Triangle

 

Pre arrival Student Pass & Visa Information

The pre arrival process

All international students intending to study in Malaysia must complete the following pre arrival student pass and entry visa requirements before coming to Malaysia. You are strictly advised to follow all the instructions given by the UNM Visa Team.

The step-by-step pre arrival process is highlighted below:

  • preparing your documentation for your student pass
  • submitting your documentation for your student pass
  • receiving your VAL & SEV
  • receiving your student pass
  • receiving your i-Kad


Preparing Documentation for your Student Pass (visa)

Non-Malaysian nationals who wish to study full-time at any educational institution in Malaysia must apply for a Student Pass (Visa). This is a requirement of Regulation 13 of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

  • International students MUST apply and obtain the Visa Approval Letter (VAL) to study in Malaysia before entering Malaysia. All international students are required to apply VAL while they are in their home country/ country of residence.
  • International students are NOT allowed to enter Malaysia once their applications have been submitted to the EMGS for VAL processing. This may cause their application to be Rejected by the immigration officer.
  • Conversion of an existing Visit/ Social Pass to Student Visa is strictly NOT allowed.

 

Students holding other passes

Non-Malaysian nationals holding these passes:

  • Diplomatic Exemption Order.
  • Dependant Pass.
  • Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H).
  • Resident Pass-Talent (RP-T) [dependent pass].

are required to apply for a Student Pass. Students are required to cancel the existing pass and apply for their Student Pass until the completion of their studies in Malaysia - Please refer the Visa Office for further assistance.

The University will not be liable for any action taken by the Malaysian Immigration Department if you decide to ignore the rulings above. This includes NOT being able to obtain attestation after graduation from the Ministry of Higher Education.

Students changing courses or institutions

Students are required to submit a new Student Pass application and new processing fees for the following circumstances:

  • progressing further studies from international school
  • progressing to another level of studies (foundation to undergraduate/ UG to Masters/ Master/ MPhil to PhD)
  • changing courses (within the same institution)
  • changing to (transfer out) another institution.
  • transfering in from another institution.

The processing fees and any additional charges will be borne by the students. 

 

 

 

Documentation for your Student Pass

The Malaysian Immigration Department requires that UNM applies for the student pass on behalf of each student. Once you have received your conditional/ unconditional offer letter you must submit the following documents to UNM at least four (4) months before the registration date of your course. Please ensure that you follow the requirement guidelines strictly to avoid delays in your visa application. UNM bears no responsibility for late submissions. The following is the list of documents required for the visa application process: 

  • Digital copy of passport-sized photograph with white background (45mm height x 35mm wide) OR 1 soft copy
  • 2 copies of valid passport OR 1 soft copy: all pages, including blank pages and preferably in colour for details page.**Your passport should be valid for at least 18 months from the date of your registration and passport copies should be clear, and if printed, should be printed on single-sided A4 paper. 
  • 1 certified true copy of your final academic certificates/ transcripts in English. For academic certificates/transcripts in other languages, a certified true copy of the English translation must be submitted together with the original version.
  • 1 copy of your Yellow fever vaccination card/ certificate (only for high risk countries) 
  • 1 copy of the Student Declaration Form
  • 1 copy of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) (for Sudanese students). The University will apply the NOC from the Sudanese embassy in Malaysia on your behalf. Any charges incurred will be borne by the student.
  • Letter of Eligibility/ LoE (for Iranian and Omani students). UNM will apply for the LoE on your behalf from these students. Any charges incurred will be borne by the student.
  • With effect from 15th January 2024, all Libyan students who wish to study in Private and Public education institutions in Malaysia are required to obtain a Letter of Eligibility (LoE) from the Academic Affairs of the Embassy of Libya-Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. Any charges incurred will be borne by the student.
  • For Chinese students, an online verification report of the academic certificate can be obtained through the China Credentials Verification (CSSD) / Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC)  / Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange   
  • Please refer to the checklist provided to you via email by the Visa Office team

The above forms should be filled in and submitted all together via email to Apply.Visa@nottingham.edu.my to The Student Visa Office, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga,  43500, Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Additional documentation for:

Students transferring from other academic institutions in Malaysia

Students transferring from other academic institutions in Malaysia or have previously studied in Malaysia must submit the following additional documentation: 

  • release letter from the previous institution.
  • attendance report from the previous institution.
  • academic results from the previous institution.
  • Visa cancellation letter with an acknowledgment from EMGS/ Immigration Department.

Foundation and undergraduate students over the age of 25  

Foundation and undergraduate students (but not Postgraduate students) aged 25 years or above are required by the Malaysian Immigration authorities to submit a resume/CV 

that includes:

  • personal particulars.
  • previous education.
  • work experience.

 

 

 

 
Receiving your approval 

Upon receiving your Visa Approval Letter (VAL) from the Immigration Department, UNM's Visa Office shall email a soft copy of your VAL to you or your agent.

Entry Visa or Single Entry Visa (SEV)

After receiving your VAL you should apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) at your nearest Malaysian Embassy/ High Commision/ Consulate Office before you travel to Malaysia. Please visit the Malaysian Embassy/ High Commission/ Consulate Office for confirmation regarding applying for your SEV to Malaysia or apply for your eVISA online.

If you do not comply with the above SEV or Entry Visa requirements, the Malaysian Immigration authorities may not convert your Visit/ Social/ Tourist pass to a Student Pass (visa) although you have entered with a VAL.

You are at risk to be sent back to your home country to apply for your SEV and to reenter again.

These additional costs will be borne by the student concerned.

Note:

  • Nationals from most Commonwealth countries do not need to apply for a SEV. Please visit the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate Office for confirmation.
  • All other Non-Malaysian nationals must apply for a Single Entry Visa. 
  • Nationals of the following countries must apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) before travelling to Malaysia - Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
  • Nationals from the People's Republic of China are prohibited from entering Malaysia without a SEV. Please apply for a SEV from the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing, Guangzhou or Shanghai.
  • Alternatively, please apply for your eVISA online.
  • Any Entry Visa fee incurred will be borne by the student and may differ from one country to another. 

 

 

Applying for your student pass [Visa Approval Letter (VAL)]

The University of Nottingham Malaysia will apply for the Student Pass on your behalf and you will be notified by e-mail once you have accepted the offer and made your tuition fee deposit to our Finance Department.

Student Pass (Visa)

All international students who defer, withdraw, terminated, and completed studies are required to shorten/cancel their present student pass before leaving the country. They are required to get advice from the Visa Office on the necessary formalities. This is in line with the directive from the Malaysian Immigration Department guidelines NOT allowing international students to return home before shorten/cancellation is carried out. Any student fail to comply this guidelines will have their passport being blacklisted by the Immigration Department and the University will have no control over this decision. 

 

 

Contact details

We understand that obtaining the necessary documentation can be a difficult and confusing process. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at:

Student Visa Office