MDAC for Families and Groups – Travel Guide

MDAC for Families and Groups – Travel Guide

Travelling to Malaysia with your family or as part of a group? The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) process has specific rules for families and groups that differ from individual submissions. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own MDAC. There is no combined family form. This guide explains exactly how to handle MDAC submissions for families, groups with children, elderly travellers, and organised tour groups.

The Core Rule – One MDAC Per Person

The most important thing to understand is:

Every foreign national entering Malaysia must have their own individual MDAC, regardless of age. This includes newborns, infants, children, teenagers, adults, and elderly travellers.

There is no family form, no group submission option, and no way to submit multiple MDACs in a single transaction. Each person’s MDAC is linked to their individual passport and must be submitted separately.

MDAC for Families with Children

What You Need for Each Child

• The child’s own valid passport (not the parent’s passport)
• The child’s full name exactly as shown on their passport
• The child’s passport number
• The child’s date of birth and nationality
• The same accommodation address as the accompanying adults
• The parent or guardian’s contact email and phone number

Age-Specific Notes

Practical Tips for Family Submissions

• Use one email address for all family members – this keeps all confirmation PINs in one inbox and simplifies tracking
• Open multiple browser tabs – complete each family member’s MDAC in a separate tab to avoid losing progress
• Copy common fields – accommodation address, arrival date, and flight number are the same for all family members
• Keep a list – note each person’s passport number and PIN to avoid confusion when checking status
• Download all PDFs – save each family member’s MDAC confirmation to the same folder on your phone
• Allow 15-20 minutes per person – budget time accordingly for larger families

MDAC for Organised Groups and Tours

Tour Group Rules

For organised tour groups, corporate delegations, school trips, or any group travel:

• Each group member needs their own individual MDAC
• A tour leader or organiser can submit MDACs on behalf of group members
• The organiser needs each member’s passport details
• All submissions use the same accommodation address (group hotel)
• Each submission requires a valid email address for the PIN

How Tour Operators Can Streamline the Process

1. Collect passport details early – request passport scans or photos from all group members well before travel
2. Create a spreadsheet with columns for: full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, email address
3. Prepare the accommodation address – have the full hotel address ready with postal code
4. Submit in batches – complete each member’s MDAC one by one, using the same common information
5. Distribute confirmations – send each member their individual PDF confirmation
6. Keep a master copy – maintain a folder with all group members’ MDAC confirmations

Managing Multiple Submissions Efficiently

When submitting MDACs for a group, the repetitive fields make the process faster after the first submission:

MDAC for Elderly Travellers

Elderly travellers who may have difficulty with online forms have several options:

• Family members can complete the MDAC on their behalf using the elderly person’s passport details
• Travel companions can assist with the form
• Tour operators can submit MDACs as part of their group management
• Travel agents can complete the form as part of their booking service

The key requirement is that all information must be accurate and match the traveller’s passport exactly. The person completing the form should have the elderly traveller’s passport in hand while filling out the details.

MDAC for Mixed Nationality Groups

International groups with members from different countries face an additional consideration: different nationalities may have different visa requirements. However, the MDAC process itself is the same for all nationalities.

• Each member completes the MDAC with their own passport details and nationality
• Visa requirements are separate from MDAC – check individually for each nationality
• The accommodation address can be the same for all members
• Some nationalities may need visas in addition to the MDAC

Common Family and Group MDAC Mistakes

Duplicate Passport Numbers

The most common family-specific error is accidentally entering the same passport number for multiple family members. When rushing through several submissions, it is easy to forget to change the passport number field. Double-check this for every submission.

Using the Parent’s Details for a Child

Each MDAC must contain the individual traveller’s details. A child’s MDAC must show the child’s name, passport number, and date of birth – not the parent’s. The contact email and phone can be the parent’s, but all passport-related fields must be the child’s.

Wrong Accommodation for Multi-Hotel Trips

If your family or group is splitting up across different hotels (e.g., parents at one hotel, grandparents at another), each person’s MDAC should reflect their own first accommodation in Malaysia.

Forgetting a Family Member

With multiple submissions to manage, it is easy to accidentally skip someone. Make a checklist of all travellers and tick off each person as you complete their MDAC.

MDAC Submission Checklist for Families

Print this checklist or create your own version with all family members. Tick off each step as you complete it to ensure no one is missed.