New Delhi: The Indian high commission in Kuala Lumpur has warned Indians against travelling to Malaysia under its 30-day visa-free scheme to look for work, after observing an increase in such arrivals. In an advisory issued on Tuesday, it said agents offering false job promises were leaving some travellers exposed to exploitation, detention and immigration action.
The facility allows Indian passport holders to visit Malaysia for tourism and social purposes for up to 30 days. It does not authorize them to seek or take up employment, the high commission said, urging prospective workers to obtain the appropriate work permission and visa with reference before travelling.
The distinction matters because entry as a visitor does not become permission to work if an employer subsequently offers a job. Malaysia’s immigration department says foreign workers must enter through designated points with a visa with reference approved by the department and an entry visa issued by a Malaysian mission abroad.
According to the advisory, some Indians have been persuaded by agents to travel first and resolve the paperwork after arrival. If the promised job fails to materialize, their permitted stay can expire, putting them at risk of overstaying; accepting work without authorization can also leave them vulnerable to enforcement action.
The high commission described overstaying, irregular immigration status, exploitation, detention and legal proceedings as possible consequences. Its warning addresses both the misuse of the visitor facility and the position of people who may have relied on a recruiter’s assurances without checking the legal requirements.
Malaysia’s immigration department lists Indian citizens as exempt from visa requirements under the current arrangement until December 31, 2026. That exemption concerns entry for a short visit; the department sets out a separate approval process for foreign nationals entering for employment.
The high commission’s existing guidance advises Indians considering jobs in Malaysia to examine their employment contract, check the recruiter’s credentials and carry the required employment documents. It also warns that arriving through informal channels on a tourist or social visit pass makes workers more vulnerable to exploitation.
For genuine visitors, the new advisory calls for a confirmed return ticket, hotel booking and a passport valid for at least six months. It also asks travellers to submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within the three days before arrival, so that they can demonstrate the purpose and planned length of their visit at immigration.
The warning does not restrict ordinary tourism by Indian nationals. It makes clear, however, that anyone intending to work in Malaysia should settle their employment status and obtain the required authorization before leaving India.