VISA APPROVAL LETTER (VAL)
As of 1st April 2016, international students have to apply online for their Visa Approval Letter (VAL) through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) .
It advisable student to apply VAL minimum 6 WEEKS before your registration date.
International students who wish to study full-time at any educational institution in Malaysia must apply for a Student Pass. This is a requirement of Regulation 13 of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
- International students MUST apply and obtain the approval to study in Malaysia before entering Malaysia
- Conversion of an existing Social Pass (Tourist Visa) to Student Visa is strictly not allowed
As an international student studying in Malaysia you will be granted a student pass and visa for a year (or part of a year), depending on the country which issues your passport. You are personally responsible for the timely submission of the documents to obtain your student visa.
With effect from 1 April 2015, new application for Pre-Arrival Visa(VAL) Visa applications is managed by Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) [ http://educationmalaysia.gov.my/ ] prior of submission to Malaysia Immigration Department.
6 STEPS TO APPLY VISA APPROVAL LETTER
The VAL processing may required six weeks to eight weeks (sometimes more) before being approved by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Once student have received your conditional Offer Letter from UTM, you can start applying your Visa. Please ensure that you follow the requirement guidelines strictly to avoid delays in your visa application. UTM bears no responsibility for late submission.
STEP 1: COMPLETE YOUR DOCUMENT
The following is the list of documents required for the pre -arrival visa application process:
- 1 softcopy of passport sized photographs with WHITE background only (45mm height x 35mm wide)
- Passport details page (biodata page)*
- Passport page with Visa information*
* Your passport should be valid for a minimum duration of 18 months from the date of visa application
* Passport copies must be clear [Sample]
* Student from countries Libya, Iran, Iraq Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen required provide ALL passport pages
- UTM Offer Letter
- Academic Certificates (For academic certificates in other languages, a certified true copy of the English translation must be submitted together with the original version)
- Transcripts in English (For academic transcript in other languages, a certified true copy of the English translation must be submitted together with the original version)
- Health Status Declaration Form [DOWNLOAD]
- Letter of Eligibility / No Objection Certificate (Only for Iran and Sudan student). Contact us for document preparation.
- Credit Card transaction slip/ Telegraphic Transfer slip for UTM processing fee. Email to visa@utm.my
NOTE: Please read user guide before creating an application. Download [HERE] .
STEP 2: APPLY & PAY YOUR STUDENT VISA
Apply your student visa online through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) at https://educationmalaysia.gov.my. Read the EMGS & UTM user guide before creating an application. EMGS will invoice you once you have completed filling the online application form and please note that EMGS visa processing fee may varies according to country (range MYR1650-MYR2,200).
Student can select by Credit Card (powered ipay88) or Payment through institution (telegraphic transfer to EMGS).
Note: 1. Please, read the UTM & EMGS user guide before creating an application
2. If student has difficulties to pay using the credit card, please choose to pay through the institution and make payment by Telegraphic Transfer to EMGS. [UTM & EMGS BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER]
3. Please, email the transaction slip to visa@utm.my
STEP 3: PAY ADMINISTRATION FEE TO UTM
After submit & pay your visa application to EMGS, student need to pay UTM processing fee as follows:
Amount: MYR350 (Malaysia Ringgit: Three Hundred and Fifty Ringgit only)
UTM Online payment via [HERE]
Please select: Visa Approval Letter (VAL) Payment (UTM0195) :MYR350
Note:
- Please, email the transaction slip to visa@utm.my
- If student has difficulties to pay using the credit card, please make the payment by Telegraphic Transfer to UTM. [UTM & EMGS BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER]
STEP 4: CHECK YOUR VISA APPLICATION STATUS
You may check the status of your visa application [after one (1) week of submission] via https://educationmalaysia.gov.my.
Effective 1st January 2018, Immigration Malaysia will issue electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL) which can be download ay EMGS website (Online Visa application system). Once approved, please print the eVAL to obtain Single-Entry Visa at Malaysia Embassy/ Consulate (refer step 5).
STEP 5: APPLY SINGLE ENTRY VISA (SEV) TO MALAYSIA
After your eVAL can be downloaded, you will need to apply for the Single-Entry Visa (SEV) at the Malaysia Representative Office as stated in the eVAL. However, some countries without the Malaysia Representative Office can have the Visa on Arrival for Student (VOAS) at entry point.
NOTE: PLEASE MAKE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS NEAR TO YOUR REGISTRATION (i.e. 1-2 days before the reception date).
