Visa-free destinations for Malaysians
If there’s one thing that Malaysians can brag about – besides being a treasure trove of tasty food, of course – it would be the strength of our country’s passport. With the ability to travel to over 180 destinations globally without a visa, we can pretty much say the world is our oyster.
From marvelling at ornate buildings in Italy to witnessing the magical aurora borealis in Norway to frolicking on the desert dunes of Egypt, here are 7 visa-free countries that Malaysians can travel to when that wanderlust inside begins to itch.
Table of Contents
How does visa-free travel work?
Visa-free travel is organised by agreements, or visa waiver policies, between countries, that allow citizens to travel between destinations without a visa. Entry is granted on conditions such as the purpose of the visit instead, which is typically limited to tourism, business, and transit. There’s also a cap on the duration of stay, which usually ranges from 30 to 90 days.
Which countries can I visit visa-free with a Malaysian passport?
Based on the Henley Passport Index, you can visit 181 countries visa-free with a Malaysian passport in 2025, as of the time of writing. Our passport ranks 11th globally in terms of mobility and is the 2nd most powerful passport in Southeast Asia. As there’s nothing quite as frustrating as the hassle of filling out visa application forms, we Malaysians can consider ourselves lucky.
It is certainly great news that many countries popular with Malaysian travellers are visa-free – think Japan, the UK, France, and Thailand. There are also less-frequented destinations to visit to see more of the world and make the most of the Malaysian passport:
| Country | Best known for | Visa-free stay for Malaysian citizens |
| Morocco | Textile bazaars | 90 days |
| Croatia | Coastal towns, national parks | 90 days |
| Italy | Historical sites | 90 days |
| Norway | The aurora borealis | 90 days |
| China | Ancient and modern cities | 30 days |
| Greece | Whitewashed villages | 90 days |
| Egypt | Desert dunes | 14 days |
What to prepare before travelling without a visa
Most countries won’t require any documents for visa-free travel, apart from a passport with at least six months validity beyond your intended stay duration. But there are some things that’ll be a good idea to prep to ensure a trip without hiccups:
Documents
Some destinations may ask for proof of return or onward travel when clearing immigration, to confirm the intended dates of entry and exit for your trip. What this means is a flight ticket with a date of departure to show that you’ll be leaving the country you’ll be temporarily in.
Accommodation
It’s also good to have the details of your accommodation arrangements with you, especially if you’re traveling to a country with stricter entry requirements. This proves that you have a place to stay for your trip. Hotel bookings, Airbnb reservations, or a formal letter of invitation from a host work for this.
Insurance
Insurance is always wise to have as it can give you that peace of mind in case of unexpected travel incidents such as flight cancellations, medical emergencies, and delayed baggage. If you already have one, it’s recommended to check if your plan covers overseas travel too.
1. Morocco
Image credit: Ahmed via Unsplash
Morocco is a land awash with culture, colours, and spices – your adventures here are sure to be vibrant. Situated in the Maghreb region of North Africa, the country is home to breathtaking landscapes with lavish riads and medieval medinas, bustling bazaars offering mounds of spices, and picturesque seaside towns.
Image credit: @visit_morocco_ via Instagram
Cities to visit in Morocco: The invigorating city of Marrakech, also known as the Red City, will awaken your senses with its kaleidoscope of sounds, senses, and colours. The first stop on your trip here should be the heady alleyways of the lively souks, Arabian for marketplace or bazaars, where you can haggle for everything from textiles to ceramics.
Get transported back in time at the UNESCO-listed Fes, the oldest Moroccan city with its terracotta-coloured souks and labyrinthine streets. Else, take a trip to the country’s capital city Rabat, which boasts a blend of elegant boulevards, enchanting art galleries, and historical sites such as the iconic Hassan Tower and lovely Andalusian gardens.
Visa-free stay duration: 90 days
2. Croatia
Image credit: @croatia via Instagram
Europe’s sun-drenched jewel, Croatia, beckons with the allure of its coastal towns and vast emerald sea. While its seaside credentials are impressive, this stunning country is also home to medieval structures, Roman ruins, idyllic towns, mountain ranges, and spectacular terraced lakes.
