If you live in Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan or anywhere else in Borneo, you have probably asked one of these questions: “Does my Sabah or Sarawak passport work differently?” or “Do I need to do anything extra because I am not in Peninsular Malaysia?”
Short answer: no. A Malaysian passport is a Malaysian passport. The UK ETA rules are the same for you as they are for someone in Petaling Jaya or Penang.
But that does not mean your trip is the same. Flying from Borneo comes with a few things that people in KL never think about. Long connections, tight booking windows, and family trips where five people need five separate approvals. This guide covers what actually matters for you, so you can apply once, apply correctly, and stop worrying about it.
Official UK ETA Portal: https://application.uketa.com.my/
Do Sabah and Sarawak Malaysians Need a UK ETA?
Yes. Every Malaysian passport holder needs an approved UK ETA before travelling to the UK for a short stay. That includes holidays, visiting family, short business trips and short courses.
It does not matter which state you were born in or where you live. The ETA is linked to your passport number, not your address. Your MyKad, your state of residence and your IC number do not change the process.
An ETA is not a visa. You do not go to an embassy, you do not attend an interview and you do not send in a pile of paper documents. It is a digital approval that sits against your passport.
Once approved, it usually lasts up to two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can make as many trips as you want during that time, with each stay of up to six months. If you want the full basics first, our guide on UK ETA for Malaysians covers the background.
What Is Different When You Fly From Borneo?
The rules are the same. The travel reality is not. Here is what we see from Sabah and Sarawak travellers again and again.
1. You almost always connect somewhere. Very few people fly straight from Kuching or Kota Kinabalu to London. Most itineraries go through Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Doha, Dubai or another hub first. That matters because transit rules can catch people out. If you are only changing planes inside the airport and never pass UK border control, you generally do not need an ETA. But if your trip forces you to enter the UK, for example landing at one airport and leaving from another, that is a different story. We explain this properly in our page on UK ETA for transit passengers.
2. Your booking window is often tighter. Many Borneo travellers book during airline promos, and those promos can close fast. It is easy to buy the ticket first and think about the ETA later. Then the flight is three days away and you are checking your email every ten minutes. Do the ETA early instead.
3. Family trips are big. Sabah and Sarawak families tend to travel in groups. Parents, children, sometimes grandparents. Each person needs their own ETA on their own passport, including babies. More on that below.
4. Students and parents fly more often. A lot of families in Borneo have a child studying in the UK. Parents visit for graduation, for holidays, or just to check in. If that is you, the two-year validity and multiple entries are very useful. Just remember that a visit is not the same as living or studying there. If your child is going to study for longer than six months, that is a different route and an ETA will not cover it. Our page on UK ETA for students is a good place to start if that applies to you.
Step by Step: How to Apply From Sabah or Sarawak
You can do the whole thing from your phone or laptop, wherever you are. Here is the simple version.
Step 1: Check your passport. Look at the expiry date first. Technically your passport needs to cover your stay, but the safe move is to have at least six months left. If it is close to expiring, renew it first. Your ETA is tied to the passport, so a new passport means a new ETA. We wrote about this in passport validity rules for UK ETA.
Step 2: Get your photo ready. This trips up more people than anything else. Do not just use the photo from your passport or an old studio picture.
- Stand in front of a plain, light wall. Cream, light grey or plain white works.
- Face the camera straight on, with a neutral face.
- Use daylight from a window, not a phone flash.
- Take off glasses if they cause any glare.
- Keep your hair off your face and eyes.
Malaysian passport photos often have a blue background, and that is not accepted here. Full details are in our UK ETA photo requirements guide.
Step 3: Gather your details. You will need your passport, an email address you actually check, your phone number and a payment card. You will also need to answer some honest background questions.
Step 4: Fill in the form carefully. Take your time. Check your name, passport number and date of birth against the passport itself. One wrong digit can make the whole approval useless.
Step 5: Submit and wait for the email. Many approvals come back quickly, but it is smart to give yourself a few working days. Do not book non-refundable hotels or extras before you have your approval in hand. If you want to understand what to expect, read our page on UK ETA processing time for Malaysians.
If you would rather have someone check the form before it goes in, you can apply through our UK ETA service. We review the details and photo so simple mistakes do not cost you time.
How Much Time Should You Give Yourself?
Here is a simple way to think about it. Match the plan to your travel date.
| Your flight is in | What we suggest |
|---|---|
| More than 2 weeks | Regular plan. No rush. |
| A few days | Urgent plan for faster turnaround. |
| Very soon or tomorrow | Instant plan for the quickest option. |
These are the three service options we offer:
| Plan | Price | Turnaround | Support hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular UK ETA | £30 | Within 24 hours | 9:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday |
| Urgent UK ETA | £59 | Within 6 hours | 24/7, Monday to Sunday |
| Instant UK ETA | £99 | Within 15 minutes | 24/7, Monday to Sunday |
A 4.40% transaction charge applies to each plan.
