Do Paraguayans need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)?
Yes. Paraguayan 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
Paraguayans need MDAC for Malaysia. Apply in the 3-day window before arrival and keep the confirmation ready for airline and immigration checks.
- Who: Paraguayan passport holders entering Malaysia.
- When: Within 3 days before your Malaysia arrival date.
- What it is: An arrival card, not a visa.
- Visa-free: Up to 30 days for Paraguayan passport holders.
- Transit: Needed if you pass immigration or leave airside transit.
Paraguay to Malaysia MDAC facts
- Paraguay (PY) is listed on the official MDAC portal
- Use your Malaysia arrival date, not your Asuncion departure
- One MDAC per traveler, including children
Source check
Checked against the official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card portal on 2026-06-21. Paraguay appears in the MDAC country list. Paraguayan passport holders have visa-free access for 30 days. Travelers should still check official rules before departure.
Malaysia MDAC for Paraguayans: the short answer
If you hold a Paraguayan passport and you enter Malaysia, complete the MDAC before you travel. It is a digital arrival card. It does not replace passport control, visa rules, or the final decision by Malaysian immigration.
Flying from Silvio Pettirossi International (ASU) in Asuncion? You will connect through Sao Paulo, then via Doha, Dubai, or Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. Check the date you land in Malaysia. That is the date for the 3-day MDAC window.
Answer
Yes, Paraguayans need MDAC for Malaysia.
Timing
Submit within 3 days before arrival.
Use case
Tourism, business trips, family visits, and entry after transit.
Visa-free entry for Paraguayan passport holders
Paraguayan passport holders get visa-free entry to Malaysia for up to 30 days. This covers tourism and short business visits. Paraguay and Malaysia have maintained diplomatic relations since 1986, and the visa waiver supports growing travel and trade between both countries.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry. Keep a printed or digital copy of your return ticket handy. Malaysian immigration may ask for proof of onward travel.
Do not confuse visa-free entry with the MDAC. They are separate. The visa-free policy lets you board without a visa. The MDAC is the arrival card you file before you land. You need both.
Status
Visa-free for Paraguayan passports.
Max stay
Up to 30 days per visit.
Passport rule
Must be valid 6+ months beyond entry.
Travel logistics: getting from Paraguay to Malaysia
There are no direct flights from Paraguay to Malaysia. You will connect through South America first, then a major Gulf or European hub. The most common route goes from Silvio Pettirossi International (ASU) in Asuncion to Sao Paulo (GRU), then via Doha, Dubai, or Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur (KUL).
Via Sao Paulo and Doha with Qatar Airways
LATAM connects Asuncion (ASU) to Sao Paulo (GRU) daily. From GRU, Qatar Airways flies direct to Doha (DOH), then on to Kuala Lumpur. This is the most common routing for Paraguayans heading to Malaysia.
Via Sao Paulo and Dubai with Emirates
LATAM or GOL takes you from Asuncion to Sao Paulo. From GRU, Emirates flies direct to Dubai (DXB). Connect from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur. Emirates offers generous baggage allowances for long-haul travelers.
Via Sao Paulo and Istanbul with Turkish Airlines
LATAM from Asuncion to Sao Paulo, then Turkish Airlines from GRU to Istanbul (IST). From Istanbul, daily flights to Kuala Lumpur. Turkish Airlines serves hot meals on all long-haul sectors.
Via Buenos Aires with multiple options
Some Paraguayans prefer to drive or take a bus to Buenos Aires (EZE) for more flight options. From EZE, you can connect via Madrid, Paris, or the Middle East to Kuala Lumpur. More choice but longer total travel time.
Peak travel times from Paraguay to Malaysia
Plan ahead if you are traveling during these busier periods from Paraguay.
Summer holidays (Dec-Feb)
Paraguay summer runs from December to February. This is the peak travel season. Schools are closed and many families take long trips. Apply for MDAC early if traveling during this period.
Semana Santa (March-April)
Holy Week is a major holiday in Paraguay. Many businesses close from Wednesday through Sunday. Paraguayans use this break for international travel, including long-haul trips to Asia.
Winter break (July)
The Paraguayan winter school break in July is another popular travel window. Malaysia is attractive because the weather is warm while Paraguay experiences colder winter temperatures.
Dia de la Independencia (May 14-15)
Paraguay independence celebrations in mid-May create a long weekend. Some travelers combine this with annual leave for a longer trip to Southeast Asia.
Name issues for Paraguayan travelers: two surnames
Paraguay uses the Spanish two-surname system. Most Paraguayans have a primer apellido (fathers surname) and a segundo apellido (mothers surname). Your Paraguayan passport shows both surnames together. The MDAC form has one surname field. Enter both surnames in that single field.
