Malaysia is the most visited country in Southeast Asia, with 10.1 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of this year.
Malaysia’s lenient visa regulations are largely to blame for this increase.
Malaysia Tops Southeast Asia as Most Visited Country with 10.1 Million Tourists in Q1 2025
With 9.55 million new arrivals, Thailand, the region’s longtime leader, came in second.
With six million tourists, Vietnam came in third, followed by Singapore with 4.31 million.
Indian visitors can now enter Malaysia without a visa until 2026, according to a recent extension.
Indian nationals are exempt from requiring a visa to enter Malaysia for a maximum of 30 days.
Travelers from China are also exempt from the same visa requirements.
Malaysia is becoming more and more popular as a study abroad location because of its highly regarded universities, reasonably priced tuition, and cheaper cost of living.
According to the 2025 QS World University Rankings, eight Malaysian universities are ranked in the top 500.
The cost of living in Malaysia is roughly half that of Canada and Ireland and two-thirds lower than that of the United States.
The average annual tuition cost for undergraduate programs in Malaysia is approximately US$6,000, according to ICEF Monitor.
Asia and Africa Dominated Malaysia’s Top 10 Student Source Markets in 2023
Asia and Africa accounted for all ten of Malaysia’s top student source markets in 2023.
That year, India accounted for the fifth-largest number of foreign students studying in Malaysia.
In 2023, 1,900 Indian students applied to Malaysian universities, an 18% increase from 2022.
This rise indicates how popular Malaysia is becoming with Indian students.
When it comes to post-study employment opportunities for international students, the Malaysian government has a selective policy.
Students from 23 different countries were able to apply for the 12-month Graduate Pass last year.
Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and Finland were among the eligible nations.
These nations were picked to promote mutual internationalization with countries that host a significant number of Malaysian students, not because they are major sources of students for Malaysia.
