Holiday Ayo - The Malaysian passport recently made history by securing third place in the world rankings in the 2025 Passport Index Rankings.

Remarkably, Malaysian passport holders can now enter 174 countries visa-free or with the convenience of visa on arrival, e-visas (exit within 3 days), or electronic travel authorization.

This remarkable jump in the Malaysian passport rankings is a seven-spot jump from last year.

Malaysia shares third place with 15 elite European countries plus South Korea: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

In the same ranking, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds firm at the top with visa-free access to 179 destinations. Singapore and Spain are in second place.

Meanwhile, the weakest passports are still held by countries plagued by ongoing conflicts: Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

The Malaysian Immigration Department immediately expressed its disapproval. In their social media posts, they touted this achievement as proof of the world's trust in the globally recognized security features of the Malaysian passport, as reported by the Malay Mail.

However, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025 released by London-based Henley & Partners, Singapore remains the reigning champion with visa-free access to 193 countries. South Korea and Japan are close behind in second place.

In the Henley Passport Index, Malaysia ranks 12th alongside the United States, with both countries offering visa-free entry to 180 countries.

While the two passport rankings may differ, the Malaysian passport is clearly stronger than the Indonesian passport.

In Arton Capital, the Indonesian passport ranks 54th, while in the Henley Passport Index, it ranks 70th globally as of October 14, 2025.