SHAH ALAM, Aug 20 — The Malaysian passport has been named world’s fourth strongest, sharing a Global Mobility Score of 174 with Spain, which placed third based on its number of visa-free destinations.
According to data from independent platform Passport Reports, Malaysia is the second-strongest passport in ASEAN and third-strongest in Asia, with holders able to access 174 of 199 destinations without a traditional visa.
While Malaysia and Spain had the same overall score, the report said Malaysia scored 129 in terms of how many countries its passport-holders may enter visa-free, visa-on-arrival (VOA), or simplified arrangements, compared with Spain’s score of 132.
According to the platform, 121 destinations allow Malaysian passport-holders visa-free entry.
“These include most of Europe, as well as key international destinations such as Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and South Africa,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 45 destinations provide visa-on-arrival or other simplified entry arrangements for Malaysians, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, India, the Maldives, and South Sudan.
The report also said eight destinations allow Malaysian travellers to enter through electronic travel authorisation or similar digital systems, including the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and Seychelles.
Only 24 destinations require Malaysian passport-holders to obtain a conventional visa or prior approval, including the United States, Canada, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
