Indonesian passport holders must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before every air and sea entry to Malaysia — ASEAN membership and the 30-day visa-free arrangement do not remove the MDAC requirement. PLB (Pas Lintas Batas) holders are exempt at designated Kalimantan land crossings. MDAC is free (RM 0), takes under 10 minutes at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main, and must be submitted within 72 hours before arrival.
Submit MDAC as an Indonesian Citizen — FreeYes — Indonesian nationals must submit MDAC before every air and sea entry to Malaysia; ASEAN membership and the 30-day visa-free arrangement do not exempt Indonesian passport holders from the MDAC pre-arrival declaration. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card became mandatory for all foreign nationals on 1 January 2024, replacing the paper-based arrival card previously filled in on aircraft. Indonesia does not appear on any full MDAC exemption list published by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM) — partial exemption exists only for PLB (Pas Lintas Batas) holders at designated Kalimantan land checkpoints.
This is the most important point for Indonesian travelers to understand: ASEAN membership grants visa-free access to Malaysia, but it does not grant MDAC exemption. These are two entirely separate administrative requirements managed by different systems within the Malaysian immigration framework.
MDAC is entirely separate from a visa. Because Indonesian citizens are visa-free for Malaysia under the ASEAN agreement, you will not apply for any visa — but you still need to submit MDAC before departure by air or sea. For a complete overview of who is exempt and who must register, see our Malaysia Digital Arrival Card guide.
Indonesian nationals holding a valid PLB (Pas Lintas Batas — Indonesian Border Pass) are officially exempt from MDAC at designated Kalimantan–Sarawak and Kalimantan–Sabah land border checkpoints, but PLB travel is restricted to specified border zones and cannot be used for nationwide Malaysia travel. The PLB is recognized by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM) as an official exemption document under Exemption Category 7 — the same classification as the Thai Border Pass — and represents a bilateral arrangement for Indonesian border communities in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) crossing into Sarawak and Sabah (Malaysian Borneo).
The MDAC exemption for PLB holders is checkpoint-specific. PLB holders crossing at non-designated checkpoints, or planning to travel beyond the designated border zone to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or other Malaysian cities, are not covered and must complete standard MDAC registration at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main.
| Border Checkpoint | Malaysian State | PLB Status | MDAC Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tebedu (Entikong–Tebedu) | Sarawak | ✅ PLB accepted | ❌ No MDAC needed |
| Biawak (Aruk–Biawak) | Sarawak | ✅ PLB accepted | ❌ No MDAC needed |
| Lubok Antu (Nanga Badau) | Sarawak | ✅ PLB accepted | ❌ No MDAC needed |
| Sei Kelik (Sejiram) | Sarawak | ✅ PLB accepted | ❌ No MDAC needed |
| Trusan (Lawas) | Sarawak | ✅ PLB accepted | ❌ No MDAC needed |
| Any airport (KLIA, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu) | — | ❌ PLB not valid | ✅ MDAC required |
| Travel Scenario | Document Needed |
|---|---|
| Indonesian citizen entering by air (Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya to KLIA, Penang) | ✅ MDAC required — PLB not valid at airports |
| Indonesian citizen at designated Kalimantan land border WITH valid PLB | PLB accepted — no MDAC needed |
| Indonesian citizen at designated Kalimantan land border WITHOUT PLB | ✅ MDAC required |
| Indonesian citizen entering by sea/ferry (Batam→Johor Bahru, Medan→Penang) | ✅ MDAC required |
| Indonesian citizen for nationwide Malaysia travel (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, etc.) | ✅ MDAC + Indonesian passport required |
For the complete list of MDAC exemption categories, see our MDAC exemptions and special cases guide.
Indonesian citizens enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days per entry under the ASEAN bilateral agreement, but MDAC is a separate mandatory pre-arrival requirement that applies regardless of visa status. Indonesia is a founding ASEAN member state, and the ASEAN framework includes mutual visa-free access among member states. Malaysian immigration officers grant a 30-day social visit pass on arrival to Indonesian passport holders — no visa application, no visa fee, no eVisa required.
