Japan
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 15 days
- South Koreaup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
- United Kingdomup to 180 days
Japan vs Malaysia Passport Comparison
Japan
ASIA
2
Rank
Visa-Free Access187 countries
The Japan passport currently offers exceptional travel mobility, ranking 2nd globally for 2026 according to the provided data. Japanese citizens benefit from an extens...
Malaysia
ASIA
6
Rank
Visa-Free Access183 countries
The Malaysia passport currently offers high travel mobility, providing holders with access to 183 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations worldwide. According to the...
Japan vs Malaysia Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Japan vs Malaysia. Japan currently leads this comparison with 187 visa-free destinations, while Malaysia has 183. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 122 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 18 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
- Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.
Detailed Passport Metrics
Detailed Comparison
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
Japan
With 187 visa-free destinations, Japan offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Schengen Area Access
Japan
Japan is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.
Residency by Investment
Malaysia
Malaysia offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
Malaysia
Malaysia provides exclusive visa-free access to 18 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 122 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 187 visa-free destinations
- • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
- • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling
Visa Access Breakdown
Visa Access Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
122
Shared Destinations
17
Unique to Japan
18
Unique to Malaysia
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Japan
17 unique destinations
South KoreaArmeniaBoliviaColombiaFalkland IslandsIraqMalaysiaPalestinian TerritoryParaguaySao Tome and Principe+7 more
Malaysia
18 unique destinations
JapanAlgeriaCambodiaCubaEgyptThe GambiaIndonesiaKenyaMalawiNamibia+8 more
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (122)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
ChinaMexicoAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBermudaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaCayman IslandsChileCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuamGuatemala+72 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Japan Rank | Malaysia Rank | Japan Visa-free | Malaysia Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 | 9 | 128 | 120 |
| 2007 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 4 | 11 | 154 | 145 |
| 2009 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 13 | 160 | 151 |
| 2011 | 4 | 12 | 170 | 158 |
| 2012 | 5 | 14 | 165 | 153 |
| 2013 | 4 | 9 | 170 | 163 |
| 2014 | 3 | 8 | 172 | 166 |
| 2015 | 3 | 10 | 171 | 163 |
| 2016 | 5 | 12 | 173 | 164 |
| 2017 | 5 | 13 | 172 | 164 |
| 2018 | 1 | 10 | 190 | 180 |
| 2019 | 1 | 12 | 190 | 177 |
| 2020 | 1 | 14 | 191 | 178 |
| 2021 | 1 | 13 | 192 | 179 |
| 2022 | 1 | 12 | 192 | 179 |
| 2023 | 1 | 14 | 193 | 179 |
| 2024 | 1 | 12 | 194 | 182 |
| 2025 | 2 | 12 | 193 | 183 |
| 2026 | 2 | 6 | 187 | 183 |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.
Destinations
Notable Visa-Free Destinations
Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.
Malaysia
- Singaporeup to 30 days
- Thailandup to 30 days
- Indonesiaup to 30 days
- Japanup to 90 days
- South Koreaup to 90 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
Japan
Malaysia
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