KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is set to introduce changes to its Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) policy from September 1, 2026, with the facility no longer available to all nationalities.
Under the revised policy, Multiple Entry Visas will be restricted to 31 eligible nationalities and will only be available for specific purposes.
The eligible categories will include “Fly & Cruise travel, business activities, medical treatment and wedding tourism”.
The policy change means applicants who do not fall within the designated nationalities or approved travel purposes will no longer be able to obtain a Multiple Entry Visa under the new arrangements.
The revised rules will take effect from September 1, 2026.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has introduced an automated photo validation system for eVISA applications submitted under the Visa with Reference (VDR) category through the MyVISA Portal.
The new feature took effect on July 1, 2026, requiring photographs uploaded through the official visa portal to undergo an automated check against Malaysia’s visa photo specifications.
Applicants must submit photographs with either a white or blue background. The background must be plain and even, without gradients, patterns, textures or other objects.
Photographs containing shadows or reflections on the background are also not permitted under the requirements.
If a submitted photograph does not pass the automated validation, the application must be referred to the relevant VDR Issuing Office.
The updated photo validation requirement applies specifically to VDR-category eVISA applications submitted through the MyVISA Portal.
