Malaysia joins Thailand, Sri Lanka to allow visa-free entry to Indians

Prime minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia declared on Sunday that, starting December 1, people of China and India will no longer need entry visas. This decision comes after Sri Lanka and Thailand introduced a similar visa waiver.

The Malaysian prime minister stated during the People's Justice Party's annual conference that Chinese and Indian nationals will benefit from a visa-free stay of up to 30 days under this new policy, subject to security screening.

This decision is in line with Malaysia's strategy to increase economic growth by drawing more tourists and their spending.

As of now, Indian nationals traveling from Thailand, Indonesia, or Singapore are eligible for a visa-on-arrival in Malaysia. Having a confirmed return ticket to India and a valid visa for any of these transit countries are additional requirements for obtaining a visa-on-arrival.

​Malaysia provides diverse visa options for Indians, such as the eNTRI Visa, E-Visa, and Transit Pass, catering to specific travel needs with varying durations of stay. Each visa serves unique purposes.

Remarkably, China on November 30 declared that, starting on December 1 and continuing through November 30 of the following year, nationals of six nations—including Malaysia—will be able to enter China without a visa.

Similarly, Sri Lanka has introduced a visa-free entry initiative for visitors from India and six other countries, encompassing China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Thailand has also lifted visa requirements for visitors from India and Taiwan. Indians can travel to Thailand without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. This visa-free access for Indian passport holders is applicable from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024.

As per Henley and Partners' most recent Passport Index (2023), Indian passport holders are able to enter up to 57 countries without a visa. This covers nations that offer services like electronic travel authorization (ETA), visa-free travel, and visa-on-arrival.