ETIAS for Malaysians
The European travel authorisation for Malaysia Citizens
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Malaysian citizens do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen Area for up to 90 days. The Schengen Area is comprised of European Union countries like Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, among others, as well as 4 non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Although Malaysian citizens do not need a visa for Europe. From 2026 they will be able apply online for an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to the Schengen Area. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System, it will become an entry requirement.
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorisation designed to improve the screening of visa-exempt travellers to the region, to strengthen border control in the EU and to improve security for Europeans living in the Schengen zone, and visitors travelling to it.
The European Parliament approved the ETIAS for Malaysia citizens in 2016, and it will be fully operational from 2026 . The information provided on an ETIAS application from Malaysia will be screened against several European security databases managed by eu-LISA (European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice). This is to identify any potential threats to Europe before the visa waiver can be approved.
ETIAS REQUIRED
ETIAS PERMITS MALAYSIANS TO TRAVEL TO ALL SCHENGEN MEMBER STATES FROM [CONTENT-INJECT PATH="/DATE" /]:
- EU Schengen
- Non-EU Schengen States
- Non-Schengen EU States
NON-EU MEMBER STATES:
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
MICRO-STATES DE FACTO PART OF SCHENGEN AREA:
- Monaco
- San Marino
- Vatican City
NON-SCHENGEN EU STATES
- Cyprus
EUROPE VISA WAIVER REQUIREMENTS FOR MALAYSIAN CITIZENS
From 2026 , citizens from Malaysia will be able to register for ETIAS to travel to Schengen Area countries for short stays for tourism, business, studies up to 90 days, or to leave the transit area of the airport when changing flights. Travellers will need to an approved ETIAS to board transport bound for Europe.
To submit an ETIAS application, it is first necessary to meet the following 3 basic ETIAS requirements for Malaysian citizens:
- A Malaysian passport valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the European ETIAS countries
- A current email address (needed to receive a copy of the approved ETIAS visa waiver)
- A credit or debit card (to pay the ETIAS from Malaysia fee)
Applicants for the ETIAS from Malaysia must have a biometric passport that is machine-readable.
Those who have dual nationality in Malaysia and another country should take care to use the same passport to complete the ETIAS application as that which they will later use to travel to the Schengen Area, as ETIAS is electronically linked to an individual passport. Malaysian citizens who attempt to travel to ETIAS countries with the wrong passport are likely to be denied boarding their transportation carrier or turned away at Schengen border control.
It will not be mandatory to print a paper copy to present to transportation carriers or Schengen Area border control, as the approved ETIAS is electronically linked to the traveller's passport. However, applicants are nevertheless advised to print a copy of ETIAS to keep on their person during their stay in Europe in case there is a need to show it at any point.
THE ETIAS APPLICATION PROCESS FOR MALAYSIANS
The ETIAS visa waiver will be a legal requirement for Malaysians. Malaysian citizens will be able to submit a Europe visa waiver application from anywhere outside of the Schengen Area. The process is exclusively online and the applicant is able to use either their desktop, tablet, or mobile phone to complete the process.
Malaysian citizens are able to apply for the Europe visa waiver through the simple ETIAS application online, which only takes a few minutes to complete with personal, passport, and travel information, including:
- Full name
- Gender
- Nationality
- Place of birth
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Current address
- Passport number
- Issue and expiry date of the passport
- Phone number
- Email address
- Schengen member state of first intended entry.
It is essential to make sure that all of the information provided on the ETIAS form for Malaysian citizens is correct and matches the details of the traveller's Malaysian passport. Any incorrect information, even small mistakes, is likely to result in the rejection of the ETIAS application.
It is necessary to submit a separate ETIAS authorisation for Malaysia application for all children under the age of 18. Parents or legal guardians are able to submit an ETIAS application on behalf of a minor, although every child is required to have an individual approved ETIAS.
