KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign students applying to study in higher education institutions in Malaysia will soon have a shorter waiting time to get their Visa Approval Letter (VAL) for entry into the country.
Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chief executive officer Datuk Professor Dr Rujhan Mustafa said the Immigration Department has agreed to implement the electronic Visa Approval Letter (eVAL), which will enable applicants to access the document the same day it is issued, expediting the process of their travel to Malaysia.
“The eVAL service significantly improves delivery time, making the process simpler and faster for students to travel to Malaysia. It is part of the Immigration Department and EMGS’ continuous endeavor to enhance international student services,” he said.
According to the director-general of the Immigration Department Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali, the system reduces delivery time of almost a month. The pilot phase for eVAL will commence from Oct 15 until Dec 31.
"Currently, the document is issued by the Immigration Department, then distributed by EMGS to the institutions who will then courier the document to students in their home country. Students will now have access to the electronic document via EMGS’ Student Application and Registration System (STARS) the moment it is issued by the Immigration Department, and allowing them to travel to Malaysia faster,“ he said.
With a copy of the eVAL, students from visa required countries can apply for the Single Entry Visa from Malaysian Missions or One Stop Centres abroad.
Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) is a wholly owned company of the Higher Education Ministry tasked with the global promotion of Education Malaysia and the management of applications for a Student Pass to study in Malaysia.