Linda D. Says:
As an American, I understand I can stay in Malaysia on a social visit pass (tourist visa) for 90 days. Is this comparable to the Schengen visa, where it is 90 days within a 180-day period?
In other words, may I stay for 90 days, travel to another country for 90 days, and then repeat the cycle in the same year to spend half the year in Malaysia?
IL Malaysia Correspondent Keith Hockton Says:
Hi Linda,
As an American, when you arrive in Malaysia you will be given an entry stamp, known as a social visit pass (visa), in your passport authorizing a stay of up to 90 days.
If you only stay 30 days and then leave, or if you stay 90 days and then leave, and you then come back two months later, you will be given another 90 days.
So, it’s not quite the same as the Schengen visa option.
There is no set period you must stay away before returning. So, theoretically you can live in Malaysia for years this way. There is a woman I know here who has been doing just that for 19 years.
If you do it too often though, you run the risk of Malaysian immigration stopping you at some point and asking if you actually live here or not.
As the country upgrades its immigration systems, it gets more likely you will be flagged at some stage and asked.
But, should you get stopped, you haven’t done anything wrong. It’s perfectly legal to spend time in Malaysia this way—as long as you’re not working or doing anything else that would violate the terms of a tourist visa.
You can get more details about entry, exit, and visa requirements for Malaysia on the Department of State website here.
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