A Malaysia visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan and you can stay up to 30 days. For Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang no embassy is needed. But in recent years Malaysia has added one compulsory step to entry: before the flight you have to fill in the online digital arrival card, the MDAC. Those who do not are stuck in the queue at the airport and cannot use the automatic gates.
In this article we explain the terms of the visa-free regime, how the MDAC is filled in, what they ask at the border and the flight options from Baku to Kuala Lumpur.
Do you need a Malaysia visa?
No. Citizens of Azerbaijan enter Malaysia visa-free on an ordinary passport for tourism and business meetings and can stay up to 30 days on each trip. In the list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Malaysia is marked with 30 days. To stay longer, to work and to study a visa is needed in advance.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | 30 days per trip |
| Before the flight | The MDAC digital arrival card, 3 days ahead, free of charge |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months |
| May be asked at the border | Return ticket, hotel booking, means of support |
| Direct flight | None, via Doha, Dubai or Istanbul |
MDAC: the form required instead of a Malaysia visa
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is compulsory for all foreign citizens and is filled in on the site of the Malaysian Immigration Department at most 3 days before the flight. You are asked for your passport, flight details and the address where you will be staying, and at the end a confirmation arrives. The form is free; intermediary sites charge money, so fill it in only on the official MDAC portal of the Malaysian Immigration Department. Without the MDAC you are registered by hand at the border, and that takes time.
What do they ask at the border?
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and the airline checks that in Baku. The border officer may ask for your return ticket, your hotel booking and your means of support, though in practice the MDAC confirmation and the passport are enough. Fingerprints are taken on entry. Malaysia is a country with strict drug laws, so carry prescription medicines with a doctor’s letter.
Read next: An Indonesia visa for Bali: the e-VOA, extending the 30 days and the Bali tourist levy
How do you fly from Baku to Malaysia?
There is no direct flight. People fly to Kuala Lumpur with Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates via Dubai and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, and the whole journey takes 12–14 hours. As the transit is in the Gulf or in Istanbul, no extra visa is needed. Baku–Kuala Lumpur ticket prices rise in December-January and July-August. To Langkawi and Penang there are cheap one-hour domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia is a comfortable start to a South-East Asia route: visa-free entry, English and a good airport. Malaysia tour programmes combine Kuala Lumpur with the Langkawi beaches or with Singapore; bear in mind that Singapore requires a visa of citizens of Azerbaijan.
Things to know before the trip
- Money. The ringgit. Cards work everywhere and there are plenty of cash machines.
- Language. English is widely used, which is a comfort for the region.
- Season. November–March is the dry season for the west coast, Langkawi and Penang, and March–October for the east coast.
- Insurance. Not required, but advised; medical care in Kuala Lumpur is good and relatively cheap.
- Halal. Malaysia is a Muslim country, halal food is everywhere, and during Ramadan the restaurants work during the day.
Frequently asked questions about the Malaysia visa
Can you stay more than 30 days in Malaysia without a visa?
No. To stay longer you have to get a visa in advance from the Malaysian embassy in Baku. Leaving the country and entering again resets the period, but those who do it often get questioned.
Can you cross from Malaysia into Singapore?
There is a land crossing via Johor, but Singapore requires a visa of citizens of Azerbaijan; the only exception is for a 96-hour transit, and that has conditions of its own.
Is the MDAC needed for children too?
Yes, it is filled in separately for every passenger, children included.
In closing
A Malaysia visa is not required and you can stay 30 days; the only thing to remember is the free MDAC form before the flight. The Viza.az team helps with choosing the flight route, filling in the MDAC and planning a South-East Asia trip.
You can read more about Malaysia as a destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The visa-free regime and the MDAC rules can change, so check the official sources once more before your trip.