A quick note for Borneo travellers. If you are applying on a Friday evening or over a weekend, the Regular plan works within weekday hours. If your flight is the next morning, choose Urgent or Instant so you are not waiting for Monday.
A Real-World Example
Let’s say the Lim family lives in Kuching. Two adults, two kids, and Grandma is joining them. They booked a promo fare to London through Kuala Lumpur, flying out in about ten days.
They start the ETA on a Tuesday night. Then three problems show up:
- The youngest child’s passport expires in four months, so they need a renewal first.
- Grandma does not have an email address, so her son uses his own and writes it down.
- The kids’ photos have a shadow across one side of the face, so they retake them near a window the next morning.
Nothing here is dramatic, but if they had waited until the last week, the passport renewal alone would have wrecked the trip. Five people means five applications and five chances for one small error. Starting early gave them room to fix things calmly.
Common Mistakes Sabah and Sarawak Travellers Make
We see the same errors again and again. Most are easy to avoid once you know about them.
- Waiting until the last minute. The ticket is booked, the leave is approved, and then the ETA is treated like an afterthought.
- Using the wrong photo. Blue backgrounds, shadows, glare on glasses, filters and edited pictures cause avoidable problems.
- Typing the passport number wrong. One swapped digit and the approval does not match your document.
- Forgetting babies and children. Everyone needs their own ETA, no matter their age.
- Applying with an old passport, then renewing. The ETA belongs to the passport. New passport, new ETA.
- Skipping or bending honest answers. If a question asks about past convictions or immigration problems, answer truthfully. Leaving something out is far worse than declaring it. Our page on common reasons for UK ETA rejection explains this in plain language.
- Assuming the ETA covers work, study or a long stay. It is for short visits only.
- Mixing up transit rules. Staying airside and passing through UK border control are two very different situations.
- Using one email for everyone and losing track. Keep a simple note of who applied, when, and which reference belongs to whom.
Applying for Kids and Parents
If you are applying for children, use the child’s own passport and a clear, recent photo of the child. Babies and toddlers are the hardest to photograph. Try a plain sheet on the floor with the baby lying down, and take the photo from above in soft daylight.
You can use a parent’s email address for a child’s application, which keeps everything in one inbox. Just make sure you clearly label who each message is for. Our page on applying for a child’s UK ETA walks through this.
For older parents who are not comfortable with apps or forms, sit down with them and do it together. It usually takes less than half an hour once the documents are ready, and it saves a lot of stress at the airport.
What If Your ETA Is Refused?
It is not common, but it can happen. If it does, do not panic and do not rush to re-submit the same details. First, read the message carefully and work out what went wrong. Was it a photo problem, a typo or a background question?
If it was a simple data error, you can correct it and apply again. If it involves something more serious, such as a past immigration issue or a conviction, you may need to look at a different route, such as a standard visitor visa. Our guides on refunds and rejections and rejection reasons cover what your options look like.
Quick Checklist Before You Apply
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip
- Name, passport number and birth date match the passport exactly
- Clear photo on a plain, light background
- Working email address (and a note of which one you used)
- Payment card ready
- Honest answers to every background question
- One ETA for every traveller, including children and babies
- Application done well before your flight
Ready to Apply?
If you are travelling from Sabah or Sarawak, the smartest thing you can do is treat the ETA as part of your trip planning, not something to sort out at the end. Get the passport, the photo and the details right, and the rest is simple.
You can start your UK ETA application here, or read our step by step application guide first if you want to see every step before you begin. If your flight is close, our team can help you pick the right plan and check your details before you submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Sabah and Sarawak passport holders need a different UK ETA? No. There is only one Malaysian passport, and the same ETA rules apply to everyone who holds it.
Can I apply from Kuching, Miri or Kota Kinabalu? Yes. You can apply online from anywhere in Malaysia, from your phone or laptop.
Do I need an ETA if I only change planes in the UK? Not if you stay in the airside transit area and never pass through UK border control. If your route means you enter the UK, you do need one. Check with your airline if you are unsure, and read our transit passenger guide.
Does my child need their own ETA? Yes. Every traveller needs one, including babies.
How long does the ETA last? Up to two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can travel multiple times in that period. See our page on multiple entry rules.
What if I renew my passport after getting my ETA? You will need a new ETA. The old approval is tied to the old passport.
Can I study in the UK with an ETA? Only very short courses of up to six months. Longer study needs a proper student route.
Is the ETA the same as a visa? No. It is a digital permission to travel that is linked to your passport. There is no embassy visit or interview.
Should I print my ETA? You do not have to, because it is linked to your passport digitally. Keeping a copy of the approval email on your phone is still a good backup.
Final Thoughts
Being from Sabah or Sarawak does not make the UK ETA harder. It just means your trip has a few extra moving parts, like longer connections, bigger family groups and promo tickets that sell out fast. Plan the ETA at the same time you plan the flight, keep your details clean, and you will avoid almost every problem we see.
If you want a second pair of eyes on your application, we are happy to help.