Image credit: @023.zadar via Instagram
Cities to visit in Croatia: Situated by the pristine Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is Croatia’s most famous travel destination, for good reason. The medieval city’s walls date back to the 10th century, encircling Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and all of its baroque buildings, cobbled streets, and historical landmarks like the Dubrovnik Cathedral and Sponza Palace.
Zadar is another place for history buffs. The Venetian-era city brims with Byzantine-style churches, Romanesque cathedrals, and serene national parks. But it’s the ethereal installation along the city’s waterfront that’ll mesmerise you, including the Sea Organ that features pipes, wind, and waves to create music, and the Sun Salutation that has solar panels transforming rays into spectacular lights.
Visa-free stay duration: 90 days
3. Italy
Image credit: Citalia via website
Vistas, architecture, food, music, and nature – Italy pretty much has it all. The country may be home to over 100 cities, but each one is a masterpiece in itself and as enthralling as the next.
Image credit: @walter_7.3 via Instagram
Cities to visit in Italy: Cities such as Rome and Florence are no-brainer choices for first-time visitors – a blend of ancient ruins and modernity awaits there. Venice, the ever-so-timeless art mecca of Italy, will have you falling in love with the city while gliding away in gondolas through canals flanked by captivating Venetian buildings.
Milan stands as the heart of Italy’s fashion, art, and design scenes. This city is as sleek as it is timeless and warrants a visit for those with a love for culture. Art appreciators will love the Renaissance masterpieces at the Brera Art Gallery, while fashionistas can relish the fashion collections at Fondazione Plaza or Armani Silos. Likewise, architecture geeks will be stunned by the grandeur of the gothic Duomo cathedral and Castello Sforzesco.
Visa-free stay duration: 90 days
4. Norway
Image credit: Go Fjord via website
Since our passport allows it, it’ll be a waste to not visit the spectacular country of Norway to experience its dramatic sceneries at least once in our lives, wouldn’t it? The Nordic nation has an abundance of breathtaking natural landscapes, including its renowned fjords, or glacial-carved valleys flanked by rugged mountains that plunge straight into tranquil waters.
Image credit: @ismaeletortella via Instagram
Cities to visit in Norway: The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Geirangerfjord in Geiranger, is perhaps the most famous of all the Norwegian fjords, where you’ll also find the Seven Sisters and Bridal Veil waterfalls cascading down craggy peaks.
It’s not quite a trip to Norway if you don’t visit the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in the north. These otherworldly islands are irresistibly picture-perfect with expansive plains blanketed in pure snow and deep fjorded coastlines speckled with colourful villages – and not to mention, the famous aurora borealis which flaunts undulating waves of green, blue, pink, and yellow in the night skies.
Beyond these natural wonders, Norwegian cities are also home to jaw-dropping architecture steeped in history, such as Bergen, famous for its fish markets and medieval wooden buildings, and the historic Trondheim, an idyllic university town and a culinary hub with an old-world charm.
Visa-free stay duration: 90 days
5. China
Image credit: Golftripz via website
With hundreds of cities, each one distinctive and iconic in its own right, a diverse and vast country like China is sure to top most travel bucket lists.
Image credit: @dyarllon.photos via Instagram
Cities to visit in China: Apart from tourist-packed cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, the ancient capital of Xi’an is a fantastic choice of destination with plenty of cultural wonders straight off the pages of China’s history books.
If you’re less big on history, head to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province popular for hotpot and one of the largest panda bases in the world. Here you can have steaming hotpot for as many meals as you want and fill your photo gallery with shots of the cuddly white-and-black bamboo-eating creatures.
If spellbinding natural beauty is up your alley, there’s the “Heaven on Earth” Hangzhou, a city blessed with enchanting lakes set against the backdrop of hills and mountains, as well as bridges, pagodas, temples, and pavilions.
Serving as the inspiration for the blockbuster movie Avatar, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie is out-of-this-world beautiful with its mesmerising “floating peaks”. They are sandstone formations partially engulfed by mythical shrouds of morning mists, which makes them appear elevated above a sea of clouds.
