Do Bissau-Guineans need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)?
Yes. Bissau-Guinean passport holders need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before entering Malaysia. Submit it within 3 days before arrival. MDAC is not a visa, but you still need it for normal trips to Malaysia.
Quick answer
Bissau-Guineans need both a visa and MDAC for Malaysia. Apply for the visa first, then submit the MDAC in the 3-day window before arrival.
- Who: Bissau-Guinean passport holders entering Malaysia.
- When: Within 3 days before your Malaysia arrival date.
- What it is: An arrival card, not a visa.
- Visa: Required for Guinea-Bissau passport holders. Air entry only.
- Transit: Needed if you pass immigration or leave the airside transit area.
Guinea-Bissau to Malaysia MDAC facts
- Guinea-Bissau (GW) is listed on the official MDAC portal
- Use your Malaysia arrival date, not your departure from Bissau
- You need a visa. Apply for it well before your trip.
Source check
Checked against the official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card portal on 2026-06-13. Guinea-Bissau appears in the MDAC country list. Travelers should still check official rules before departure.
Malaysia MDAC for Bissau-Guineans: the short answer
If you hold a Bissau-Guinean passport and you enter Malaysia, you need both a visa and the MDAC. The MDAC is a digital arrival card. It does not replace the visa, passport control, or the final decision by Malaysian immigration.
Flying from Bissau with a connection in Lisbon, Casablanca, or Istanbul? Check the date you land in Malaysia. That is the date that matters for the 3-day MDAC window.
Answer
Yes, Bissau-Guineans need MDAC for Malaysia.
Timing
Submit within 3 days before arrival.
Use case
Tourism, business trips, family visits, and entry after transit.
Visa requirements for Bissau-Guinean passport holders
Guinea-Bissau is a West African country and a Portuguese-speaking member of the African Union. Unlike many other nationalities, Bissau-Guinean passport holders need a visa before entering Malaysia.
The visa is available for air entry only and typically allows a stay of up to 14 days. You must apply through a Malaysian embassy or the official eVISA portal before you travel. Start the visa process early, because the MDAC can only be submitted 3 days before arrival.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry into Malaysia. Keep a printed or digital copy of your visa approval and return ticket handy. Malaysian immigration may ask for proof of onward travel.
Status
Visa required for Bissau-Guinean passports.
Max stay
Up to 14 days per visit. Air entry only.
Passport rule
Must be valid 6+ months beyond entry.
Travel logistics: getting from Guinea-Bissau to Malaysia
There are no direct flights from Guinea-Bissau to Malaysia. You will connect through a hub in Europe or Africa. The most common routes involve a first leg from Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB) in Bissau to a major transit airport.
Via Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal
Bissau to Lisbon, then Lisbon to Kuala Lumpur. TAP runs this route. Portuguese speakers from Guinea-Bissau often prefer this option.
Via Casablanca with Royal Air Maroc
Bissau to Casablanca, then Casablanca to Kuala Lumpur. Royal Air Maroc offers connections from West Africa via Casablanca hub.
Via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines
Bissau to Istanbul, then Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. Turkish Airlines connects Bissau to Istanbul with onward flights to KL daily.
Via Dakar with various airlines
Fly Bissau to Dakar (Senegal), then connect onward to Asia. Requires two connections in most cases. Less common but possible.
Peak travel times from Guinea-Bissau to Malaysia
Certain times of the year are busier for Bissau-Guinean travelers heading to Malaysia. Plan ahead if you are traveling during these periods.
Summer holidays (July-September)
School holidays in Guinea-Bissau run through the summer. Families travel during this period. Apply for your visa and MDAC early.
Carnival (February)
Carnival in February is a major cultural event in Guinea-Bissau. Some travelers combine it with a longer trip including Malaysia.
Tabaski (Eid al-Adha)
A major holiday in Guinea-Bissau. Many people travel during this period. Dates shift each year. Plan your visa and MDAC accordingly.
Christmas and New Year
December holidays are popular for international travel. Many Bissau-Guineans take extended trips during this period.
Name and language issues for Bissau-Guinean travelers
Guinea-Bissau is a Portuguese-speaking country. Names follow the Portuguese convention: given name first, then maternal surname, then paternal surname. This creates the same challenge as in Portugal and Brazil when filling out the MDAC.
The MDAC form asks for a surname (family name) and a given name (first name). If your passport name is "Jose Carlos Mendes Silva," your given name is "Jose Carlos" and your surname is "Mendes Silva" -- both surnames together. Do not split them across fields.
Portuguese uses characters with diacritics: a, a, a, a, e, e, e, i, i, o, o, o, u, u, c, and a (a with tilde). The MDAC form accepts standard Latin letters only. Check your passport for the transliterated version. The machine-readable zone usually has the correct format.
Portuguese surname order
Both maternal and paternal surnames go in the MDAC surname field. Example: "Mendes Silva" as one surname entry. Do not separate them.
