Indian citizens can now enjoy visa-free travel to Malaysia, as the country has recently joined the list of nations offering this facility. This move aims to boost tourism between the two countries. The Passport Index, a renowned global benchmark for passport strength and travel freedom, has ranked India at 137th in its latest ranking. This ranking is based on the number of countries that Indian passport holders can visit without a visa. Unfortunately, Indian citizens still face visa requirements for entry into 123 countries.
However, the index also highlights India’s Passport Power Rank, which is 68. While this rank may be considered moderate compared to other countries, it reflects the current state of India’s international mobility. This is particularly relevant as three South Asian countries are currently considering visa-free travel for Indian citizens for a specific period. The index further reveals that the Indian passport allows visa-free travel to 23 countries and visa-on-arrival access to 49 countries, resulting in a mobility score of 75. Moreover, with the recent addition of three more countries offering visa-free entry to Indian citizens to promote tourism, the total number of such countries has now reached 26.
Indian passport holders have been granted the privilege of entering Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Macau, Mauritius, Micronesia, Nepal, Palestinian Territory, St. Kitts and Nevis, Senegal, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia without the need for a visa. In a similar vein, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has recently announced that Indian and Chinese nationals will also be able to enjoy a 30-day visa-free entry starting from December 1. This move follows the footsteps of Thailand and Sri Lanka, who have implemented similar measures to promote tourism. Additionally, eight ASEAN countries currently offer a 30-day visa-free entry for social visits, tourism, and business purposes.
India continues to be a significant contributor to the number of tourists visiting Malaysia. Sri Lanka has recently implemented a visa-free entry initiative for visitors from India, as well as several other countries such as China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. This initiative, which will be in effect until March 31, 2024, aims to attract more tourists to Sri Lanka, with a target of five million tourists in the coming years. Additionally, Thailand has also removed visa requirements for Indian and Taiwanese visitors, allowing them to travel to Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days.
This visa-free access for Indian passport holders will be applicable from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. These recent developments are expected to improve India’s passport ranking. It is worth noting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) currently holds the strongest passport globally, offering visa-free travel privileges to 116 countries and visa on arrival to 57 countries. The UAE’s overall mobility score stands at an impressive 173.