Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, has proposed extending the visa-free stay for Malaysians traveling to China from 15 to 30 days.
Currently, Malaysians can enter China without a visa for up to 15 days. If they wish to stay longer, they must obtain a visa. Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has suggested that China should increase this period to 30 days to benefit Malaysian tourists.
In addition, Malaysia’s Home Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, has proposed that China extend the visa-free exemption period from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026. This move is part of Malaysia’s effort to enhance tourism and reciprocal arrangements between the two countries.
Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized that increasing the visa-free period for Malaysians is a fair exchange, given that China currently allows Malaysians only 15 days without a visa.
Malaysia and China Expand Cross-Border Crime Agreement
Malaysia’s Interior Minister, Saifuddin Nasution, has highlighted the need for greater international cooperation on cross-border issues such as human trafficking and cybercrime. Malaysia and China recently extended their agreement on combating cross-border crime until 2034. This extension was formalized during the Fifth Meeting of the Malaysia-China Joint Working Group on Combating Cross-Border Crime held in Beijing in June.
Saifuddin Nasution also noted a recent ASEAN conference in Laos, where the secretary-general reported a rise in global cross-border crime over the past two years, with estimated losses reaching $1.02 trillion. He mentioned that Malaysia is collaborating with the National Security Council (MKN) to develop a priority list for addressing national security and crime threats.
China’s Visa-Free Policy and Malaysian Travel
Starting December 1 of this year, China has introduced a visa-free policy for Malaysian citizens, which will remain in effect until November 30, 2024. On the first day of this policy, China’s National Immigration Administration recorded 1,113 Malaysian entries.
This visa-free policy was also launched for five European countries—France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. On December 1, 2023, 2,029 visitors from these countries entered China, with more than half being Malaysian nationals.
Under the new policy, Malaysian citizens can visit China visa-free for up to 15 days for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits, or transit. In response, Malaysia has granted a 30-day visa-free entry to Chinese and Indian citizens, effective from December 1, 2023, through December 2024.