February 12, 2026
KUALA LUMPUR – The government has implemented stricter entry conditions to prevent Chinese citizens from abusing visa-free facilities to work in Malaysia, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Under the mutual visa-exemption agreement between Malaysia and China, Chinese citizens are permitted to stay for a maximum of 30 days per entry.
They are restricted to a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days within a 180-day period, he said.
The minister stressed that Chinese citizens do not hold the same rights as citizens of other countries who are allowed 90 days of continuous visa-free entry.
Saifuddin said the visa-free facility is strictly for social visits and tourism.
Any form of paid job or professional work requires visa and work permit to prevent the abuse of travel privileges, he said.
In a written reply to Puchong member of parliament Yeo Bee Yin, Saifuddin said that prior to this new agreement, the Visa Liberalization Plan introduced on December 1, 2023 allowed Chinese citizens to stay for 30 days per entry without an annual cumulative cap.
“With the implementation of the new agreement, the government is taking a more cautious and balanced approach between facilitating travelers and strengthening border control,” he said.
The minister noted that through these enforcement measures, the government aims to ensure economic and tourism growth without compromising national security, the rule of law, or the interests of the local job market.
Currently, Malaysia grants visa-free entry for social and tourism purposes to citizens of 154 countries, with stay periods ranging from 14, 30, 60, to 90 days.
The final assessment remains at the discretion of the Immigration officer at the entry point.
He said 26 countries enjoy 14 days of visa-free entry, 30 days for 58 countries, 60 days for 38 countries and 90n days for 66 countries.
These arrangements are based on strategic considerations such as diplomatic relations, economic interests, and security risks, and are subject to periodic review, he said.
Since Malaysia and China implemented visa-free travel in 2024, tourism and trade volume between two countries recorded sharp increase.
However, several industries claimed that there are cases of Chinese citizens visiting Malaysia as tourists but taking up jobs as contractors, interior designers, photographers, and even working in the service industries. They charge lower fees.
The locals are unhappy and highlight their grievances on social media.
The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association called for stringent measures to curb abuse of visa-free travel while small and medium industries such as the Malacca Photographer Association expressed concerns over weak enforcement that jobs in local market could be affected.
It has since become a public concern that how the government would prevent abuse of visa-free travel.