Study in Malaysia from Nepal and India

Malaysia student visa at a glance

Visa fee

MYR 1,600

Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

No fixed amount

Work in term

See guide

Work during study

Source: imi.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

See guide

Graduate Pass

Source: imi.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in Malaysia you apply for the Student Pass. The main visa fee is MYR 1,600. No fixed funds amount is published; you show enough to cover your study and living costs.

How much does it cost to study in Malaysia?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the Malaysia student visa?

How to apply

Apply online through EMGS while outside Malaysia; EMGS checks academic eligibility, the Immigration Department approves the eVAL, and your institution gets the pass endorsed after you arrive. Source: imi.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Documents

Offer letter, passport copy (all visa pages), academic certificates and transcripts, health declaration form, English certificate, photo and personal bond; yellow-fever card if you come from a high-risk country. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Passport validity

At least 18 months. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

English

Attach an English certificate (MUET, IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Essentials, PTE Academic, Cambridge English, OET or ELS); without it processing may be delayed and the pass may not cover the full course. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Personal bond

RM750 for Indian and Nepali students, lodged through your institution and refunded when you finish if you have not broken immigration law. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Health insurance

Compulsory, bought locally and meeting the Ministry of Higher Education minimum; EMGS packages cost RM456–958 a year. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Medical screening

At an EMGS panel clinic within 7 working days of arrival; EMGS cannot start pass endorsement without it. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Processing

EMGS client charter: 14 working days for a complete application; the eVAL is valid for 6 months. Source: educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Family members

Master's and PhD students can bring dependants; undergraduates only if they hold one of a short list of nationalities (India and Nepal are not on it). Source: educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Accreditation check

Check your programme on the Malaysian Qualifications Register; it lists only accredited programmes, and accreditation applies only at the listed delivery location. Source: mqa.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in Malaysia?

Work during study

Up to 20 hours a week only during semester breaks or festive holidays, with prior Immigration approval applied for through your institution. Source: imi.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Where you can work

Restaurants, petrol kiosks, mini markets, hotels and campus; not as cashier, front desk, singer, masseur, musician or guest relations officer. Language and skills-centre students cannot work. Source: educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

Graduate Pass

A 12-month Social Visit Pass (not extendable) after a bachelor's degree or higher from a Malaysian university, allowing part-time work in permitted sectors; open to 32 nationalities only. Source: imi.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Graduate Pass requirements

Apply while your Student Pass is valid, with a completion letter, 12-month insurance and a personal bond with a Malaysian sponsor earning at least RM1,500 a month. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

Graduate Pass fees

EMGS processing RM900 plus RM600 pass fee and the Multiple Entry Visa fee. Source: visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in Malaysia?

Compare universities across countries

What do international students study in Malaysia?

The most-studied fields, from official enrolment statistics. No official breakdown for Nepali or Indian students is published, so these figures cover international students.

What has changed recently?

1. 1 Jul 2025

   EMGS new-application processing fee realigned to RM1,600 (renewal RM250) for public and private universities — the first change since February 2013. Source: educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 9 Jun 2025

   Graduate Pass extended to all ASEAN countries. Source: educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

3. 1 Jul 2026

   RM80 processing fee removed for mobility/edutourism courses under 3 months, until 31 December 2027. Source: educationmalaysia.gov.my (opens the official website in a new tab)

4. 4 Apr 2025

   India: UGC regulations on equivalence of foreign qualifications came into force (branch-campus and franchise rules). Source: ugc.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Whether Indian students still need a separate Single Entry Visa given the visit-visa waiver — follow the instructions in your eVAL.
• The student Single Entry Visa fee for Nepali and Indian passports (the Kathmandu embassy lists RM20 + RM105 only for social visas).
• Whether you may work during term: the Immigration Department’s English page says "during their study period", but its Malay page and EMGS say semester breaks only — ask your institution before taking a job.
• The current personal bond amount — confirm with EMGS or your institution.
• How much money to show, tuition and living costs — Malaysia publishes no official figure; ask your institution.
• Nepal: how much foreign exchange you can take for study in Malaysia — check with Nepal Rastra Bank or your bank.

Official sources for Malaysia

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1Immigration Department of Malaysia – Student Pass (EN)immigration_authority · Student Pass rules, RM60 fee, dependants
2. 2Immigration Department of Malaysia – Pas Pelajar (BM)work_rules · Part-time work: 20 hrs/week in semester/festive breaks
3. 3EMGS student visa portalstudent_visa_main · Apply/track student visa, guidelines
4. 4EMGS – Required documentsdocuments · Documents, English tests, 18-month passport
5. 5EMGS Schedule of Fees v1.6fee_page · All EMGS/Immigration fees (updated 13 Nov 2025)
6. 6EMGS fee calculatorfee_page · Fee estimate, 8% service tax
7. 7EMGS – Realignment of EMGS processing feesfee_change · RM1,600 new / RM250 renewal from 1 Jul 2025
8. 8EMGS Personal Bond Requirements v1.2bond · Bond RM750 India/Nepal
9. 9Immigration – Personal bond rates v3bond · Bond RM750 India/Nepal
10. 10EMGS Multiple Entry Visa fee table v1.3fee_page · MEV India RM50, others RM20
11. 11EMGS – SEV required countriesentry_visa · India and Nepal need Single Entry Visa
12. 12EMGS – Medical screeningmedical · Post-arrival screening within 7 working days
13. 13EMGS – Insurance (2026)insurance · Compulsory local insurance, plans
14. 14EMGS FAQfaq · Processing 14 working days, eVAL validity, work, dependants
15. 15EMGS – Graduate Passpost_study · 12-month Graduate Pass requirements
16. 16Immigration FAQ – Graduate Social Visit Passpost_study · 32 eligible nationalities (India yes, Nepal no), RM600
17. 17EMGS – Additional eligible countries for Graduate Passpost_study_change · Graduate Pass extended to ASEAN (9 Jun 2025)
18. 18MQA – Malaysian Qualifications Registeraccreditation · Check programme accreditation
19. 19Education Malaysia (EMGS)national_portal · Official study portal
20. 20Embassy of Malaysia, Kathmandu – visa for foreignersembassy_nepal · eVisa, Nepali social-visa fees
21. 21Embassy of Malaysia, Kathmandu – homeembassy_nepal · Contact incl. kathmandu@imi.gov.my
22. 22High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi – visa for foreignersembassy_india · Indian visit-visa waiver to 31 Dec 2026, eVisa
23. 23High Commission of Malaysia, New Delhi – agenciesembassy_india · Consulates General Chennai and Mumbai
24. 24EMGS – Removal of processing fee for mobility/edutourism coursesnotice · RM80 fee removed from 1 Jul 2026
25. 25UGC Regulations 2025 – equivalence of foreign qualificationsrecognition_india · Branch-campus / franchise rules for Indian equivalence