Do children need separate MDAC submissions?
Yes. Every traveler entering Malaysia, including infants and children, needs their own MDAC submission. There is no family or group form. Parents and guardians must submit a separate MDAC for each child using that child's passport details.
Based on official Malaysia Immigration Department MDAC guidelines. Each traveler is treated as an individual in the MDAC system. No grouped or family submission is available. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for submitting on behalf of minors.
MDAC rules for children and infants
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card system treats each traveler as an individual entry. There is no checkbox for "traveling with family" or "dependent." Each person, regardless of age, must have their own completed form with their own passport data.
This includes newborn infants traveling on a parent's passport. If the infant has their own passport or is listed on a parent's passport, they still need a separate MDAC entry. The form does not allow adding dependents to an adult submission.
For families of four, that means four separate MDAC submissions. Each one requires the traveler's full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and accommodation address in Malaysia.
How to submit MDAC for your child correctly
Gather each child's passport before you start. You will need the exact full name as printed on the passport, the passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, passport issue and expiry dates, and the Malaysia address where the child will stay.
For children traveling without both parents, Malaysia immigration may also request additional documents such as a letter of consent or a birth certificate. The MDAC itself only collects the basic traveler and trip data, so have supporting documents ready at the counter.
Common mistakes families make with children's MDAC
The most frequent error is assuming one submission covers the whole family. Parents fill a single MDAC with their own details and expect immigration to include the children. At the KLIA counter, the officer asks for each child's MDAC confirmation. The family then has to fill forms at the terminal, holding up the queue.
Another common mistake is entering a child's name differently from their passport, especially when the child has a hyphenated name or a different surname. The MDAC system checks the name against the passport presented at immigration. Any mismatch triggers additional checks and delays.
Frequently asked questions
No. Each traveler, including infants and newborns, must have their own MDAC submission. There is no option to add dependents or children to a parent's form. Submit a separate MDAC for your baby using their own passport or travel document.
You need the child's full name as written on their passport, passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, passport expiry date, and the child's accommodation address in Malaysia. For infants without a separate passport, check with your airline and the nearest Malaysian embassy for the correct travel document requirements.
Children follow the same MDAC rules as adults. If the child will pass through immigration in Malaysia (collecting bags, changing terminals landside, or exiting the airport), they need a separate MDAC. If the child stays airside on a single-ticket connection, no MDAC is needed.
Enter the child's name exactly as written on their passport, regardless of whether it matches your surname. The MDAC is a per-person document linked to that passport. Mismatches between the passport name and the MDAC name can cause immigration delays.
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