Before submitting the Europe visa waiver application from Malaysia, it is also necessary to answer a few security-related questions, including about:
- Criminal history
- Employment history
- Drug use
- Travel to conflict areas
- Past European travel information
ETIAS FROM MALAYSIA SECURITY PROCEDURES
The information provided on ETIAS visa waiver applications from Malaysia will all be screened against several information databases to identify any security threats to Europe before the travel authorisation can be granted, including Interpol, SIS, VIS, Europol and EURODAC.
SIS, VIS, and EURODAC make up the Schengen Area security system and are all managed by eu-LISA, which also has responsibility for the management of the ETIAS application process.
SIS allows Schengen countries to share information about suspected criminals entering Europe, as well as stolen assets, and missing people. The aims of the database are to promote border control cooperation, to increase cooperation between law enforcement agencies, and to enable cooperation on vehicle registration.
VIS supports the common EU visa policy by allowing Schengen Area countries to exchange visa information through a central information system. It collects biometric data from visa applications and stores it in a central database, and allows European countries to prevent fraudulent activities, protect travellers by fighting identity theft, and to enhance security.
EURODAC works in tandem with SIS and VIS, and is a fingerprint database which allows Schengen countries to identify those who illegally cross European borders. EURODAC compares fingerprint datasets to registers instant recognition of a traveller's fingerprints every time they apply for asylum in the European Union. This allows Schengen states to determine responsibility for examining the individual applications of asylum seekers.
An ETIAS visa waiver for Malaysian citizens is likely to be refused if any serious criminal activity related to the applicant shows up on these databases. As the system is geared more towards identifying terrorist and human trafficking threats, many countries will still grant entry to travellers with a minor criminal history. However, Malaysians with serious drug offenses or a public order conviction are also likely to be denied entry by many Schengen countries.
VISA FOR MALAYSIAN CITIZENS FOR LONG STAYS IN EUROPE
ETIAS is not a visa and is valid for short stays only, up to 90 days per 180-day period.
Any Malaysian citizen that wishes to enter Europe for over 90 consecutive days, or for other purposes than those permitted with ETIAS, such as to work or long-term study, will need to apply for a visa.
As opposed to an ETIAS for Malaysian citizens, a national visa is only valid for entry to one specific country in the area. It is necessary to apply for a visa from an embassy or consulate in Malaysia of the specific Schengen country the traveller wishes to visit.
It is necessary to make an appointment at the relevant embassy or consulate, and bring a range of documents, including:
- A valid Malaysian passport containing at least 2 blank pages
- A completed visa for Malaysians application form
- A recent photograph of the traveller, passport-sized and taken against a white background
- Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the stay in Europe
- Travel insurance which covers medical care in the Schengen Area
- Round trip flight tickets, or tickets to an onward destination
- Any accommodation bookings the traveller has made for their stay
The length of validity a Schengen Europe visa for a Malaysian citizen is determined on an individual basis. It may be issued as a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa.
MALAYSIAN VISA WAIVER BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH EU COUNTRIES
Malaysia has visa waiver bilateral agreements in place with several European countries, which allow Malaysians to extend their stay in Europe for more than the initial 90 days permitted via ETIAS. Find below a detailed list and explanation of how these arrangements for Malaysia work.
Travellers holding any type of Malaysian valid passport can enter visa-free for up to 3 extra months to the following European nations:
- Denmark
- Italy (90 days)
- The Netherlands (90 days)
- Austria
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Norway
- Switzerland
The below countries only allow Malaysian citizens in possession of an ordinary passport to benefit from the visa waiver bilateral agreement:
- Czech Republic (90 days)
- Greece (30 days)
- Slovakia (3 months)
- Sweden (3 months)
Malaysians holding the below types of passports can visit Hungary without a visa for up to 90 extra days:
- Ordinary
- Diplomatic
- Service
- Official
These agreements are the result of diplomatic negotiations between the individual countries and the government of Malaysia. It means that each reciprocal agreement has its own conditions and only applies to the state it was signed with.
