fbpx
Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
11th Aug 2020

Malaysia: New international enrolments on hold with strict protocols for returning students

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • Malaysia is not allowing new international students into the country until further notice
  • Returning students with valid study visas, or visas that have expired since 1 February 2020, will be allowed into the country to resume their studies at public and private higher learning institutions
  • These returning students will have to meet several conditions including a 14-day quarantine at their own expense

In updated guidance released on 29 July, Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), an agency of Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education,  has announced that the country will not be accepting new international students “until further notice” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while the entry of new international students is on hold, students outside Malaysia with valid study visas and those whose visas have expired since 1 February 2020 will be able to enter Malaysia to continue their studies.

Students in the latter two groups must be registered with EMGS and need to obtain a travel authorisation to enter Malaysia from the Director General of the Malaysian Immigration Department. Once they have this, they must (1) download and complete a Letter of Undertaking and Indemnity for Person Under Surveillance, and (2) obtain a Letter of Approval (Entry Permit) from an accredited Malaysian mission abroad.

In addition, returning students have to follow several safety procedures in order to be allowed into Malaysia to study, and they must also assume the financial cost attached to each:

  • A COVID-19 detection screening test upon arrival;
  • A 14-day quarantine at a location determined by the higher education institution they will be attending;
  • An antibody test on the 13th day of the quarantine period.

While returning students are not required by the Malaysian government to undergo a pre-arrival COVID-19 screening test before they depart their countries, EMGS advises that they should check with their airline about any requirements the airline may have around COVID-19 screening tests before they leave. And again, students should know that they will have to pay to take a mandatory screening test upon arrival in Malaysia.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad has said that roughly 11,000 foreign students, mostly from Pakistan, Thailand and Indonesia – have applied to return to Malaysia to continue their studies. In addition, Malaysia’s higher education institutions have received over 9,000 applications from prospective international students hoping to begin studies in January and February of 2021.

For detailed protocols and guidance for both new and returning students, please see the EMGS website for the latest updates.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • ICEF Podcast: Live from NAFSA 2025 Read More
  • Irish ELT sector sounds note of “cautious stability” for 2024 Read More
  • US ELT numbers moving toward pre-pandemic norms Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

ICEF Podcast: Live from NAFSA 2025 Listen in as ICEF’s Craig Riggs and Martijn van de Veen recap a busy week at the annual...
Read more
Irish ELT sector sounds note of “cautious stability” for 2024 After a year of very strong growth in 2023, Ireland’s English Language Teaching (ELT) sector is reporting remarkably...
Read more
US ELT numbers moving toward pre-pandemic norms If you look at English Language Teaching (ELT) numbers in the United States year-over-year, it is easy to...
Read more
Sector and students shocked as US State Department says it will “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students” On 28 May 2025, a late-afternoon statement from the US State Department came as the latest shock for...
Read more
International student interest in US falls to pandemic-era low After months of announcements, immigration enforcement actions, and confusion around US policies for international students – as well...
Read more
Trump administration orders a pause on new student visa interviews Journalists at Politico have obtained a US State Department cable sent to all US diplomatic posts on 27...
Read more
Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling international students; judge promptly issues restraining order to prevent the move Updated for 23 May 2025: The US government has suspended Harvard University’s ability to enrol foreign students, effective...
Read more
Plans afoot to stimulate UK–EU student mobility under new terms The UK government has opened negotiations with the European Union to restart a youth mobility scheme to and...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links