How to apply for India visa for Malaysians - 2024 guide

India offers fantastic tourist experiences and adventures - and as a rapidly growing economy is also a popular destination to work or study. But what about the requirements for an India visa or India e visa for Malaysian citizens? Is it necessary to have a visa to go for a beach break in Goa, or for a business trip to Bangalore?

This guide covers all you need to know about getting an India e visa, or a standard visa to India from Malaysia: price, process, requirements - and when it’s necessary. We’ll also introduce the Wise card as a simple way to add money in MYR and pay conveniently in INR with the mid-market rate¹ while you’re in India.

Do Malaysians need a visa to India

Let’s start with the basics: Is an Indian visa for Malaysian citizens even required?

Generally, you’ll need a visa to enter India. But the good news is that Malaysian passport holders are eligible for a fairly straightforward visa process that can be completed entirely online in many situations. You can apply under the e-visa program for any of the following:

• E-Tourist Visa
• E-Business Visa
• E-Medical Visa
• E-Medical Attendant Visa (issued for people accompanying e-medical visa holders)
• E-Conference Visa

We’ll look at one of the most popular in more detail next - the e-visa for Malaysians entering India for tourism.

As always with immigration, the processes and requirements can be complicated and heavily based on your personal situation and circumstances. Requirements also change over time, so you’ll want to double check all the eligibility and rules before you apply for your visa for India so you know exactly what’s needed.

India e visa for Malaysian tourist visitors

Indian visas in Malaysia are administered by a third party company called IVS Global² which has been approved by the Indian authorities.

E-Visas for tourists cover recreation, sightseeing and casual visits to family and friends. They’re not intended for business purposes, or for people seeking medical treatment - different e-visas are available for these scenarios.

You can apply for an e-visa for tourism from 120 days before you plan to travel up to 4 days before travel - although applying in good time is usually the best idea. You’ll need the following³:

• An image of your passport personal detail page
• Recent passport photos, which conforms to Indian immigration requirements
• You may be asked to prove you have sufficient funds for your stay and your onward travel plans

Your passport must have at least 6 months validity, and 2 blank pages. You may be asked to upload more documents depending on your specific plans. If your visa is approved it may be valid for up to a year, and may offer multiple entry (this may be capped at 3 entries per year) via eligible points of entry into India. All the details and conditions of your visa will be confirmed at the point of issue.

Employment visa to India from Malaysia

If you’re planning on working in India, you’ll need both a job offer and a visa first. Indian work visas are usually only issued where suitable experienced employees aren’t available from the local talent pool. You’ll need to have a full suite of paperwork and attend a meeting in person to complete biometric identity processes. The documents needed include⁴:

• Completed and signed application form
• Your passport, which must be valid for a minimum of 180 days with at least two blank pages
• Educational certificates showing suitability for the job
• Two recent photographs which meet Indian visa requirements
• Letter of Invitation from an Indian company
• Copy of Employment Contract
• Letter of Undertaking by the Indian Company about the code of conduct of the employee
• Proof of registration and Certificate of Incorporation of the company in India

Once you’ve completed your application and gathered all the documents needed you’ll have to schedule an appointment to attend an IVS centre.

Indian visa application Malaysia: how and where to apply

Generally, all Indian visa applications start online. If you’re applying for an e-visa you can complete the entire process digitally without needing to attend any in person meeting. If you’re applying for a work visa - or if you’re not eligible for an e-visa - you’ll have to attend a meeting to hand over your documents. If you need to complete an in-person step to apply for your Indian visa from Malaysia, this is what you'll need to do⁵:

1. Check your eligibility for the visa and gather all the documents needed
2. Complete the online application for your specific visa type
3. Confirm the India Visa Service Centre (VSC) where you’ll complete your application
4. You’ll get a reference number when your application is completed
5. Print out the application form
6. Set an appointment at your preferred VSC to hand over your documents and the signed application form
7. Once you’ve completed your biometric appointment, your visa will be submitted for consideration and you’ll be sent the outcome of your application

You can arrange your in person meeting at the India Visa Service Centre (VSC) at Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, or Penang⁶, depending on where in Malaysia you’re based.

What is the India visa photo size for application?

If you’re required to submit a photo for your India e visa or visa, you must make sure you have the right size. If not your application may be rejected.

The standard India visa photo size is 2” by 2”, on a white background. If you’re applying for an e visa for India from Malaysia, you’ll need to submit a digital photo instead. In this case, the following rules apply:

• Photo must be in JPEG format
• File size can be from 10 KB to 1 MB
• Photograph must be 360 x 360 pixels in size
• You must show your full face, without spectacles
• Photo background should be light coloured or white
• No shadows on the face or on the background
• Photo must not have any borders

As photo requirements can be very strict it’s worth looking over the specific details for your visa category before you apply.

Indian visa fees

Our final, important stop: the India visa for Malaysians price structure, and the e visa India fees. The fee you pay for your Indian visa application can vary a lot depending on the visa type. You’ll also need to bear in mind that there may be extra costs, such as having documents translated or certified. These fees can vary based on your specific situation and your nationality - you’ll be advised on what’s needed by VFS. Visa fees must be paid by credit or debit card.

Here’s a look at some of the fees for the most common types of Indian visas for Malaysians⁷:

• Tourist visa for up to 1 year - 472 MYR
• Business visa for up to 1 year - 567 MYR
• Student visa for the duration of the course, or 5 years, whichever is greater- 378 MYR

You may find that an additional 2.5% card payment fee is added to the basic cost of your visa at the point of payment.

What are the India e visa fees?

The fees for your India e visa depend on the type of visa you select, and the duration. Fees vary from around 472 MYR for a one year tourist e visa, to 567 for a business e visa. You can also select a visa with a longer duration for many visa classes - which comes with a higher fee.

Travelling to India? Save money on MYR to INR rates with the Wise card

Whether you’re heading to India for a short trip to soak up the culture, to study or to work, you’ll need a way to manage your money across MYR and INR conveniently and with low fees. Meet the Wise card.

Using a Wise card means you don’t have to worry about using a money changer in the airport, and you don’t have to waste your precious time seeking out exchange services on arrival. Just add MYR to your card’s digital account before you travel, and spend in INR as easily as you would at home. You’ll be able to make cash withdrawals and tap to pay where contactless payments are supported - and your card will convert your balance from MYR to INR using the mid-market rate, with low fees from 0.33%. You can top up and manage your account from your phone and you’ll also be shown transparently every time how much the conversion cost.

The Wise account can also help you do more with your money, with the option to hold and exchange over 40 currencies, send payments to 160+ countries, and get local account details for 19 currencies to receive payments from abroad. There’s no fee to open your Wise account, no minimum balance and no ongoing fees.

Use this guide to get all set up for your trip to India. And don’t forget to check out the Wise card, to see how much you could save with Wise today.

Order your Wise card today! 💳