Important: Malaysians wishing to travel visa-free to one of the Schengen countries thanks to a bilateral agreement will have to leave the Schengen Area only through that country and are not allowed to leave its national territory during the application of this accord.
Should Malaysians wish to visit more than one Schengen country in one trip, they will need to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver.
Please note these visa waiver reciprocal arrangements may vary according to new, updated agreements between Malaysia and the specific EU country.
ETIAS FROM MALAYSIA FOR SHORT STAYS IN SCHENGEN
The ETIAS Europe visa waiver is a multiple entry travel authorisation which permits Malaysians to travel freely between countries around the Schengen zone. It will allow multiple short stays of 90 days within every 180-day period, and is valid for 3 years from the moment of approval, or until the ETIAS holder’s passport expires. It is therefore not necessary to apply for ETIAS before every trip to the Schengen zone.
ETIAS authorities recommend that Malaysia citizens apply for the Europe visa waiver at least 72 hours (3 days) before the intended date of entry to the Schengen Area in order to allow sufficient processing time for the ETIAS to be approved. In some cases, additional information may be requested from the applicant before an approved ETIAS can be granted.
Travellers should be aware it is possible for a Malaysia to Europe visa waiver to be revoked if the conditions for issuing the travel authorization are no longer met. This is most likely to be in cases where authorities believe the ETIAS was obtained by providing misleading or fraudulent information.
It is also important to note that the Schengen visa waiver for Malaysians does not guarantee entry to Schengen countries: it grants holders permission to travel to Europe. The final decision for entry will be made by immigration officials at the border, and supporting documents may be required to guarantee entry, including:
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover the stay in the Schengen Area
- Proof of travel insurance with medical cover
- Return flight tickets/tickets to an onward destination
ETIAS for Malaysians - FAQ
Are Malaysian Nationals Required to Obtain a Visa for Europe? Toggle faqs
Citizens with Malaysian citizenship are not required to apply for a visa to travel to Europe’s Schengen member countries. Malaysian nationals are able to travel to Europe for short term stays visa-free.
However, citizens with a valid Malaysian passport who wish to travel to any of the countries in the Schengen Area will be able to apply for ETIAS. ETIAS is a visa waiver or electronic travel authorization that will grant entry for up to 90 days in the region.
ETIAS will also be required to visit Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, which are EU countries in the process of joining the Schengen Area.
The ETIAS visa waiver can be quickly obtained through an online application. Malaysian citizens should have a valid passport at the moment of application.
Are Malaysian Citizens Allowed to Work in Europe with a valid ETIAS? Toggle faqs
No. The ETIAS travel authorisation grants holders short-term stays in the Schengen Zone. Malaysian citizens who wish to work in Europe must obtain a valid work visa. The ETIAS can be used for tourism, business, and transit purposes, but it does not grant the holder the right to hold a job in Europe.
To be able to work in Europe, Malaysian nationals must go to the embassy or consulate of the European country where they wish to work and meet all of the respective requirements. Unlike the ETIAS, which is valid to visit all Schengen nations, a work visa for a specific country might not be valid to work in another European country. In other words, each country in Europe has specific policies and requisites when it comes to applying for a work visa.
ETIAS can be used for business purposes, but that does not mean that ETIAS holders are allowed to work in Europe.
Can Malaysian Citizens Study in Europe with ETIAS? Toggle faqs
Yes, Malaysian citizens can study in Europe for up to 90 days with a valid ETIAS.
If Malaysian nationals would like to study for longer than 90 days in Europe, it is advised to check with the embassy or consulate of the country where they wish to further their education. In most cases, a student first needs to be admitted into a school or university before they can apply for a student visa.
Among the requirements for a student visa, it is generally necessary to complete an official student visa form, have a letter of invitation from the school or university, proof of financial means for the length of the stay, and medical insurance. It is best to make an appointment with the embassy or consulate to gather all the necessary documents.