If you have any queries about the procedure, email to visa@utm.my or enquiry@emgs.com.my
The following documents are required for application of SEV:
-
-
- eVAL
- UTM Offer Letter (certains country may required original Offer Letter).
- Passports
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Validity of Visa Approval Letter (VAL)
Validity for VAL is 6 month from the date of approval. Student MUST apply for the Single Entry Visa (S.E.V) within 6 months from date of the Visa Approval Letter (VAL) at the nearest Malaysia Embassy/ High Commissioner of Malaysia (as stated in the approval letter).
If the students fail to obtain Single Entry Visa (SEV) from Malaysia Embassy/ High Commissioner of Malaysia within 6 months from the date of the Visa Approval Letter, student are required to apply new VAL from UTM.
Note: Students are responsible to check with the Malaysian Embassy in their country [LIST OF COUNTRIES] for visa requirements before coming to Malaysia. For example, the student may need to apply for a Single Entry Visa to enter Malaysia or apply Visa on Arrival Student (VOAS) at entry point.
SETP 6: ARRIVAL IN MALAYSIA
Upon arrival in Malaysia, please ensure that the Special Pass endorsed by the Immigration is for 30 days. Please show to immigration officer the VAL and UTM Offer Letter to them. Kindly ensure immigration officers stamps Special Pass on your passport NOT a Visit Pass. Within the 30 days period of the Special Pass, you will need to complete the following to obtain a Student Visa:
- Report to UTM International Office (Block S19 for UTM JB or Level 8, Menara Razak, UTM KL) for Medical Check-up arrangement at UTM Health Center within 5 days of arrival and your accommodation (if required).
- Do your Registration as a student at the specific location stated in the offer letter or at Student Recruitment & Admission Department (SRAD, UTM JB) / School of Graduate Studies (UTM KL) .
3. Apply for a STUDENT PASS at UTM International located at Block S.19 UTM Johor Bahru or at Level 8, Menara Razak at UTM Kuala Lumpur (refer to offer letter)
NOTE: The Immigration Officer might mistakenly stamp on passport a Visit Pass, NOT the Special Pass. Therefore, you need to check and correct them if the problem arise. For countries which doesn’t have Malaysia Representative Office, student may apply Visa on Arrival Student (VOAS) at entry point.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
- DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR FLIGHT TICKET until you have obtained the VAL & SEV approval.
- Student is advised to travel to Malaysia WITHIN the period of the registration date (as i.e,1 or 2 days before reception date). The Special Pass is given for 30 days only.
- International Students will not be allowed to register with the University if you don’t have VAL and SEV
- Students who have entered Malaysia using Social Visit Pass MUST return to their home country and apply for Single Entry Visa (SEV) at the Malaysian Representative Office
- Students changing from another institution/university WITHIN Malaysia, please contact iscjb@utm.my / isckl@utm.my for variation/progression visa processes and procedures.
- Accommodation can onlybe provided to you from the date of reception (refer to ISC website http://isc.utm.my). Students arriving after 5.00pm (Malaysia time) or during public holiday/ weekend are advised to arrange your own accommodation.
- Married students MUST enter Malaysia as a single traveler. Dependent pass can only be applied after a student’s pass is issued. Please contact iscjb@utm.my / isckl@utm.my for inquiries.
- International Student Society (ISS) is a society for international students. Please visit http://isc.utm.my/iss for updates on ISS.
REMINDER
International students are strongly advised NOT to enter Malaysia before the Visa Approval Letter (VAL) is approved by Malaysia Immigration Department
OTHERS INFORMATION:
a. Postponing Your Registration
Please take note, it could take four to eight weeks for Malaysian Immigration to approve your Visa application. If you don’t obtain approval in time to begin your studies, you should postpone them to the following semester, unless you are transferring from another Malaysian Universities/ Institution (variation/progression).
b. Overstay
Overstaying is an offence in Malaysian Law. Immigration will impose a penalty ranging from RM1,000 – RM5,000 depending on the duration of your overstay. You may be blacklisted and deported back to your home country. You can be prohibited to enter Malaysia for a period of time. You may even be imprisoned. UTM will also impose a daily penalty charge for overstayed students.
c. Student Pass Cancellation
After graduation, leaving Malaysia without cancelling your student pass will result in the forfeiture of your Personal Bond deposit by Immigration Malaysia and can cause consequences if student decides to apply to another University or progression within Malaysia.