Malaysia has scrapped its visa-on-arrival (VOA) policy, Immigration Department of Malaysia officials announced.
Visitors will now have to apply for visas at a Malaysian High Commission, embassy or consulate nearest them.
Nationals of Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka are still allowed to enter visa free but only up to five days and under certain terms and conditions. They must show a confirmed air ticket and possess valid visit visas to any of these countries: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan or the US.
They must arrive on Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia and only on confirmed group tour packages to any of the countries mentioned twinned with Malaysia. The point of entry and exit was restricted to Kuala Lumpur International Airport or the nearby Low-Cost Carrier Terminal.
Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin bin Mohd Yassin, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, said that previously they had offered the service to several nations but had increasingly noticed “that this VOA was being abused”.
Myanmar has also made it known that from September 1, 2010, it would likewise suspend issuing visas on arrival, a move, which political observers believed, was aimed at restricting the entry of the foreign press during the upcoming general elections (see news).
For more information, visit http://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/home
Alisha Haridasani
