Holders of Malaysia’s passport now enjoy visa-free access to 183 out of 227 destinations, an increase from 179 last year, according to the latest index released in October by Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm.
This is Malaysia’s highest ranking since 2014, reflecting the growing strength of the passport’s reputation.
Many Malaysians have expressed national pride, celebrating the fact that their passport allows them to travel “almost everywhere visa-free.”
“When I went to Morocco, a customs officer asked for my visa. I told them that Malaysians don’t need one to enter. They checked again and came back saying, ‘You’re right. You don’t need a visa.’ It feels great to just enter a country visa-free,” one netizen shared on Facebook.
Another commented, “I travel often to Denmark and never have any issues with immigration. It’s always smooth, and they respect our country.”
“I recently went to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. I agree, it’s a well-respected passport. No problems at all, and always greeted with a smile,” another user added.
Some netizens also praised the unique design of the Malaysian passport.
Under UV light, Malaysia’s passport reveals illustrations of the country’s iconic landmarks, including mosques and historic buildings. The cover also features the hibiscus, Malaysia’s national flower.
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s passport is the second most powerful, trailing only Singapore’s.
The discussion drew responses from netizens from across the region.
On the social media platform X, an Indonesian user, Zakky, remarked that Malaysians are fortunate not only for the passport’s design but also for its strength.
“Lucky to be Malaysian. The passport is valuable and lets you travel almost anywhere without a visa. Not like us,” he said.
A Filipino user, Ian Paul Saligumba, commented, “As a Filipino, I can relate. That’s why I only travel to visa-free countries so far. I don’t like the hassle of applying for a visa.”
Bao Dinh Nguyen from Vietnam expressed his frustrations, saying, “One of the most ‘powerful’ passports in Asia. Unlike Vietnam, we need visas almost everywhere except ASEAN countries and a few smaller countries. Sometimes, it’s disappointing when your visa application is rejected just as you’re ready to travel.”
Vietnam’s passport has slipped three places to 90th in the ranking, allowing visa-free access to only 51 destinations.
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