Recently, there have been more frequent cases of Kazakhstani citizens being denied entry to Malaysia due to violations of the visa-free regime. Tourists and business travelers should carefully study the rules of stay to avoid trouble, reports infohub.kz.
Zhanbolat Ussenov, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reminded that Kazakhstanis can stay in Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days if the purpose of the trip is tourism or a short-term business trip. However, some travelers try to stay in the country longer than allowed.
"To circumvent the 30-day limit, the so-called 'visa run' is practiced — a short trip to a neighboring state followed by an immediate return to Malaysia to renew the 30-day period," the official wrote.
This loophole may have been abused by students without proper visas. Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry warned that such a method of extending stay violates Malaysia's immigration rules, and re-entry into the country is not guaranteed.
"Malaysian authorities have tightened border control. The decision to admit a foreign citizen into the country is made by immigration authorities directly during passport control," Ussenov wrote.
Thus, Kazakhstanis have been warned that attempts at 'visa runs' could end up in an immigration detention center followed by deportation.
To enter Malaysia, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry recommends checking entry rules in advance and adhering to the permitted length of stay. When going through passport control, one should honestly state the purpose of the trip and have a return ticket or a ticket for onward travel out of Malaysia within 30 days. Additionally, documents confirming the purpose of the trip, place of residence, and length of stay may be required. The visa-free regime does not guarantee entry into Malaysia — the final decision is made by an immigration officer at passport control.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle reported that prison pies suddenly went viral in Malaysia.