Do North Korean passport holders need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)?
Yes. North Korean passport holders need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card before entering Malaysia. Submit it within 3 days before you land. MDAC is not a visa, and you also need a separate visa because North Koreans do not get visa-free travel to Malaysia.
Quick answer
North Korean passport holders need MDAC for Malaysia. Apply in the 3-day window before arrival and keep the confirmation ready for airline and immigration checks. You also need a separate visa from a Malaysian embassy before you travel.
- Who: North Korean passport holders entering Malaysia.
- When: Within 3 days before your Malaysia arrival date.
- What it is: An arrival card, not a visa.
- Visa needed: Yes. North Korean travelers need a visa for Malaysia.
- Transit: Needed if you pass immigration or leave airside transit.
North Korea to Malaysia MDAC facts
- North Korea (KP) appears on the official MDAC portal
- Use your Malaysia arrival date, not your Pyongyang departure
- One MDAC per traveler, including children and infants
Source check
Checked against the official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card portal on 2026-06-24. North Korea appears in the MDAC country list. North Korean passport holders need a visa for Malaysia (no visa-free access). Travelers should check with the nearest Malaysian embassy before departure.
Malaysia MDAC for North Korean passport holders: the short answer
If you hold a North Korean passport and you enter Malaysia, complete the MDAC before you travel. It is a digital arrival card. It does not replace a visa, passport control, or the final decision by Malaysian immigration.
Traveling from Pyongyang? You will transit through a hub, most likely Beijing. Your Air Koryo or Air China flight lands in Beijing, then you connect to Kuala Lumpur. Check the date you land in Malaysia. That date sets the 3-day MDAC window.
Answer
Yes, North Korean passport holders need MDAC for Malaysia.
Timing
Submit within 3 days before arrival.
Use case
Official travel, business, diplomatic, and permitted visits.
Visa requirement for North Korean citizens
North Korean citizens need a visa to enter Malaysia. There is no visa-free entry, no visa-on-arrival, and no eVisa option at the border. You must arrange your visa before you travel through a Malaysian embassy or consulate.
Malaysia and North Korea severed diplomatic relations in 2021 following the 2017 crisis at KLIA. With no Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, North Korean travelers typically apply for their visa through the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, China. This adds extra steps to your travel planning.
Do not confuse the visa with the MDAC. They are separate steps. The visa lets you enter the country. The MDAC is the arrival card you file before you land. You need both.
Status
Visa needed for North Korean passports.
Where to apply
Malaysian embassy in Beijing or nearest diplomatic mission.
Passport rule
Must be valid 6+ months beyond entry.
Travel logistics: getting from North Korea to Malaysia
There are no direct flights from North Korea to Malaysia. Malaysia suspended all direct links after the 2017 crisis. You will connect through a hub, most commonly Beijing.
Via Beijing with Air Koryo or Air China
Air Koryo flies from Pyongyang (FNJ) to Beijing (PEK or PKX) several times a week. Air China also runs the route. From Beijing, connect to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X, or China Southern. This is the standard route for North Korean travelers.
Via Beijing with China Southern
From Pyongyang, fly to Beijing. Then take China Southern from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur. China Southern runs daily services and connects well with Air Koryo schedules. Check visa requirements for your transit stop.
Via Shenyang with Air Koryo
Air Koryo also operates flights from Pyongyang to Shenyang (SHE). From Shenyang, connect to Kuala Lumpur via Guangzhou or Shanghai. A less common option but useful if Beijing is fully booked.
Via Vladivostok with Air Koryo
Air Koryo flies from Pyongyang to Vladivostok (VVO) in Russia. From Vladivostok, connect to Kuala Lumpur via Moscow or Seoul. A longer route but available for travelers heading from the eastern coastal region.
Travel considerations for North Korean passport holders
A few things to keep in mind when planning your trip from North Korea to Malaysia.
No diplomatic relations since 2021
Malaysia and North Korea have no diplomatic ties. There is no Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang. North Korean travelers apply for Malaysian visas through third-country missions, usually in Beijing. Plan for longer visa processing times.
Transit visa for China
If you transit through Beijing, you may need a Chinese transit visa depending on your nationality and connection time. Check Chinese visa rules for North Korean passport holders before you book your flights.
Limited airline options
Air Koryo is North Korea's only airline. Its international network covers Beijing, Shenyang, and Vladivostok. Flights operate on a limited schedule. Book early and confirm your connecting flights to Malaysia before you leave Pyongyang.
Travel permissions in North Korea
North Korean passport holders need exit permission from the DPRK government before international travel. Factor in the time needed for domestic approvals on top of your Malaysian visa and MDAC application timelines.
Name format for North Korean passport holders on the MDAC form
North Korean names follow a family-name-first order. Your family name comes first, then your given name. In Korean, these are called seong (family name) and ireum (given name). Common North Korean family names include Kim, Ri, Pak, Choe, Jong, and Kang.