Visa-free stay duration: 30 days
This visa-free policy is effective till 31st December 2025.
6. Greece
Image credit: Greece Insiders via website
A place where the echoes of the mythical gods and legends hum in the background of modern life, the land of Greece bewitches travellers to its cobblestone streets, whitewashed villages, and sparkling vistas of cerulean seas.
Image credit: Désirée Krennrich via Unsplash
Cities to visit in Greece: A lively metropolis that’s also flourishing with history is Athens, where travellers can explore iconic landmarks such as the Acropolis and Parthenon, alongside contemporary urban parks and shopping districts.
Santorini is where romantic souls can soak up the sun amidst terraces of cobalt-crowned white villages seemingly spilling down the cliff to the glittering waters of the Aegean Sea.
Old Town Rhodes is a medieval masterpiece steeped in myths – a must-visit for lovers of old world charm. Wander through its alleys which take you back in time with its stoned inns, arched doorways, and 14th-century knight’s houses that still stand to this day. Immerse yourself in the town’s epic history at the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, housed in the historic Hospital of the Knights, or the Palace of Grand Master, one of the most significant monuments in Rhodes’ medieval history.
Visa-free stay duration: 90 days
7. Egypt
Image credit: @delani.mckee via Instagram
For those who enjoy compelling and enigmatic journeys, Egypt is the city for you. There is an abundance of things to explore in the country which teems with ancient treasures and museums dedicated to priceless artifacts that’ll make you feel like Indiana Jones as you explore them.
Image credit: @lisatravels_theworld via Instagram
Cities to visit in Egypt: Start at Egypt’s marvelously chaotic capital Cairo. The sprawling metropolis pulses with the rhythm of a bygone era and the energy of the present as you stroll along the Nile River, gape at the Islamic Cairo, and marvel at the Pyramids of Gaza.
The city of Luxor will have you feeling like you’re in a living museum. It is said to preserve a third of the world’s ancient monuments including the ruins of Karnak at the Karnak Temple, the majestic Temple of Hatshepsut, and the Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs rest.
Get your fill of surreal dunes at the city’s aptly-named Black and White Desert. The jagged rocks and dark volcanic hills make up the black in this desert’s name, and the expanse of white chalk rock formations contrast starkly with that, creating a hauntingly ethereal sight.
Visa-free stay duration: 14 days
Plan your next stress-free getaway with MSIG Malaysia
We dream of facing sparkling blue waters at a far-flung beach and marvelling at cities with glittering lights in a faraway land, but the tedious task of applying for a visa can be a hindrance to our travel plans.
To make upcoming trips a breeze, here’s the golden ticket to your next dream vacation: just your Malaysian passport and an accommodating travel insurance to safeguard your visa-free travels.
No one can truly plan for the unexpected, but MSIG can help ensure you’re prepared for any unforeseen travel interruptions and give you the confidence to venture to foreign lands regardless of your travel experience. Its range of insurance solutions covers:
- Travel delays
- Personal luggage and personal effects
- Medical expenses arising from illnesses, or injury due to accidents
- Accidental death and permanent disablement
- Travel assistance services
- Optional add-on: Alternative transport top-up (TravelRight Plus Insurance)
You can also enjoy up to RM50 Touch ‘n Go e-wallet credits when you secure your travel insurance with MSIG during their Travel Smart, TravelRight campaign. Simply input the code <MSIGxTSLocal> when you checkout a comprehensive MSIG Travel Insurance for Single Trips or Annual Plans on their website, from now till 31st May 2025.
With your travel safety net in place, you’ll be ready for your next great big adventure.
Travel smart with MSIG Malaysia
This post was brought to you by MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd.
Cover image adapted from: Federico Di Dio via Unsplash & National Geographic, Getty Images & National Geographic Kids via website
T&Cs apply. MSIG is a member of PIDM. The benefit(s) payable under eligible product is protected by PIDM up to limits. Please refer to PIDM’s TIPS Brochure or contact MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd or PIDM (visit www.pidm.gov.my).