Documents to study in Malaysia from Uzbekistan: a checklist

In short

• You prepare documents in two rounds: first for the university, then, once you have an offer letter, for the student visa through EMGS.
• The slowest items are the notarised translation of your school certificate and the English test. Start with those.
• Your passport needs at least 18 months of validity, and the photo must be 35 × 45 mm on a white background.
• Citizens of Uzbekistan need a Single Entry Visa (SEV) on top of the student visa approval (eVAL).
• The Student Pass is endorsed in your passport once you are in Malaysia, after a medical check at an EMGS panel clinic.

Below is every document in order: what you need, where to get it and where families most often lose time.

How it works: two sets of documents

Applying to a university in Malaysia happens in two stages, and each has its own paperwork.

1. The university application. You choose a programme and send your education documents, passport and English results. If everything is in order, the university sends an offer letter.
2. The student visa. You can apply to EMGS (Education Malaysia Global Services, which works under Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education) only after accepting the offer. The university files the application, or the student does it on the EMGS website or app.

One point matters for school leavers from Uzbekistan. EMGS states that international students need at least 12 years of education to enter a diploma or bachelor's degree. School in Uzbekistan lasts 11 years, so after grade 11 most students start with a one-year Foundation programme. The options are explained in study abroad after school, and the whole process is set out step by step in how to apply to a university in Malaysia.

Checklist: documents for the university

School certificate and translation

Universities work with documents in English. Your school-leaving certificate (attestat), or your lyceum, college or university diploma, is translated into English together with the grades and certified by a notary. City University Malaysia states plainly that documents not in English must come with a notarised translation and that copies of certificates and transcripts must be certified.

If you are still in grade 11, you can apply before you receive the certificate. A university can issue a conditional offer based on your current grades and make the final decision once you send the final document.

English test

Most programmes in Malaysia are taught in English, so your level is checked both for admission and for the visa. EMGS accepts MUET, IELTS (including IELTS Online), TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, PTE Academic, Cambridge English qualifications and ELS.

The score you need depends on the university and the programme. For example, MAHSA University lists IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550 for international applicants to medicine (MBBS) and dentistry. Having no certificate yet does not always rule you out: at MAHSA you can sit a free diagnostic test and then take an intensive English course.

MAHSA University and City University Malaysia entry requirements

MAHSA University. The online application at study.mahsa.edu.my asks you to upload a photo, a passport copy, your academic results (required) and your English test results. Grade and English requirements differ by programme, so Foundation, bachelor's degrees and medicine each have their own. The programme list is on the MAHSA University page.

City University Malaysia. The international application form lists: the completed form, photos on a white background, a scan of the whole passport (every page, blank ones included), certified copies of certificates and transcripts in English, a CV for postgraduate study, a health examination, and payment of the application fee and the EMGS visa fee. If the applicant is under 21, a parent or guardian also signs the form. More on the City University Malaysia page.

The City University form has one more rule worth repeating: pay fees only to the university itself. Check the bank details against the invoice the university sends you.

Malaysia student visa: required documents (EMGS)

Once you accept the offer, the visa stage begins. For a new application EMGS asks for:

• one photo on a white background, 35 × 45 mm;
• the passport bio-data page and any pages with visas; at least 18 months of validity, ideally 12 months longer than your course;
• a copy of the offer letter;
• a completed Health Declaration Form;
• copies of all your education documents;
• an English language certificate;
• a personal bond, a financial guarantee arranged through the university.

Attach the English certificate from the start. EMGS warns that without it processing may be delayed and you will not get a Student Pass for the full length of your course.

EMGS aims to process a complete application in 14 working days; incomplete ones take longer. The result is the eVAL (electronic visa approval letter), valid for 6 months. You may enter Malaysia only after the eVAL has been issued.

Malaysia visa for citizens of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is on the list of countries whose citizens need a Single Entry Visa (SEV) before entering Malaysia. EMGS says it is obtained through the eVISA system. The Embassy of Malaysia in Tashkent also accepts SEV applications for study, with:

• a passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival in Malaysia;
• a visa form completed in English with a 3 × 4 cm photo;
• the visa approval letter (VAL);
• a copy of the air ticket and a copy of the passport's photo page;
• a consular fee of USD 6.

The Embassy processes a complete application in 3 to 4 working days and may ask for additional documents. Ask your consultant which route works best when you are ready to travel. In the 3 days before you arrive, fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online.

After you arrive

1. Within 7 working days, have the medical check at an EMGS panel clinic. Your Student Pass cannot be processed without it.
2. Hand your passport to the university so the Student Pass can be endorsed in it. It is usually issued for up to one year at a time and then renewed.
3. Keep medical insurance for the whole period of study: it is compulsory for international students.

What the visa stage costs

These are the EMGS fees for private institutions in Peninsular Malaysia (MAHSA and City University are among them), from the schedule updated on 23 June 2026.

Without the personal bond this comes to RM 2,858–3,004, about USD 700–740 at RM 4.08 per dollar on 1 October 2026. The university application fee, translations and flights are extra. For the full picture with tuition fees and living costs, see the cost of studying in Malaysia.

When to start

EMGS processes a complete application in 14 working days, but City University puts the whole visa process at 6 to 8 weeks. Add time for the English test, translations and the university's own review. We suggest starting 4 to 6 months before classes begin. City University takes students in January, May and September.

Common mistakes

• The passport expires within 18 months and has to be replaced halfway through.
• The photo is not on a white background or is the wrong size.
• The translation is not notarised.
• The EMGS application goes in without an English certificate, so it takes longer and the pass is issued for a shorter period.
• Fees are paid to a middleman instead of the university.

Frequently asked questions

Do students from Uzbekistan need a visa for Malaysia?

Yes. You need the student visa approval through EMGS (eVAL) and a Single Entry Visa (SEV). You cannot enter as a tourist and sort out your studies on arrival: EMGS allows entry only after the eVAL has been issued.

Do I need IELTS to study in Malaysia?

You need an English certificate for both the university and EMGS. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge English and the other tests on the EMGS list are accepted. If you do not have a result yet, some universities offer their own test and an English course before the main programme.

Can I apply before I get my school certificate?

Yes. A university can make a conditional offer based on your current grades and confirm it once you send the certificate.

Does my school certificate need an apostille?

The EMGS and City University document lists do not mention an apostille: they ask for certified copies and a notarised English translation. If a university needs extra certification, it will tell you when it checks your documents.

Who submits the visa application to EMGS?

Usually the university, through its own system, after the student accepts the offer. Students can also apply themselves on the EMGS website or app, and the status can be tracked online.

How long is the eVAL valid?

Six months from the date of issue. Within that time you need to get your entry visa and travel to Malaysia.

We can check your documents

Requirements change from one intake to the next, and every university has its own details. An OPAL Education consultant will check what is missing, tell you where to start and plan the timing around your intake. Book a free consultation on our contact page.