New Zealand citizens must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before every trip to Malaysia — the form is mandatory, completely free (RM 0), and takes under 10 minutes at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. NZ passport holders are eligible for the KLIA autogate (eGate), enabling faster biometric clearance on arrival — the same advantage shared with Australian travelers. This guide covers MDAC registration, autogate eligibility, 90-day visa-free entry, and the Trans-Tasman NZ vs. AUS comparison.
Submit MDAC as a Kiwi — FreeYes — New Zealand citizens must submit MDAC before every entry to Malaysia; no exemption exists for NZ passport holders, regardless of trip purpose or duration. 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 the plane. New Zealand passports do not appear on any exemption list published by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM).
MDAC is entirely separate from a visa. Because New Zealand citizens are visa-free for Malaysia, you will not apply for any visa — but you still must submit MDAC before departure. For a complete overview of who is exempt and who must register, see our Malaysia Digital Arrival Card guide.
New Zealand citizens enjoy 90-day visa-free access to Malaysia per entry, but MDAC is a separate mandatory requirement that applies regardless of visa status or length of stay. New Zealand is among the countries covered by Malaysia's bilateral visa-exemption agreement, meaning NZ passport holders receive a Social Visit Pass (SVP) stamped on arrival — with no prior visa application, eVisa, or visa on arrival required.
This creates a persistent point of confusion for Kiwi travelers:
The 90-day visa-free allowance (Social Visit Pass / SVP) is the maximum duration New Zealand citizens may remain in Malaysia per single entry. Immigration officers grant it on the spot when you present a valid NZ passport and a completed MDAC QR code. The MDAC pre-arrival declaration must be submitted at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main before you board your flight.
MDAC replaced the paper arrival card that passengers once filled in on the plane. The 90-day entitlement is the visa arrangement; MDAC is the arrival declaration — two entirely different administrative requirements at the same immigration checkpoint.
MDAC applies at all Malaysian entry points, including:
For full visa and entry details, see our Malaysia visa requirements guide.
Submit your MDAC at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main within 72 hours before your arrival — the pre-arrival declaration is free, requires no account or login, and generates a QR code confirmation in under 10 minutes. NZ passport holders complete the same universal MDAC form as all other nationalities — there is no separate New Zealand version.
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 iPhones and Android phones.
Fill in your full name exactly as it appears on your New Zealand passport — this includes middle names. Enter passport number, date of birth, passport expiry date, and select New Zealand as nationality. Any mismatch with your physical NZ passport will be flagged at immigration.
Provide your arrival date, flight number, and select your arrival airport. For Kiwis flying into Kuala Lumpur, confirm whether your flight arrives at KLIA (KUL) or KLIA2 — these are separate terminals. 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 New Zealand passport exactly — particularly the full name including middle names. Name mismatches are the most common cause of MDAC rejection at the immigration counter.
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 WiFi can be unreliable. Present this QR code at the KLIA autogate scanner on arrival (not the manned counter). For a full walkthrough, see our MDAC registration guide.
New Zealand passport holders ARE eligible to use the KLIA autogate (eGate) — enabling faster biometric clearance without queuing at the manned counter, using an MDAC QR code and a valid biometric NZ passport. At the autogate, you scan your MDAC QR code, the machine reads your ePassport chip, and a camera performs facial recognition. The gate opens in seconds — no immigration officer interaction required.
The entire process takes under 60 seconds per person. New Zealand passports issued after 2005 are biometric/ePassport-enabled and fully compatible with the KLIA autogate system.
For information on special cases and exemptions at Malaysian immigration, see our MDAC exemptions guide.
| Country | eGate Eligible | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand 🇳🇿 | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR + biometric passport |
| Australia 🇦🇺 | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR + biometric passport |
| United Kingdom | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR + biometric passport |
| United States | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR + biometric passport |
| Germany | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR + biometric passport |
| Japan | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR required |
| South Korea | ✅ Yes | MDAC QR required |
| Canada | ❌ No | Manned counter only |
Both New Zealand and Australian citizens are eligible for the KLIA autogate and share the same 90-day visa-free allowance, making their MDAC process virtually identical — a reflection of the close Trans-Tasman travel relationship between New Zealand and Australia. When flying to Malaysia, Kiwis and Aussies follow the exact same pre-arrival MDAC procedure.
The only practical difference is selecting the correct nationality on the MDAC form — New Zealand for Kiwi passport holders and Australia for Australians. Both passports are biometric/ePassport-enabled and fully recognized by the KLIA autogate system. The processing experience at the gate is identical.
Both nationalities also share:
This Trans-Tasman MDAC equality reflects Malaysia's recognition of both countries under a closely aligned visa-exemption framework. For full Australian traveler details, see our MDAC for Australian citizens guide.
| Attribute | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 🇦🇺 Australia |
|---|---|---|
| MDAC required | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Fee | RM 0 (free) | RM 0 (free) |
| Submission window | 72 hours before arrival | 72 hours before arrival |
| Visa-free days | 90 days | 90 days |
| KLIA autogate | ✅ Eligible | ✅ Eligible |
| MDAC portal | Same universal portal | Same universal portal |
| Nationality field | Select "New Zealand" | Select "Australia" |
Each member of a New Zealand family travelling to Malaysia — including infants and children — must submit an individual MDAC before arrival; there is no group or family MDAC option. A family of four (two adults, two children) requires four separate MDAC submissions at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main.
