Malaysia drops to 12th place in passport index ranking

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has fallen to 12th place from its previous No. 11 spot on the global passport index ranking.

Henley Passport Index, which evaluates 199 passports, based its 2024 ranking on Malaysian passport holders being allowed to travel visa-free to 182 out of 227 destinations worldwide.

The Malaysian passport was once ranked eighth most "powerful" in the world, in 2014.

The index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and reflects global trends of visa-free travel.

Singapore has maintained its top position, making its passport the most powerful with its citizens able to visit 195 countries visa-free.

Japan is in joint second position with France, Germany, Italy and Spain (visa-free travel to 192 countries).

Countries in joint third place are Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden (191 countries).

Among other Asean countries, Brunei ranked 19th, Thailand 60th, Indonesia 65th, the Philippines 73rd, Cambodia 86th, Vietnam 88th, Laos 90th, and Myanmar 92nd.