Student Visa

Application Procedures

Student Visa Application Fees

Student Visa Application (3 Months) = USD 250.00
Student Visa Application (6 Months) = USD 450.00

Applying for a Student Visa at Global English Centre

Please post/email the following documents to Global English Centre Sdn Bhd’s Office or info@gec.net.my with your application:

Sample Photo

1. 6 passport-size colour photographs, with blue background, no borders and image in a full front facing position.
   (For students not in Malaysia, email us the passport photo via electronic file in either .jpg or .png format,
   GEC Staff will have the photo developed and attached to the student visa application).
2. A full set of photocopied/scanned passport pages including blank pages and cover pages. Please submit an additional
   clear copy of the page with the particulars/details for the passport holder and ensure your passport has a minimum one year validity.
   (For students not in Malaysia, email us all the passport pages via electronic file in either .jpg or .pdf format).
3. Complete the International Student Health Examination at a local clinic together with the Doctors signature and clinic stamp and send the scanned copy in .pdf format
4. Deposit of the Student Visa Application Fee for the Student Visa Application procedure which can be deposited to the following account:

Bank Name: Malayan Banking Berhad
Bank Address: 48 JalanTiga, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
Swift Code: MBBEMYKL
Account name: Global English Centre Sdn Bhd
Account number: 5100-2242-3618

Alternatively payments can also be made via our online payment portal: GEC Flywire Portal

Once the deposit has been made, kindly attached a fax/email a copy of the receipt to:

Fax: +6088 – 429810
Email: info@gec.net.my

The Student Visa Application process will NOT proceed until GEC has received the deposit and required documents.

Once the Visa Approval Letter (VAL) is approved and issued by Immigration Malaysia, GEC will send the VAL to the Malaysian embassy in the students home country, at the same time GEC will also send a copy of the VAL letter to the student nominated address in their home country. The student must bring this letter along together with their passport to the Malaysian embassy in their home country BEFORE departure to Malaysia to get the passport stamped for clearance to enter Malaysia under a student visa.

Before Arrival

Important Travel Documents

Passport
Your passport must be kept valid for the duration of your stay and for travel purposes. Maintaining a valid passport is your responsibility. Your respective home country consulates or embassy in Malaysia can assist with passport renewals. The International Office can provide you with letters certifying your enrolment should you need it to assist in re-validating your passport. It is advisable to keep your passport valid in order to be eligible for certain insurance benefits.

Student Pass & Visa Approval Letter
The student pass and visa are endorsed onto your passport by the Malaysian Immigration Department. The endorsement indicates your visa type, the length of stay in Malaysia, the number of entries permitted into Malaysia and the validity of the student pass (which is for one year). The Malaysian Immigration regulations require all international students to enrol as a full-time student throughout their stay in Malaysia.

General Guidelines:

1. All International Students (except Diplomatic Pass holders, Malaysian Permanent Residents (P.R.)) are required to have a 6 month Student Pass (with an option to extend an additional 6 months) while studying at Global English Centre.
2. A Malaysian Student Pass will be applied on your behalf. You must hold a valid Student Pass for the entire duration of your stay at Global English Centre.
3. Once Global English Centre has submitted the application for your Student Pass, you are not allowed to submit a similar application through another college or institution. This will create confusion within the Malaysian Immigration Department and may result in delay or termination of your Student Pass application process.
4. Student Pass approvals usually take between 2 to 4 weeks. Global English Centre may not be able to obtain a Student Pass for you on time if your application to Global English Centre is received less than 6 weeks from the program intake dates.
5. Once the Student Pass is approved, a Visa Approval Letter will be couriered to you.
6. Kindly check with the Malaysian High Commission in your home country whether you need a visa to enter Malaysia when you receive the Approval Letter, before you purchase the air-ticket.
7. If you do, proceed to the nearest local Malaysian diplomatic mission (i.e., Malaysian High Commission Consulate), show them the Approval Letter together with your passport to obtain your single-entry visa. Students are not allowed to enter Malaysia prior to receipt of Approval Letter from the Malaysian Immigration Department.
8. It is mandatory that the Student Pass be applied for and renewed through Global English Centre. Not doing so will be a violation of the Malaysian Immigration Department’s regulations. While we will assist in your Student Pass application, Global English Centre cannot be held liable for any change in policies by the Malaysian Immigration Department in regards to issuance of Student Pass.
9. Upon arriving in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, you will be required to undergo a medical health examination as the final procedure in obtaining your Student Pass. A Global English Centre staff member will assist you in this process. After the completion of your medical health examination, Global English Centre will submit the medical health examination results, together with your Passport, at which time the approved Student Visa Permit will be affixed to your passport.

