The Immigration Department of Malaysia, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has released an official list of 51 countries whose citizens are exempt from the Visa With Reference (VDR) requirement when entering Malaysia in 2026. This exemption applies regardless of the purpose of entry, including study, work, or other activities, making travel and relocation significantly easier for nationals of these countries.
African Nations Well Represented on the Exemption List
Fourteen African countries are included in the exemption list: South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, and Seychelles. According to the official Malaysia Immigration Department website, citizens from these nations are not required to obtain the Visa With Reference approval, which is ordinarily mandatory for foreign nationals entering Malaysia for purposes such as studying or working.
Full List of 51 Exempted Countries
The complete list of countries whose citizens are exempt from the Visa With Reference requirement is as follows: 1. South Africa, 2. Antigua & Barbuda, 3. Australia, 4. Bahamas, 5. Barbados, 6. Belize, 7. Botswana, 8. Brunei, 9. Cyprus, 10. Dominica, 11. Fiji, 12. Gambia, 13. Grenada, 14. Guyana, 15. Ireland, 16. Jamaica, 17. Canada, 18. Kenya, 19. Kiribati (Gilbert Islands), 20. Liechtenstein, 21. Lesotho, 22. Malawi, 23. Maldives, 24. Malta, 25. Mauritius, 26. Namibia, 27. Nauru, 28. Netherlands, 29. New Zealand, 30. Papua New Guinea, 31. Samoa / Western Samoa, 32. San Marino, 33. Seychelles, 34. Sierra Leone, 35. Singapore, 36. Solomon Islands, 37. St Lucia, 38. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 39. St. Kitts and Nevis, 40. Swaziland / Eswatini, 41. Switzerland, 42. Tanzania, 43. Tonga, 44. Trinidad and Tobago, 45. Tuvalu, 46. Uganda, 47. United Kingdom, 48. Vanuatu, 49. Zaire, 50. Zambia, 51. Zimbabwe.
What the Exemption Means for Travellers
For citizens of the listed countries, the standard VDR or eVDR application process and the requirement for a Visa Approval Letter (eVAL) do not apply. This exemption covers all purposes of entry, including study and employment, making Malaysia more accessible to travellers and prospective residents from these nations. Nationals from countries not on the exemption list must still complete the standard Visa With Reference application process before travelling to Malaysia for any purpose.
Related Developments: Malaysia's CNG Vehicle Phase-Out and Nigeria's Response
In a related story, Legit.ng previously reported that the Federal Government of Nigeria reacted after Malaysia announced a ban on vehicles using fuel priced at 230 naira. Bayo Onanuga, an aide to President Bola Tinubu on media and strategy, stated that Malaysia's policy focused on the safety of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rather than compressed natural gas (CNG). He noted that Malaysia's shift from petrol to diesel has been ineffective, with only 0.2% of vehicles converted in 15 years, while Nigeria's advancement in tank-making capacity sets it apart as a game-changer. Onanuga explained that natural gas vehicles (NGV) cover both CNG and LPG, and Nigeria has adopted CNG due to its safety and cost-effectiveness relative to LPG.
