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Student visa guide

Your student visa documents, checked once.

Most delays in a Malaysian student pass application come from paperwork: a missing passport page, a photo with the wrong background, a passport that expires too soon. Use this list before anything is submitted.

Get your documents checked

Free for families. Based on the EMGS list, checked 3 November 2026.

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Rules that trip people up

18 months+
Passport validity EMGS asks for on a new application
35 × 45 mm
Photo size, on a white background
Every stamp
Scan every passport page with a visa or stamp
12 months
Recommended passport validity for a renewal

Source: EMGS required documents.

New application

What every new student prepares.

Your institution may ask you for these if it submits the application for you through STARS.

Identity and offer

  • One passport photo: white background, 35 × 45 mm
  • Passport bio-data page, plus every page with a visa or stamp
  • A passport valid for 18 months or more
  • Your offer letter from the institution
  • The Health Declaration Form

Study records

  • Academic certificates and transcripts
  • An English test certificate, such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or MUET
  • The personal bond, arranged through your institution (the amount depends on your nationality)

Depends on your nationality

Extra documents some students need.

EMGS keeps separate lists for these. We check the current version for your country before you submit.

01

Every passport page

Nationals of certain countries scan the whole passport, blank pages included.

02

A letter from your embassy or authorities

EMGS asks certain nationalities for a letter of eligibility or a no-objection letter.

03

Yellow fever vaccination card

For students coming from countries EMGS treats as high-risk.

04

A single-entry visa (SEV)

Some nationalities also need an SEV before travel, after the eVAL is issued.

05

Studying in Sarawak

Sarawak has its own immigration rules, so institutions there have extra steps.

Renewing later

Renewal needs a shorter list, and your study record.

Each pass is usually issued for up to one year, so most students renew. Read the renewal guide.

For a renewal

  • A new photo (white background, 35 × 45 mm)
  • Passport bio page and visa pages; at least 12 months’ validity is recommended
  • Your academic transcripts
  • Insurance that covers the new pass period

What EMGS looks at

  • A CGPA of at least 2.0
  • Overall attendance of at least 80%
  • If either is lower, your institution submits an explanation letter

Before you upload

Five checks that prevent most delays.

  1. Names match

    Your name and date of birth are spelled the same on your passport, offer letter and certificates.

  2. Passport dates

    The passport is valid for 18 months or more on the day you apply.

  3. Every stamped page

    No visa or stamp page is missing from the scan.

  4. Readable scans

    Colour, flat, uncropped and easy to read, including seals and signatures.

  5. The current list

    Lists change. Check the EMGS page for your nationality on the day you submit.

Questions

About visa documents.

Answers based on EMGS guidance. Your case may differ.

Ask us your question
How long must my passport be valid for a Malaysian student visa?

For a new application, EMGS asks for a passport valid for 18 months or more. For a renewal, EMGS recommends at least 12 months. If your passport expires sooner, renew it before you apply.

Which passport pages do I need to scan?

The bio-data page and every page with a visa or stamp. Nationals of some countries must send every page of the passport, including blank ones. EMGS lists which nationalities this applies to.

Which English tests does EMGS accept?

The EMGS document list includes English test certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and MUET. Your institution sets the score it needs for your program, so check the offer conditions as well.

What is the personal bond?

A bond paid through your institution as part of the student pass process. The amount depends on your nationality; EMGS publishes the rates in a document linked from its required-documents page. Ask your institution how it collects it.

Do my documents need to be translated?

Ask your institution which languages it accepts and whether it needs certified translations; requirements differ between institutions. We can help coordinate translations and notarisation where they are needed.

Student visa & arrival

More student visa guides

Malaysia student visa guide

The full overview: steps, documents, costs and what FPM helps with.

Read the guide

EMGS student pass application, step by step

From accepted offer to the pass in your passport, and who does what at each step.

Read the guide

EMGS medical screening: what to expect

The 7-working-day deadline, panel clinics, fees and what happens after.

Read the guide

How to renew a student pass in Malaysia

When to start, what EMGS checks, the documents and the fees.

Read the guide

Student accommodation in Kuala Lumpur

Campus housing, rented rooms and what to check before you pay a deposit.

Read the guide

Official sources

Last checked 3 November 2026. Requirements differ by nationality and can change without notice. FPM Education is not EMGS or the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Your next step

Have your documents checked before you submit.

Send us your nationality, institution and intake. We’ll compare your documents with the current EMGS list.

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