This creates a common point of confusion for Indonesian travelers:
The 30-day social visit pass is the maximum duration Indonesian nationals may remain in Malaysia per single entry. It does not require any application — immigration officers grant it on arrival when you present a valid Indonesian passport and a completed MDAC QR code (for air or sea travel), or your PLB (for designated Kalimantan land crossings).
Think of it this way: MDAC replaced the paper arrival card all passengers once filled in on the plane. The 30-day ASEAN entitlement is the visa arrangement; MDAC is the arrival declaration — two different administrative requirements processed at the same immigration counter.
Indonesian citizens receive a 30-day allowance per entry under the standard ASEAN mutual arrangement. MDAC registration does not extend or affect this entitlement. For full visa and entry information, see our Malaysia visa requirements page.
MDAC is mandatory for all Indonesian air and sea entries to Malaysia; PLB (Pas Lintas Batas) holders are the only Indonesian travelers exempt from MDAC, and that exemption applies exclusively at designated Kalimantan land crossings into Sarawak and Sabah. Understanding which entry method you're using determines your exact MDAC obligations before departure.
All Indonesian citizens arriving at any Malaysian airport — KLIA / KLIA2, Penang, Langkawi, Kuching, or Kota Kinabalu — must submit MDAC before departure. This includes flights from Jakarta (CGK), Bali (DPS), Surabaya (SUB), Medan (KNO), and all other Indonesian cities. No exceptions apply for Indonesian air travelers.
Submit at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main at least a few hours before your flight departs. The process is free (RM 0) and takes under 10 minutes.
Indonesian travelers crossing into Malaysia by ferry or sea vessel also require MDAC before boarding. This includes popular routes: Batam → Johor Bahru, Batam → Tanjung Belungkor, Belawan (Medan) → Penang, and Tanjung Balai → Port Klang.
MDAC for sea entry follows the same process — submit online within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival and present the QR code at the port immigration counter.
Indonesian citizens crossing at Kalimantan–Sarawak or Kalimantan–Sabah land checkpoints face two scenarios: PLB holders at designated checkpoints (Tebedu, Biawak, Lubok Antu, Sei Kelik, Trusan) are exempt from MDAC. All other Indonesian travelers without a valid PLB must complete standard MDAC registration.
PLB travel is restricted to the designated border zone — nationwide Malaysia travel requires an Indonesian passport and MDAC.
Submit MDAC at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main within 72 hours before your Malaysia arrival — the process is free (RM 0), requires no login or account, and generates a QR code in under 10 minutes. Indonesian passport holders complete the same universal MDAC form as all other nationalities — there is no country-specific version for Indonesian travelers.
Open imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main in your browser — no app download or account creation required. The portal is mobile-optimised and works on all devices including iOS and Android.
Fill in your full name exactly as it appears on your Indonesian passport, passport number, date of birth, passport expiry date, and select Indonesia as nationality. Any mismatch with your physical passport will be flagged at immigration.
Provide your arrival date, flight number or vessel name, and select your arrival port (KLIA, Penang Airport, Kuching Airport, Johor Bahru ferry terminal, etc.). Select your purpose of visit: Tourism, Business, Transit, or Education.
Provide the address of your first night's stay in Malaysia — hotel name, street address, city, and postcode. If staying at multiple properties, enter only the first. MDAC does not require a full itinerary.
Double-check all fields match your Indonesian passport exactly, then confirm submission. The most common rejection cause is a mismatch between the name or passport number entered online and the physical passport presented at immigration.
The system generates a QR code immediately on-screen and emails it to the address you provide. Screenshot the QR code as a backup — airport and port Wi-Fi can be unreliable. Present this QR code at the immigration counter on arrival. For a detailed walkthrough of every form field, see our MDAC registration guide.
