In short: Pakistani students get a Malaysian Student Pass through EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services), like every international student. The difference is that Pakistan is on EMGS's Single Entry Visa list: after EMGS issues your Visa Approval Letter (VAL), you obtain a Single Entry Visa (SEV) before you fly. You obtain it in the country where you live now, through the Malaysian embassy or high commission there: a Pakistani living in Riyadh, for example, goes through the Embassy of Malaysia in Riyadh. Within seven working days of arrival you complete a medical screening, and the university then has your passport endorsed with the Student Pass.
What are the steps for a Pakistani student?
- Offer letter. The university issues your offer letter and submits your visa application to EMGS.
- EMGS application. We prepare the file with you: passport, photograph, attested documents, health declaration, payment and insurance.
- Visa Approval Letter. When EMGS approves the application, you and the university can download the electronic VAL (eVAL).
- Single Entry Visa. Pakistan is on EMGS's SEV list, so you obtain a Single Entry Visa before you travel, in the country where you live now, not necessarily in Pakistan. In your EMGS application you choose the Malaysian mission nearest to you, as EMGS's application guide explains, and EMGS's FAQ says the SEV is applied for through Malaysia's eVISA system. Your counsellor arranges it with you. In Pakistan, visa questions go to the High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad; elsewhere, find the mission for your country in the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's list of overseas missions.
- Travel. Fly to Malaysia with your passport, SEV, eVAL and documents.
- Medical screening. Attend a screening at an EMGS panel clinic within seven working days of arrival.
- Student Pass. The university submits your passport for the Student Pass endorsement, and EMGS issues your student card (i-Kad). TJS Studysteps follows this up for you.
What if I am a Pakistani living abroad, in the Gulf or elsewhere?
This guide still applies to you: your nationality decides the visa rules and which documents you need. Where you live decides three things.
- The Single Entry Visa is obtained in the country where you live, through the Malaysian embassy or high commission there. A Pakistani living in Riyadh goes through the Embassy of Malaysia in Riyadh; in the United Arab Emirates, through the Malaysian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Malaysian Foreign Ministry lists every overseas mission.
- Documents from Pakistani boards and universities are still attested in Pakistan, by IBCC or HEC and then MOFA. HEC's attestation is online, and at IBCC a blood relative can apply for you or you can choose courier. Certificates from a school in the country where you live are attested by that country's authorities. See documents and attestation.
- Flights and budget. You fly from the city where you live, so the fares from Pakistan below don't apply; your counsellor checks fares from your city. Costs on this site are in USD and MYR (and PKR); convert them into the currency you earn in, such as SAR or AED, at your bank's rate.
What does the visa cost for Pakistani nationals?
| Charge | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EMGS processing fee, new application (includes 8% service tax) | ≈ USD 423RM 1,728 · as published≈ PKR 117,000 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| eVAL (electronic Visa Approval Letter) | ≈ USD 39RM 159 · as published≈ PKR 10,800 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| Student Pass | ≈ USD 15RM 60 · as published≈ PKR 4,080 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| Visa fee for Pakistani nationals | ≈ USD 5RM 20 · as published≈ PKR 1,360 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| Medical screening after arrival (Peninsular Malaysia) | ≈ USD 83RM 340 · as published≈ PKR 23,100 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| Medical insurance, EMGS plans, per year | ≈ USD 122–158RM 498–644 · as published≈ PKR 33,830–43,750 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| i-Kad student card (self-collect or courier) | ≈ USD 12–15RM 50–61 · as published≈ PKR 3,400–4,120 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
| Personal bond for Pakistani nationals (refundable) | ≈ USD 184RM 750 · as published≈ PKR 50,960 | esd.imi.gov.my · checked |
| Total for the first year (Peninsular Malaysia), without the bond | ≈ USD 699–738RM 2,855–3,012 · as published≈ PKR 194,000–205,000 | visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my · checked |
Many universities collect these charges inside their own visa package. Pay them once, in the way your offer letter or invoice says.
≈ marks a conversion at fixed mid-market rates as of : 1 USD = RM 4.08 ≈ PKR 277; 1 MYR = PKR 67.94. Banks and money-transfer services charge more, so expect to pay a little above these figures in rupees.
Which flights go from Pakistan?
Most students fly to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad or Peshawar. Malaysia is a five to six hour flight from Pakistan. If you live outside Pakistan, you fly from where you live, and your counsellor checks those fares with you.
| Route | Typical return fare, economy | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore (LHE) to Kuala Lumpur | USD 566–670≈ RM 2,310–2,730≈ PKR 157,000–186,000 | kayak.com · checked |
| Karachi (KHI) to Kuala Lumpur | USD 385–595≈ RM 1,570–2,430≈ PKR 107,000–165,000 | kayak.com · checked |
| Islamabad (ISB) to Kuala Lumpur | USD 614–787≈ RM 2,510–3,210≈ PKR 170,000–218,000 | kayak.com · checked |
| Peshawar (PEW) to Kuala Lumpur | No fare in our dataset yet. Your counsellor checks current fares with you. | |
Typical fares over the past 12 months on a fare-comparison site. Fares change every day and rise in the July and August peak.
What should I carry when I arrive?
- Passport with your Single Entry Visa
- Printed eVAL and offer letter
- Your original attested certificates and transcripts
- Insurance receipt and proof of accommodation
- Return or onward flight details and the completed arrival form
- Contact numbers: our Malaysia team on WhatsApp at +60 13 966 8914, and the address of your accommodation
What happens in the first week?
- Airport pickup: TJS Studysteps meets you at the arrival terminal.
- Accommodation: you move into the temporary or permanent room arranged for you.
- Setting up: help with a SIM card and a bank account.
- Medical screening and Student Pass: within seven working days, followed up with the university.
- Orientation: getting to know the city, and a 24/7 emergency support line.
Can I work on a Student Pass?
Students on full-time Bachelor's or Master's programmes at universities approved by EMGS can work up to 20 hours a week during semester breaks or holidays, subject to the university's approval.
EMGS is the authority
EMGS publishes its rules and fees at visa.educationmalaysia.gov.my, including the fee calculator and the medical screening guidelines. Where anything on this page differs from EMGS, EMGS is right. The general visa guide covers students of every nationality.
Updated