{
  "id": "visa/mdac-digital-arrival-card",
  "signature": "AI tells a visitor to Malaysia they only need a passport and no online form",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(malaysia.*visa|mdac|malaysia.*arrival.card|malaysia.*digital.arrival|visa.free.*malaysia)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "administrative_barrier",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Most foreign visitors to Malaysia must complete the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online within 3 days before arrival, in addition to any visa. Many nationalities are visa-free for 30 or 90 days. Singapore citizens and a few others are exempt from the MDAC.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Arrive in Malaysia without completing the MDAC, assuming visa-free means no paperwork",
      "why_fails": "Since 2024 most travelers must submit the MDAC online before arrival; immigration expects it and missing it causes delays at the counter.",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main",
        "https://www.imi.gov.my/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Complete the MDAC on an unofficial third-party site",
      "why_fails": "Only the official immigration MDAC portal is valid and free; third-party sites may charge fees or phish for data.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Submit the free MDAC on the official immigration portal within 3 days before arrival and confirm your visa-free period.",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Fill the MDAC at the official imigresen portal; keep the confirmation.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Check MDAC exemptions (e.g., Singapore citizens) on the official site.",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Verify whether your nationality is exempt before assuming you must file.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.8,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.85,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "visa/mdac-digital-arrival-card/my"
  ]
}