Student visa guide

Your EMGS student pass application, step by step.

Every international student at a Malaysian university or college applies through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). Here is the order things happen in, who does each part, and where most delays come from.

Get free guidance

We guide your documents. Immigration decides your visa.

Guidance in your language

한국어
中文
日本語
Bahasa Indonesia
English

At a glance

14 working days: EMGS client charter for a complete application
6 months: How long your eVAL is valid after it is issued
7 working days: To complete medical screening after you arrive
Up to 1 year: Usual validity of each student pass

Source: EMGS. Checked 3 November 2026.

The short answer

Accept your offer, apply through EMGS, wait for your eVAL, then travel.

Your pass is put into your passport only after you arrive and pass medical screening. You cannot enter Malaysia while the eVAL is still being processed.

The official sequence

Seven steps, from offer letter to student pass.

This is the order EMGS describes for students entering higher education. Your institution’s international office is involved in every step.

See the documents checklist

Accept your offer

Your university or college sends an offer letter. The visa application can only start after you accept it. Check that your name and date of birth match your passport exactly.

Submit online

You apply on the EMGS website or the EMGS HUB app, or your institution applies for you through its STARS system. Ask which route your institution uses, so you don’t submit twice.

Screening and document checks

EMGS reviews your academic documents and checks the application is complete. This is where missing passport pages or unclear scans cause the most delays.

Your eVAL is issued

The Immigration Department issues an electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL). It is valid for six months from the date it is issued.

Travel to Malaysia

Students from some countries also need a single-entry visa (SEV) before travel. EMGS publishes the list of countries.

Medical screening

Within 7 working days of arriving, complete your screening at an EMGS panel clinic. Some public universities use their own clinic. What to expect.

Pass endorsed in your passport

EMGS then arranges for your student pass to be put into your passport. Without the screening, EMGS cannot start this step.

Who does what

You, your institution and EMGS each have a part.

Knowing who owns each step saves a lot of waiting and emailing.

You (or your family)

Accept the offer and answer the institution’s requests quickly
Prepare clear scans of every document EMGS lists
Keep your passport valid long enough (EMGS asks for 18 months or more for new applications)
Book travel only after your eVAL arrives
Attend medical screening within 7 working days of arriving

Your institution and EMGS

The institution may submit the application for you through STARS
EMGS screens documents and passes the case to Immigration
Immigration issues the eVAL and, later, the student pass
EMGS shows the status on its Track My Application page

Arriving at KLIA

Your first stop is the ISAC counter, before immigration.

EMGS runs International Student Arrival Centre (ISAC) counters at KLIA Terminal 1 (Level 3 arrival hall) and Terminal 2 (Level 3A). They are open 24 hours.

Have these in your hand luggage

Your passport
A printed copy of your eVAL
Your single-entry visa, if your nationality needs one
Your offer letter and the institution’s contact details

In your first week

Register with your institution
Complete medical screening within 7 working days
Hand your passport in for the pass endorsement when asked
Keep copies of everything you hand over

Want someone to meet you at the airport and help with the first week? That is part of our paid arrival & settlement packages. Visa-processing guidance itself is free for families.

Clear expectations

What we can help with, and what we can’t.

We help you

Check your documents against the current EMGS list for your nationality
Work with your institution on submission and follow-up
Plan travel around your eVAL and entry visa
Prepare for arrival and medical screening

Good to know

EMGS and the Immigration Department decide every application
No agent can guarantee a visa or speed up processing
EMGS, visa and insurance fees are paid separately

Questions

About the EMGS application.

Answers based on EMGS guidance. Your case may differ.

Ask us your question

Who submits the student pass application: me or my university?

Either. After you accept your offer, you can apply online through the EMGS website or the EMGS HUB app, or your institution can submit for you through its STARS system. Ask your institution's international office which route it uses before you start, so the application is not submitted twice.

How long does EMGS take to process an application?

EMGS's client charter is 14 working days for a complete application. Missing or unclear documents restart the clock, so a complete first submission is the fastest route.

Can I fly to Malaysia while my application is still being processed?

No. EMGS says entering Malaysia while the eVAL is still being processed is not permitted. Wait for your eVAL (and a single-entry visa, if your nationality needs one) before you book a non-refundable flight.

How long is the eVAL valid?

Six months from the date it is issued. You need to enter Malaysia within that time.

How do I check the status of my application?

EMGS has a Track My Application page on its visa website. You enter your travel document (passport) number and nationality. Your institution can also see the status in STARS.

Where do I go when I land at KLIA?

To the International Student Arrival Centre (ISAC) counter, before the immigration gate. EMGS lists ISAC counters at KLIA Terminal 1 (Level 3 arrival hall) and Terminal 2 (Level 3A), open 24 hours.

Student visa & arrival