Medical Health & Insurance

The Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education requires all international students to purchase medical insurance and undergo a medical health examination. Students are to purchase their Overseas Student Health Insurance Prior to their arrival into Malaysia. Medical insurance will be arranged on behalf of the Students by Global English Centre if the Student does not have medical insurance, however all levies charged by the insurance company are to be borne by the Student. Global English Centre will also arrange for the medical check examination at a local medical clinic here in Kota Kinabalu, however, all levies charged by the medical clinic are to be borne by the Student. Both the medical insurance and the medical examination can be done upon arrival here in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and are required to be completed in order to obtain the approved Student Visa Permit.

Checklist before departure

A credit card will be handy. It is advisable that money should be brought into Malaysia in Travellers Cheques. Make sure your money can cover at least the first 3 months’ expenses such as food, accommodation costs and books.

Important personal items to pack:

• Personal Items
• Bed Sheet (2 pieces)
• Towel (2 pieces)
• Mobile phone
• Adapter plugs
• Basic Stationeries
• Dictionary
• Notebook or Laptop

Important documents to bring along:

• Passport
• Flight Ticket
• Driver’s License both Local and International
• Acceptance Letter and Immigration Approval Letter
• Original Academic Qualification transcript – in English (compulsory)
• Receipts / proofs of payment for all fees

It would be a good idea to make a copy of your Global English Centre’s documents (for example, Acceptance Letter, Approval Letter, Original Academic Qualification transcripts, receipts).

Arrival in Malaysia

On-arrival Reception Service Airport Pick-Up

1. Upon confirming your flight details, you are required to fax/email the ‘Flight Itinerary’ to Global English Centre.
   Fax: +6088 – 429810
   Email: info@gec.net.my
2. It is mandatory that you inform the International Office personnel of your arrival at least 5 working days prior your arrival. Please inform the International Office of any changes to your flight arrival information.
3. Global English Centre personnel are responsible for picking-up the students but not the accompanying family members, relatives or friends. However, Global English Centre will assist the accompanying members to travel should prior arrangements be made.
4. Students are not allowed to exit the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) without being accompanied by Global English Centre personnel or being transported in the Global English Centre arranged transportation unless prior alternative transportation arrangements have been made.
5. Students are advised to arrive at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) during Global English Centre office hours (9am to 6pm), Monday to Friday. This is to facilitate airport pick-up by Global English Centre personnel and ease hostel check-in. Try to avoid arriving on Malaysia Public Holidays.
6. For other points of entry, there will be no pick-up service, and you must immediately report to Global English Centre upon your arrival.

Arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)

1. In order to facilitate the airport pick-up, Students arriving in Kota Kinabalu, after clearing the Immigration Checkpoint are to wait for a Global English Centre’s staff outside the arrival hall gate as this will be the meeting point. Do look out for a place card (signage) bearing Global English Centre’s logo with the Students name written on it. There will be a money-changer located at the Arrival Hall should you wish to change some of your currency into Ringgit Malaysia (RM) as all financial transactions in Malaysia are conducted in Ringgit Malaysia (RM).
2. A Global English Centre’s van will be waiting for you outside the Arrival Hall.

Customs Regulations

Please take note of the following prohibitions of the Malaysian Customs Department:

1. TRAFFICKING AND POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS CARRIES THE MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY IN MALAYSIA.
2. A special permit is required for carriage of firearms and ammunition.
3. Other prohibited items include flick knives, daggers and pornographic material.
4. Taped video cassettes should be submitted for Customs clearance.
5. Export of antiques and historical objects is not permitted unless with an export license obtained from the Director General of Museums Malaysia or unless these items were originally imported and declared to Customs at that point.
6. You are required to declare to Customs or the Plant Quarantine Inspector any plants or parts of plants such as seeds, flowers, fruits, soil samples, cultures of fungi, bacteria and viruses, insects or any other vertebrate or invertebrate animal, that is in your possession.

Immigration Requirements While In Malaysia

1. You must satisfy program requirements by attending 80% of all your scheduled classes and achieve satisfactory academic results. Failing to do so can result in your Student Pass being revoked.
2. Attendance in class is COMPULSORY at all times unless you are able to provide a Medical Certificate (MC) from a certified doctor. Consistent failure to do so will result in your Student Pass being revoked.
3. You are required to take responsibility of monitoring the EXPIRY DATES of your passport and Student Pass.
4. If an extension of the Pass is required, students must submit their passports to the International Office at least 2 months before the expiry of the pass in order to facilitate the extension. Failing to do so would result in paying an extra RM300.00 to obtain a Special Pass.
5. All penalties imposed by the Malaysian Immigration Department in the event of late extension or expiry of Student Pass are to be borne by the student.
6. Two weeks before completion of your education in Global English Centre, you are required to inform the International Office to cancel your Student Pass or it might lead to forfeiture of the Bond Deposit.