If your name is Maria Elena Benitez Gonzalez, your given name is Maria Elena and your surname is Benitez Gonzalez. Do not use the segundo apellido (Gonzalez) as a middle name. The MDAC has no separate middle name field. Both surnames belong together in the surname field.
Paraguayan passports also sometimes include Guarani-origin names like Gonzalez or Benitez. These are treated the same as Spanish surnames. Include the full surname exactly as printed on your passport.
Both surnames in one field
Enter both surnames in the MDAC surname field. Example: given name = Juan Carlos, surname = Ramirez Acosta. This matches how Paraguayan passports display the name.
Passport surname order
Your Paraguayan passport lists the primer apellido first, then the segundo apellido. Follow this exact order on the MDAC. Do not swap or change the sequence.
Common MDAC mistakes Paraguayan travelers should avoid
These mistakes cause the most trouble for travelers flying from Paraguay to Malaysia.
- Entering only one surname instead of both. Paraguayans have two surnames. Enter both in the surname field. Putting only the primer apellido causes a mismatch with your passport.
- Using the Asuncion departure date instead of the Malaysia arrival date. After a long multi-stop trip via Sao Paulo and Doha or Dubai, you may arrive in Malaysia a day or two after you left.
- Not checking passport validity. Malaysian rules require 6 months of passport validity beyond the entry date. Paraguayan passports are valid for 5 years for adults over 18 and 3 years for minors. Check the expiry before you book.
- Entering flight details from the domestic leg (Asuncion to Sao Paulo) instead of the international leg into Malaysia. The MDAC asks for the final flight arriving in Malaysia.
Malaysia MDAC requirements for Paraguayan passport holders
Valid Paraguayan passport
Enter your name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and expiry date exactly as shown on your passport. Pay attention to both surnames.
Malaysia arrival date
Use the date you arrive in Malaysia. With connecting flights through Sao Paulo and the Gulf, the landing date may be different from your Asuncion departure.
Transit points and flight numbers
Have your airline, flight numbers, point of departure (Asuncion via Sao Paulo), 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. List the first place where you stay even if you switch accommodation later.
How Paraguayans should apply for MDAC
Step 1
Check your arrival date
Count from the day you land in Malaysia. With connections through Sao Paulo and Doha, that may be a day after you depart Asuncion.
Step 2
Prepare your documents
Have your passport open. Check both surnames are correct. Note any Guarani-origin names that may use unusual letter combinations. Have flight and hotel details ready.
Step 3
Start the form
Use the Apply for MDAC button on this page. Enter each traveler separately. 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 Asuncion or at immigration in Malaysia.
Popular destinations in Malaysia for Paraguayan travelers
Paraguay is a landlocked country with riverine landscapes, the Pantanal wetlands, and Jesuit ruins. Many Paraguayan visitors to Malaysia are drawn to the tropical climate, the multicultural food scene, and the affordability of travel. The Paraguayan guarani offers reasonable value in Southeast Asia.
Kuala Lumpur
The capital and main entry point. See the Petronas Towers, explore Batu Caves, and visit the Central Market. KLs mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures offers something new at every corner.
Penang
George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Famous for street food, colonial architecture, and vibrant night markets. A short flight from KL. The food scene is a major draw for travelers from South America.
Langkawi
An archipelago of 99 islands with white sand beaches, duty-free shopping, and cable car rides. Popular for beach holidays. For landlocked Paraguayans, the island experience is a completely different kind of travel.
Malacca (Melaka)
A historic city with Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial influences. The Malacca River cruise and Jonker Street night market are highlights. A good day trip from KL by bus or car.
Transit through Malaysia for Paraguayan travelers
Paraguayan 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 Paraguay 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 Paraguayan travelers say
Travelers from Latin America have used TopTravelVisa for their Malaysia MDAC submission. Here is what recent applicants share.
"I was not sure about the two surnames on the MDAC. The team explained it clearly. Both go in the surname field, exactly like on my Paraguayan passport. Got my confirmation the same day."
Alejandro A.
Traveled from Asuncion, May 2026
"The flight via Sao Paulo and Doha took almost 30 hours. I was worried about the MDAC timing. They told me to use the date I land in KL. Very helpful service."
Laura G.
Traveled from Encarnacion, April 2026
"First time traveling to Asia from Paraguay. The MDAC was new to me. The form was straightforward once I had my passport details ready. Everything went smoothly."
Ricardo O.
Traveled from Ciudad del Este, March 2026
Related Malaysia travel resources
Explore other useful pages before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers for Paraguayan travelers. For legal and policy updates, always check official Malaysian government guidance.
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