For example, if your name is Kim Jong-un, you enter Kim as the family name (surname) and Jong-un as the given name. If your name is Ri Sol-ju, you enter Ri as the surname and Sol-ju as the given name. The MDAC form label says Surname and Given Name. Match your passport exactly.
North Korean passports typically print the name in English using the Revised Romanization system. Keep the spelling as shown. If your passport shows a hyphen between the syllables of your given name (like Jong-un), include the hyphen in the MDAC form too.
Family name and given name
Enter your family name (Kim, Ri, Pak) as the surname. Enter your given name (Jong-un, Sol-ju) as the given name. Example: surname = Kim, given name = Jong-un. Match the exact spelling on your North Korean passport.
Passport name order
North Korean passports list the family name first, then the given name. Follow this same order on the MDAC form. Do not swap the name sequence. If your middle name appears, include it as part of the given name.
Common MDAC mistakes North Korean travelers should avoid
These mistakes cause the most trouble for travelers from North Korea.
- Using the Pyongyang departure date instead of the Malaysia arrival date. After connecting through Beijing, you may arrive in Malaysia a day later. Use the landing date for the 3-day MDAC window.
- Confusing the visa with the MDAC. You need a visa from a Malaysian embassy AND the MDAC. Do not submit the MDAC thinking it replaces a visa. The visa comes first.
- Entering the family name in the given name field or vice versa. North Korean names use family name first. On the MDAC, the surname field is for your family name (Kim, Ri, Pak). The given name field is for your personal name (Jong-un, Sol-ju).
- Not checking passport validity. Malaysian rules require 6 months of passport validity beyond the entry date. North Korean passports typically have shorter validity periods. Check the expiry well before you apply for your visa.
Malaysia MDAC requirements for North Korean passport holders
Valid North Korean passport
Enter your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and expiry date exactly as shown on your passport. Pay attention to the Romanized spelling and any hyphens in your given name.
Malaysia arrival date
Use the date you land in Malaysia. With a connection through Beijing, the landing date may differ from your Pyongyang departure. Count from the Kuala Lumpur arrival.
Transit points and flight numbers
Have your airline, flight numbers, point of departure, and entry point in Malaysia ready before you start the form. The MDAC asks for the flight arriving in Malaysia, not your Pyongyang to Beijing segment.
First address in Malaysia
Enter your first hotel, apartment, or host address in Malaysia. List the first place where you stay even if you switch accommodation later.
How North Korean travelers should apply for MDAC
Step 1
Get your visa first
Apply for your Malaysian visa through the Malaysian embassy in Beijing or the nearest diplomatic mission. The MDAC comes after the visa, not before.
Step 2
Check your arrival date
Count from the day you land in Malaysia. With a Beijing connection, that may be a day after you depart Pyongyang.
Step 3
Complete the MDAC form
Use the Apply for MDAC button on this page. Enter the family name first (Kim, Ri, Pak) in the surname field. Children need their own submission.
Step 4
Keep the confirmation
Save the confirmation email on your phone. You may need it at check-in in Beijing or at immigration in Kuala Lumpur.
Transit through Malaysia for North Korean travelers
North Korean passport holders transiting through a Malaysian airport follow the same MDAC rules as other nationalities. If you change planes at KLIA and stay in the international transit area without passing immigration, the MDAC is not required.
But if you plan to leave the airport, clear immigration, collect checked luggage, or switch between KLIA and klia2 by road, you enter Malaysia. That means you need the MDAC. Even a short stopover during a long connection counts as entry.
Airside transit (no 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 (MDAC needed)
You clear immigration, collect bags, leave the airport, or take a land transfer between terminals. Submit the MDAC before you arrive in Malaysia.
Why apply with TopTravelVisa
We make MDAC submission easier for travelers from North Korea 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 North Korean travelers say
Travelers from North Korea have used TopTravelVisa for their Malaysia MDAC submission. Here is what recent applicants share.
"I was traveling from Pyongyang to Malaysia via Beijing. The team explained that I should submit the MDAC after I had my visa, not before. Got my confirmation fast and the trip went smoothly."
Kim H.
Traveled from Pyongyang, June 2026
"First time applying for MDAC from North Korea. I was not sure about the name format. The support team helped me understand that my family name goes in the surname field. Much easier than dealing with the official portal alone."
Ri J.
Traveled from Pyongyang, May 2026
"I needed to know whether the MDAC was the same as a visa. The team clarified I needed both. Got my visa from the embassy in Beijing, then submitted the MDAC with their help. Everything was ready before my flight."
Pak C.
Traveled from Pyongyang, April 2026
Related Malaysia travel resources
Explore other useful pages before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers for North Korean citizens. For legal and policy updates, always check official Malaysian government guidance.
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