Every Indonesian citizen entering Malaysia by air in 2026 must satisfy two independent requirements: a valid Indonesian passport establishing visa-free eligibility, and a completed MDAC submission generating a QR code. PLB holders at designated Kalimantan land checkpoints are the only exception to the MDAC component.
| Requirement | Status for Indonesian Citizens | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | ❌ Not required | 30-day ASEAN social visit pass — visa-free per entry |
| MDAC (air travel) | ✅ Required | Submit at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main before departure |
| MDAC (sea/ferry) | ✅ Required | Batam–Johor Bahru, Medan–Penang, Tanjung Balai ferry routes |
| MDAC (land — with valid PLB) | ❌ Exempt | PLB accepted at designated Kalimantan–Sarawak/Sabah checkpoints |
| MDAC (land — no PLB) | ✅ Required | Standard MDAC registration needed for all non-PLB land crossings |
| MDAC fee | ❌ None — RM 0 | Free; any website charging a fee is unauthorized |
| Children with Indonesian passport | ✅ MDAC required | Each traveler including minors needs their own MDAC |
| Submission window | ✅ Up to 72 hours before arrival | Cannot submit earlier; one submission per trip per entry |
| ASEAN = MDAC exempt? | ❌ No | ASEAN grants visa-free access only — MDAC mandatory for all air/sea |
For the full list of MDAC requirements by nationality, including exemption categories, visit our country-specific requirements page. For a comparison with Thai traveler rules, see our MDAC for Thai citizens guide.
The most critical MDAC mistake Indonesian travelers make is assuming ASEAN membership or visa-free status means MDAC is not required — for air and sea travel, Indonesian nationals must always complete MDAC regardless of immigration status. Unauthorized MDAC assistance websites have been observed charging between $10 and $60 for MDAC "help" — the official JIM portal charges nothing.
ASEAN membership grants 30-day visa-free access — it does NOT remove the MDAC requirement for air or sea travel. Every Indonesian citizen flying or taking a ferry into Malaysia must submit MDAC at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main regardless of ASEAN membership.
Only use imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. The official JIM portal charges nothing (RM 0). Any site asking for payment is unauthorized and may submit incorrect data that gets rejected at immigration. Never pay for MDAC assistance.
The PLB (Pas Lintas Batas) exemption applies only at designated Kalimantan land border checkpoints. Indonesian travelers entering by air (KLIA, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu) or by ferry (Batam–Johor Bahru, Medan–Penang) must complete MDAC — PLB is not accepted at airports or sea ports.
Your name and passport number must match your Indonesian passport exactly. Even minor typos — including spacing differences or transposed characters — are flagged at immigration and result in delays or secondary screening.
The submission window opens exactly 72 hours before your arrival date. Attempting to submit earlier will return an error message. Set a calendar reminder to submit 1–3 days before your flight or ferry departure.
MDAC does not carry over between entries. Each new air or sea entry into Malaysia requires a fresh MDAC submission — even if you exited and re-entered the same day. PLB holders at designated Kalimantan crossings are exempt from this for their land border entries.
Common questions Indonesian passport holders ask about the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card — PLB exemptions, Kalimantan land border rules, ferry entry, ASEAN visa-free, and MDAC registration for Indonesia travelers.
Yes — Indonesian nationals must complete MDAC before every air and sea entry to Malaysia. ASEAN membership and the 30-day visa-free arrangement do not exempt Indonesian passport holders. The only partial exemption is for PLB (Pas Lintas Batas) holders at designated Kalimantan land border checkpoints. Submit at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main — completely free (RM 0).
PLB stands for Pas Lintas Batas — the Indonesian Border Pass issued to Kalimantan border community residents for cross-border travel into Sarawak and Sabah. PLB holders are exempt from MDAC at designated land checkpoints only (Tebedu/Entikong, Biawak/Aruk, Lubok Antu/Nanga Badau, Sei Kelik, Trusan). PLB is not valid at airports or sea terminals — Indonesian citizens entering by air or ferry must complete MDAC regardless of PLB status.
The designated Kalimantan–Sarawak land border checkpoints that accept PLB in place of MDAC include: Entikong–Tebedu, Aruk–Biawak, Nanga Badau–Lubok Antu, Sei Kelik, and Trusan into Sarawak. PLB holders may only travel within the designated border zone — any travel beyond this zone requires an Indonesian passport and completed MDAC.
