of six days. They must give their passports and the application on the first visit, and they may pick up the visa on the second visit, which is scheduled for six days later.
At the moment, Malaysia only provides Indian tourists with single-entry visas. Tourist group permits have temporarily stopped being issued.
The original passport, a copy of the passport, a round-trip airline ticket, information about the hotel where accommodations are scheduled, two pictures with a white backdrop, and a COVID-19 immunisation certificate must be included with the visa application (physical copy as well as PDF). Foreign worker visa holders from India must provide the VDR permission letter issued by Malaysia’s Immigration Department.
The visa fee is Rs 1,000, and it may be paid by bank draft or demand draft made out to the Malaysian High Commission. Cash payments, however, won’t be accepted.
In the meanwhile, Indian visitors who do not prefer to physically visit the visa application centres in Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai may now apply for a visa in Malaysia at the airport. However, it is also a demanding endeavour. Indian citizens who have travelled through Indonesia or Thailand can acquire a Malaysian visa at Kuala Lumpur International Airport when they arrive there. But they ought to have stayed there for at least one night.
This setup requires additional effort and costs money. Travel professionals in Kerala point out that it is comparable to travel via Thrissur from Kochi to Kottayam.
Indian individuals are permitted to go straight to Malaysia for all business purposes, according to the immigration attaché for Malaysia in Chennai. Such tourists should make sure they have the relevant documentation with them, the official continued.
The older Malaysian e-visa enabled entrance within 30 days and had a three-month validity period. Those who have already purchased tickets, however, are in a position due to the change in visa regulations. Additionally, if they don’t get the visa, Indian nationals who purchased non-refundable flights will forfeit their money. The announcement of the new visa regulations reportedly resulted in a significant number of ticket cancellations, according to travel agents.
