Malaysia Restricts Multiple-Entry Visa to 31 Nationalities and Four Purposes

Malaysia has narrowed access to its Multiple Entry Visa (MEV), the permit that lets travelers enter the country repeatedly during a single visa's validity period. According to the Malaysian Immigration Department, the changes took effect on September 1, 2026, and add two significant restrictions: the visa is now limited to a fixed set of nationalities and to a short list of approved travel purposes.

What changed

The Immigration Department says the MEV "will no longer be available for all nationalities" and is now limited to 31 eligible nationalities. It has also restricted the reasons for which the visa can be requested. On the official MyVISA e-Visa portal, applicants selecting a Multiple Entry Visa are now offered only four categories: Business, Fly & Cruise, Medical Treatment, and Wedding Tourism.

Crucially, ordinary tourism, vacations, and general family or social visits are no longer accepted purposes for the MEV. For standard tourist trips, visa-required travelers will generally need to apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) instead, depending on the rules for their nationality.

The authorities have not yet released a named country-by-country list of the 31 eligible nationalities. However, the MyVISA portal lists exactly 31 nationalities under its e-Visa framework, and test applications reported by VisasNews and Action-Visas found that those nationalities can still select the MEV — but only for the four authorized purposes. A formal published list would remove any remaining uncertainty.

What stayed the same

The announcement does not mention any change to the visa's validity or permitted length of stay. MyVISA continues to describe the electronic MEV as allowing multiple entries for up to six months from the date of issuance, with a maximum stay of 30 days per entry. In other words, the September update affects who can get the visa and why, not how long it lasts.

What it means for nomads

If you rely on frequent trips in and out of Malaysia, this is a meaningful shift. The multiple-entry option is no longer a route for extended tourist stays or repeated leisure visits. Nomads combining Malaysia with regional hubs — hopping to Thailand, Singapore, or Indonesia and returning — will need to check whether their purpose fits one of the four remaining categories, or plan around single-entry visas and any visa-free allowances tied to their passport.

Before booking, confirm your nationality's current status directly on the MyVISA portal, since eligibility now hinges on both your passport and your stated reason for travel. Travelers who separately qualify for visa-free entry for certain purposes or durations remain subject to the specific rules for their nationality, which are unaffected by this MEV change.

Originally reported by VisasNews.