Indonesian citizens are entitled to a 30-day social visit pass per single entry to Malaysia under the ASEAN bilateral visa-exemption agreement. No visa application is required before travel. MDAC is a separate mandatory pre-arrival declaration — submitting MDAC does not affect or extend the 30-day allowance.
No. ASEAN membership grants Indonesian citizens visa-free access to Malaysia for up to 30 days — but it does not grant MDAC exemption. MDAC is a separate mandatory pre-arrival declaration system introduced by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia on 1 January 2024. The only MDAC benefit for Indonesian nationals is the PLB exemption at designated Kalimantan land checkpoints.
Yes. MDAC is completely free — RM 0 — for all nationalities including Indonesian citizens, at the official portal imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Any website or service charging a fee is unauthorized and not affiliated with Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia. Never pay for MDAC assistance.
Yes. Indonesian citizens crossing into Malaysia by ferry — including the popular Batam → Johor Bahru ferry, Belawan (Medan) → Penang, and Tanjung Balai → Port Klang routes — must complete MDAC before boarding. Sea entry carries the same MDAC obligations as air entry. Submit online within 72 hours before your scheduled ferry arrival and present the QR code at the port immigration counter.
MDAC must be submitted within 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival in Malaysia. The submission window opens exactly 72 hours before your arrival date — you cannot submit earlier. Submit at least a few hours before departure to avoid technical issues at busy travel periods.
Yes. Every traveler entering Malaysia by air or sea — including infants and children — must have an individual MDAC submission using their own Indonesian passport details. Indonesian parents cannot submit a single MDAC covering multiple family members. Each passport holder requires a separate form, including babies traveling on their own passport.
Arriving by air or sea without a valid MDAC QR code may result in additional secondary screening at the immigration counter, delays while you complete the form on airport or port Wi-Fi, or at the officer's discretion, refusal of entry. MDAC has been mandatory since 1 January 2024. Always submit your MDAC at least several hours before departure. For troubleshooting help, see our MDAC status and troubleshooting guide.
Yes — Indonesian citizens require MDAC when entering Langkawi by air or sea. Langkawi has a special duty-free zone for many nationalities, but MDAC is a separate pre-arrival declaration requirement that applies regardless of Langkawi's visa-free zone status. Complete MDAC at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main before traveling. See our official MDAC website and QR code guide for tips on saving and presenting your QR.
Yes. MDAC is valid for a single entry only. If you exit Malaysia and re-enter by air or sea — even on the same calendar day — you must submit a new MDAC for the return entry. This applies to all Indonesian citizens entering by air or sea. PLB holders crossing at designated Kalimantan land checkpoints are exempt from this requirement for those specific crossings.
Find detailed information on every aspect of the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card
Full overview of Malaysia Digital Arrival Card — registration, exemptions, autogate eligibility, and QR code.
Read GuideStep-by-step walkthrough of the MDAC registration process with screenshots and form-filling tips.
Register MDACMDAC requirements by nationality — Indonesia, Thailand, UK, US, Australia, Japan, India, and other nationalities.
Check Your CountryWho is exempt from MDAC — Singapore citizens, PLB holders, long-term pass holders, transit passengers.
Check ExemptionsThe 72-hour submission rule, deadlines, consequences, and what happens if you arrive without MDAC.
View RulesAccess the official MDAC portal, save your QR code safely, and identify and avoid scam websites.
Official LinkCheck your MDAC submission status, fix portal errors, resolve QR code issues and common error codes.
Get HelpComplete MDAC guide for Thai travelers — Thai Border Pass exemption, 30-day visa-free entry, and step-by-step registration.
Thai Citizens GuideComplete MDAC guide for British travelers — 90-day visa-free entry, KLIA autogate, and step-by-step registration.
UK Citizens GuideFull visa requirements for Malaysia — who needs a visa, eVisa, visa-on-arrival, and ASEAN exemptions explained.
Visa Requirements