The most frequent MDAC errors by Kiwi travelers involve name mismatches (NZ passports often list all given names including middle names), submitting more than 72 hours in advance, and selecting the wrong arrival airport (KLIA vs. KLIA2). These mistakes can trigger secondary screening or a rejected QR code at the autogate.
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| ❌ Name mismatch (missing middle name) | Immigration counter flag; autogate rejection | Enter FULL name exactly as printed on NZ passport — all given names |
| ❌ Submitting MDAC more than 72 hours before arrival | QR code rejected at the autogate | Submit within the 72-hour window before scheduled arrival only |
| ❌ Wrong arrival airport (KLIA vs KLIA2) | System mismatch; potential secondary check | Confirm which terminal your flight uses before submitting MDAC |
| ❌ Expired or incorrect passport number | JIM system rejection; autogate will not process | Check your NZ passport expiry before submitting; renew if expiring within 6 months of travel |
| ❌ Wrong accommodation postcode | Minor administrative discrepancy | Confirm hotel's exact Malaysian postcode — check booking confirmation |
| ❌ Reusing a previous trip's QR code | Blocked at immigration autogate | Each trip requires a fresh MDAC submission; one QR code = one trip |
| ❌ Using paid third-party MDAC websites | Unnecessary cost; no benefit over free official portal | Use only imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main — it's free |
Yes — MDAC is mandatory for all New Zealand passport holders entering Malaysia by air, sea, or land. There is no exemption for Kiwi travelers regardless of trip purpose (tourism, business, transit, education) or length of stay.
Yes — MDAC costs RM 0 (completely free). The only official portal is imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Beware of third-party websites charging a processing or service fee — these are not affiliated with Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM).
Submit within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival in Malaysia. Submitting earlier than 72 hours may result in an invalid QR code at the autogate. Given the long flight time from New Zealand to Malaysia (10–12 hours), submit MDAC the day before your departure or shortly before boarding.
Yes — New Zealand passport holders are eligible for the KLIA eGate (autogate). At KLIA or KLIA2, proceed to the automated eGate lane and scan your MDAC QR code and biometric NZ passport. Facial recognition completes the clearance in under 60 seconds. Do not queue at the manned "All Passports" counter.
No — New Zealand citizens are visa-free for Malaysia for stays up to 90 days per entry. No visa sticker, eVisa, or visa on arrival application is required. However, MDAC (the digital arrival card) is still mandatory as a separate pre-arrival declaration.
90 days per entry under the Social Visit Pass (SVP), automatically granted by immigration on arrival when you present a valid NZ passport and MDAC QR code. Extensions are possible by applying at a JIM office before the SVP expires.
Yes — Australian citizens are also eligible for the KLIA autogate, with the same 90-day visa-free allowance. Their MDAC process is identical to New Zealanders — same portal, same fee (free), same 72-hour window. See our MDAC for Australian citizens guide for details.
MDAC requirements are based on the passport you travel on, not your residency status. If you hold NZ PR but travel on a non-NZ passport (e.g., your home-country passport), MDAC rules apply for that passport's nationality. If you travel on a New Zealand passport, NZ citizen MDAC rules apply.
Expect secondary screening and potential delays. Immigration officers may require on-the-spot MDAC completion at a dedicated counter, which can take significantly longer than advance online submission. Entry is not guaranteed and repeated non-compliance may affect future travel to Malaysia.
Yes — parents or guardians complete the MDAC form using the child's individual New Zealand passport details. Each child (including infants) requires a separate MDAC submission. There is no family or group MDAC option.
After submitting the form at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main, the system displays the QR code on screen and sends it to your email address. Screenshot the QR code immediately and save it to your camera roll — phone battery and airport WiFi can be unreliable on long-haul arrival from New Zealand.
No — MDAC is a pre-arrival digital declaration form, not a visa. New Zealand citizens are already visa-free for Malaysia (no visa application needed). MDAC is a separate mandatory immigration compliance requirement introduced on 1 January 2024, replacing the old paper arrival card.
No — showing the QR code on your phone screen at the autogate or immigration counter is sufficient. A printed copy is optional but useful as a backup if your phone battery dies during a long-haul flight from New Zealand.
No — each trip requires a new MDAC submission. The QR code is single-use and trip-specific. Attempting to reuse an old QR code will be rejected at the autogate scanner. Submit a fresh MDAC within 72 hours of each new arrival in Malaysia.
No official MDAC app exists. Use the official website imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main on any mobile browser — the portal is fully mobile-optimised for iPhone and Android. Avoid any apps claiming to offer "official MDAC" services — these are not from Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia.
