Visa, A to ZThe Student Pass, step by step.
Malaysia runs student immigration through EMGS — Education Malaysia Global Services. Your institution files on your behalf, which is why Malaysia is the easiest student visa we model. Here is the whole sequence.
- Pass type
- Student Pass
- Processing
- 4 weeks
- Indicative fee
- $350
- Difficulty
- 1 / 5
The sequence
Your institution drives steps 1–2. You drive the rest.
- 1
Accept an offer from an approved institution
Institution applies via EMGS.
- 2
EMGS application & VAL
Visa Approval Letter issued.
- 3
Medical screening
Pre- and post-arrival checks.
- 4
Enter Malaysia with the VAL
Single-entry visa where required.
- 5
Endorsement of Student Pass
Pass endorsed after arrival.
What you'll need
Upload these to your WayToAlpha document vault and your agent can file the moment your offer lands.
- Valid passport
- Offer letter
- EMGS / VAL approval
- Health screening
- Academic certificates
- Passport photos
Bringing your family
Your Student Pass covers you alone. A spouse, child or parent travelling with you needs a separate Dependant Pass, filed through EMGS by your institution — and the eligibility rules catch a lot of people out.
Who qualifies
- Immediate family only — spouse, children and parents.
- Every postgraduate student may apply, from any country.
- Undergraduates only from a restricted list of nationalities.
- You must already hold your own Student Pass before filing.
The traps
- Certificate and Diploma students cannot bring dependants at all.
- A child aged 7 or over must be enrolled in school — that needs its own approval.
- A child aged 18 or over cannot study on a Dependant Pass; they need their own Student Pass.
- Fly your family in only after approval — arriving early can force a costly exit and re-entry.
Documents, on top of your own
- Dependant's passport (full scan)
- Your passport and valid Student Pass
- Marriage certificate — for a spouse
- Birth certificate — for each child
- Passport-size photograph per dependant
- Proof of funds / bank statements
Dependant Pass fees are set by EMGS and the Immigration Department and change without notice, so we don't quote a figure here — confirm the current amount on the EMGS portal before you pay. Your institution files the application; your WayToAlpha agent can assemble the paperwork alongside your own.
Schooling for dependant childrenOfficial sources
Always check the government portal for the current fee and processing time before you file. Our record was last reviewed 29 Jun 2026.