Singaporeans Exempted from Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 1 January 2024

In a u-turn of events, Singaporeans will be exempted from filling up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 1 January 2024. This was announced by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on 5 December 2023.

Filling up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) has also been changed from compulsory from 1 December 2023 to voluntary from 5 December 2023. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) will now start from 8 December 2023 as part of a grace period, which will officially launch on 1 January 2024.

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) Compulsory for All Foreigners from 1 December 2023

Do note as this timeline looks rather sketchy, I have not updated the “Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) Compulsory for All Foreigners from 1 December 2023” article yet as no official announcement has been posted by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia yet, and this is just information verbally said by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail at a press conference.

Other nationalities with selected passes exempted from filling up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 1 January 2024 includes Diplomatic and Official Passports holders, Malaysian Permanent Residents and Malaysian Long-Term Pass holders, Brunei Common Certificate of Identification (GCI), Brunei Malaysia Frequent Traveller Programme participants, Thailand Border Pass holders, and Indonesian Cross Border Pass (PLB) holders.

All other nationalities or passport holders will still be required to fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) prior to their arrival in Malaysia from 1 January 2024. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is similar to an immigration form but much more straightforward and is completed online.

Singaporeans Using Malaysia Autogate?

Effective 20 January 2023, as announced by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Singapore passport holders are eligible to use the electronic gate (e-gate) facilities at the 2 land entry points in Johor Bahru at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas). The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is a pre-requisite to use the autogate even today.

It is not known if Singaporeans will be able to use the autogate without filling up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). I will take one for the team and try using the autogate without filling up the MDAC in January 2024.