How to apply for Indian visa for Malaysians - 2023 travel guide
Here's how to apply for an Indian Visa for Malaysians including the application process, Indian visa fees and e-visas in Malaysia
Travelling to India from Malaysia? Here’s all you need to know
If you’re a Malaysian planning to travel to India from Malaysia - or an Indian resident in Malaysia and about to return home - there are a few important rules and requirements you’ll need to know about.
This guide walks through the options for an India visa for Malaysian citizens, and also covers the INR import limits which dictate how much cash you can take into the country1. Plus, we’ll highlight Wise as a great solution for spending in rupees with the mid-market rate - perfect if you’re looking for alternatives to carrying INR in cash for your trip.
| Table of contents |
|---|
Updated India entry requirements from Malaysia
Firstly let’s take a look at the India entry requirements relating to covid.
While India opened its borders some time ago, there were still some covid based rules in place, including random testing of passengers arriving. This rule was dropped in July 20232, meaning that at the time of writing (7th January 2024), there are no remaining covid restrictions placed on people travelling to India. Vaccination proof, PCR test, and quarantine are no longer required. Naturally, you should be cautious and avoid travel if you’re unwell, masks are still recommended, and you’ll want to have good medical insurance in place before travelling as a precaution.
Malaysians will require a Visa to enter India - the exact visa you can apply for will depend on the purpose of your travel3. If you’re heading to India as a short term tourist, you may be eligible to apply for an e-visa - which we’ll look into in more detail next. If not, there are other visa options covering work, study and a whole range of other visit types. See a full description and overview of your options on the Visa FAQs page of the Indian High Commission in Malaysia4.
For up to date information on both visa options and any other health based entry requirements, be sure to double check the High Commission of India in Malaysia website before you travel.
How can I apply for a tourist e-visa?
If you’re eligible, the easiest way to apply for a visa to travel to India from Malaysia is to look at the e-visa for India. E-visas can be applied for online, and there’s a range of options available depending on the reasons you’re travelling and how long you’ll stay in India.
Generally, an e-visa might be your best option if you're travelling as a tourist, to visit family or friends, or to attend a business meeting5. Bear in mind that this visa type is not intended for people moving to India to take up employment.
E-visa processing time and requirements
E-visa processing time can vary, so you’re advised to apply at least 4 days before travel. Applications can be made up to 120 days before you want to leave - so getting your application in early can bring peace of mind, and reduce last minute hassle.
To apply you’ll need a passport photo which complies with Indian visa standards, your passport, and one or more supporting documents based on your reason for travel. The exact documents needed can vary, but you can check them out on the Indian e-visa for Malaysians webpage, provided by the official visa partner of the Indian government, IVS5.
There’s a fee to pay for your e-visa - exactly what you pay depends on the type and length of your visa's validity. To give you an idea, a tourist e-visa for one year will cost 464.56 MYR6, payable by card at the point you apply.
Learn more: How to apply for an Indian visa for Malaysians
| 💡 Travelling from Malaysia to India soon? Learn about how the Wise Account can helps to maximise your Indian rupee transactions. |
|---|
Flying to India from Malaysia
You’ve got a lot of options for getting from Malaysia to India. Direct flights to India leave from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to major Indian cities like New Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM) and Chennai (MAA) - in fact, Malaysia Airlines alone currently offers 9 different routes to major hubs in India.
Flight time to India from Malaysia ranges from 3h 45 mins to 5h 40 mins, depending on where you’re heading - and once you’re in India, you’ll be able to connect to other cities through train, bus, or domestic flights easily.
What can I bring into India?
When you arrive in India, you’ll need to pass through customs and declare whether or not you have any goods which may be restricted or which may require you to pay additional taxes or duties. While customs rules globally are usually fairly similar, it’s important to check out the details - in particular tax-free exemption rules, which can be found in the baggage rules for entering India7.
One other important note is that you cannot import INR in cash above 25,000 INR (around 1390 MYR at the time of writing)1. That means that carrying cash is not likely to be your best option when travelling to India. Instead, consider opening a Wise account and taking your Wise card along for ATM withdrawals as and when you need cash. You’ll find ATMs plentiful in Indian cities - and you could save, too, with mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees. More on that next.
Get better rates for rupees when exchanging your ringgit with Wise
Before you travel to India - or anywhere else in the world for that matter - check out Wise for a smart multi-currency account you can use to hold 40+ currencies and spend in 150+ countries.
Open your Wise account online or in the Wise app for free, and order the Wise card, to spend and make cash withdrawals using the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees from 0.43%8. All you’ll need to do is top up your Wise account in MYR, to start spending in INR with either your physical or virtual Wise card.
Not convinced? See how Wise compares with other Malaysian multi-currency cards
No matter why you’re headed to India you’re sure to have a great time in one of the world’s most vibrant and fascinating countries. Use this guide to get your visa or e-visa arranged in advance, and don’t forget to check out the Wise card as a smart option for seamless spending in dozens of currencies, with the mid-market rate and low, fair, fees.
- Currency Import Limits (RBI)
- Times of India - random covid testing dropped
- Visa Services, tourist visa - High Commission of India in Malaysia
- Visa FAQs - High Commission of India in Malaysia
- Indian e-visa for Malaysians
- India e-visa for Malaysians - fees
- India customs - baggage rules
- Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