Accented characters
Portuguese accented letters (a, a, e, e, c) are not accepted. Use the unaccented version from your passport's machine-readable zone.
Common MDAC mistakes Bissau-Guinean travelers should avoid
These mistakes cause the most trouble for travelers flying from Guinea-Bissau to Malaysia.
- Splitting the two Portuguese surnames into separate fields. The MDAC form has one surname field. Enter "Mendes Silva" together.
- Entering the Bissau departure date instead of the Malaysia arrival date. After one or two connections, the arrival day may differ from the departure day.
- Using Portuguese accented characters (a, a, e, c) on the MDAC form. The form accepts standard Latin letters only. Use the passport version without accents.
- Forgetting that a visa is needed. Unlike many West African countries, Guinea-Bissau is on Malaysia's visa-required list. Apply for the visa well before your trip.
Malaysia MDAC requirements for Bissau-Guinean passport holders
Valid Bissau-Guinean passport
Enter your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and expiry date exactly as shown on your passport. Watch for accented characters and Portuguese name order.
Malaysia visa
Obtain your visa before you travel. Guinea-Bissau citizens need a visa for Malaysia. Air entry only. Apply through a Malaysian embassy or the eVISA portal.
Transit point and flight number
Have your airline, flight numbers, point of departure (Bissau), and entry point in Malaysia ready before you start the form.
First address in Malaysia
Enter your first hotel, apartment, or family address in Malaysia. If you switch accommodation later, list the first place where you stay.
How Bissau-Guineans should apply for MDAC
Step 1
Get your visa first
Apply for a Malaysia visa through the eVISA portal or a Malaysian embassy. Visa processing takes time. Do this before the MDAC.
Step 2
Check your arrival date
Count from the day you land in Malaysia. With connections through Lisbon or Casablanca, that may be a day after you depart Bissau.
Step 3
Start the MDAC form
Use the Apply for MDAC button on this page. Enter each traveler separately. Children need their own submission and visa too.
Step 4
Keep both confirmations
Save both your visa approval and MDAC confirmation on your phone. You may need both at check-in in Bissau and at immigration in Malaysia.
Popular destinations in Malaysia for Bissau-Guinean travelers
Guinea-Bissau is known for its Bijagos archipelago and tropical coastline. Many Bissau-Guineans visiting Malaysia look for modern cities, shopping, and diverse food. Here are the top spots.
Kuala Lumpur
The capital and main entry point. See the Petronas Towers, explore Batu Caves, and visit the Central Market. KL is the hub for onward travel in Malaysia.
Penang
George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Famous for street food, colonial architecture, and vibrant night markets. A short flight or ferry from KL.
Langkawi
An archipelago of 99 islands with white sand beaches, duty-free shopping, and cable car rides. Popular for beach holidays and island hopping.
Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak)
For nature lovers: Mount Kinabalu, orangutan sanctuaries, and rainforest trekking. East Malaysia is a different world from the peninsula.
Transit through Malaysia for Bissau-Guinean travelers
Bissau-Guinean passport holders transiting through a Malaysian airport follow the same MDAC rules as other nationalities. If you change planes at KLIA or klia2 and stay in the international transit area, you do not need to pass immigration. In this case, the MDAC is not required.
But if you plan to leave the airport, clear immigration, collect checked luggage, or switch from KLIA to klia2 by road, you enter Malaysia. That means you need both a visa and the MDAC. Even a short city stopover during a long connection counts as entry.
Airside transit (no visa or MDAC needed)
You stay in the international transit zone. You do not clear immigration. You do not collect bags. You board your next flight.
Entering Malaysia (visa + MDAC needed)
You clear immigration, collect bags, leave the airport, or take a land transfer between terminals. You need both a visa and the MDAC before arrival.
Why apply with TopTravelVisa
We make MDAC submission easier for travelers from Guinea-Bissau with clear steps and support.
Clear guided flow
Simple prompts help you complete each section accurately.
Fast turnaround
Most applications are handled quickly so you can prepare for travel with confidence.
Secure handling
Your details are handled securely for your MDAC application process.
What Bissau-Guinean travelers say
Thousands of travelers have used TopTravelVisa for their Malaysia MDAC submission. Here is what recent applicants share.
"Filled in the MDAC for my trip from Bissau to KL. The form was clear and the confirmation came within a few hours. Good service."
Carlos S.
Traveled from Bissau, April 2026
"I was not sure about my Portuguese name with two surnames on the MDAC. The support team helped me enter them correctly."
Maria P.
Traveled from Bissau, March 2026
"Quick and easy. I connected through Lisbon and was worried about getting the visa and MDAC right. The guide made it simple."
Jose M.
Traveled from Bissau, February 2026
Related Malaysia travel resources
Explore other useful pages before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers for Bissau-Guinean travelers. For legal and policy updates, always check official Malaysian government guidance.
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