Malaysia’s passport ranks 11th, offers access to 180 countries

In a notable achievement, Malaysia’s passport has scaled up the global rankings, providing visa-free access to an impressive 180 travel destinations.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Malaysia’s passport has secured the 11th spot, a significant improvement from its 13th ranking in the previous two years. The index evaluates 199 different passports based on their visa-free access to countries and destinations worldwide.

While Singapore leads the world with the most powerful passport, granting its citizens visa-free access to 192 countries, Malaysia’s steady progress is commendable. The Southeast Asian nation’s diplomatic efforts have resulted in greater travel freedom for its citizens, surpassing other neighboring countries in the region.

Malaysia’s passport rankings and progress

Malaysia’s passport has shown remarkable progress in the Henley Passport Index, reflecting the nation’s dedication to enhancing global travel opportunities for its citizens. Over the years, the Malaysian passport has steadily climbed the rankings, reflecting its increased visa-free access to numerous countries worldwide.

In 2023, Malaysia achieved the 11th spot in the Henley Passport Index, a notable improvement from its 13th rank in both 2021 and 2022. This ascent is attributed to the passport providing visa-free access to 180 out of 227 different travel destinations. The Malaysian government’s efforts to strengthen international relations and negotiate visa-free agreements have played a crucial role in this achievement.

While Malaysia’s passport rankings in the last six years have not reached the previous peaks of 8th spot (2014) and 9th spot (2013 and 2006), the number of countries with visa-free access has significantly increased. From approximately 120 destinations in 2006, the Malaysian passport’s visa-free access expanded to 145 in 2008 and further improved to a range of 151 to 166 countries between 2010 and 2017. Presently, this number has soared to an impressive 180 countries and destinations.

Singapore tops the Henley Passport Index

For the first time in five years, Japan has been displaced from the top spot in the Henley Passport Index. Singapore has emerged as the leader, granting its passport holders visa-free access to 192 countries and destinations out of 227. This significant achievement reflects Singapore’s consistent efforts to secure greater travel freedom for its citizens, with 25 new destinations added in the past decade.

In addition to Singapore’s triumph, several European nations have made strides in the rankings. Germany, Italy, and Spain share the second spot, providing visa-free access to 190 destinations. Japan and South Korea join Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, and Sweden in the third position, with access to 189 destinations without a prior visa.

The United States and the United Kingdom, once at the pinnacle of the index in 2014, have seen a decline in rankings. The UK, however, demonstrated improvement, jumping to the 4th position, while the US dropped to 8th place with visa-free access to 183 destinations.

The Henley Openness Index

In addition to the Henley Passport Index, Henley & Partners has introduced the Henley Openness Index. This new index ranks countries based on their openness to foreigners and the number of nationalities they permit entry to without a prior visa.

The Top 20 ‘most open’ countries predominantly comprise small island nations and African states, along with Cambodia. Impressively, 12 completely open countries offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to all 198 passports in the world, with countries like Burundi, Maldives, Seychelles, and Tuvalu among them.

However, the travel freedom gap between the top and bottom-ranking countries has widened, with Afghanistan, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, and Turkmenistan being among the least open nations.

Malaysia’s progress in the Henley Passport Index reflects the nation’s commitment to facilitating global travel for its citizens. With the passport securing the 11th spot and providing visa-free access to 180 destinations, Malaysians now have more opportunities to explore the world and engage in international exchanges.

As Malaysia’s passport rankings continue to improve, it not only benefits individual travelers but also contributes to the country’s economic growth and tourism industry. The enhanced travel freedom can attract investors and tourists alike, boosting the confidence of the international community in Malaysia.