Finally! Malaysians can now travel abroad as our borders have reopened for travellers and visitors alike. If you are fully vaccinated and have valid travel documents, you can freely enter or leave the country, provided you’ve done your required polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing two days before leaving Malaysia.
So, where exactly can you go for a quick getaway outside the country? Well, we’ve compiled a list of countries that are quarantine-free destinations that you can go to with very little worries (or preparation!).
Thailand
A popular destination for travellers, Thailand’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme means that Malaysian travellers can visit the country without quarantine. As of 15 March 2022, there are at least six daily flights to Bangkok and four daily flights to Phuket.
Their latest covid-19 situation
- Percent of population fully vaccinated: 72.5%
- Trend of cases in the past seven days: Downward with 74% of cases vs peak of their surge.
- 194 infections per 100K people reported in the last seven days.
Source: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/thailand/
Requirements
- Vaccination card (must be fully vaccinated)
- PCR test upon arrival.
- One night hotel stay at an approved facility.
- A Thailand Pass which you can secure through this portal: https://tp.consular.go.th/
- Negative RT-PCR test (taken at least 72 hours prior to flight)
- Purchase a mandatory travel insurance with a minimum coverage of RM100,000.
Maldives
Miss the beautiful shores of Maldives? The country has opened its door for vaccinated travellers so if you’re looking for that island getaway, you can finally plan your trip to one of the most luxurious beaches on this list.
Their latest covid-19 situation as of writing
- Percent of population fully vaccinated: 7%
- Trend of cases in the past seven days: Downward with 3% of cases vs peak of their surge.
- 106 infections per 100K people reported in the last seven days
Source: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/maldives/
Restrictions
While the Public Health Emergency has been revoked on 13 March 2022, travellers are still restricted from certain islands that are experiencing outbreaks. For the full list of islands that are off-limits, you can check here.
Requirements
- As of 5 March 2022, travellers are no longer required to present a PCR negative test result provided that they are fully vaccinated.
- If you are not vaccinated, you will still need to provide a negative PCR test (taken at least 96 hours prior to flight)
Indonesia
Indonesia initially opened its borders for tourists only for Bali, but as of 6 April 2022, they’ve expanded quarantine-free travel to other cities including Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, and Yogyakarta. For Malaysians, and other ASEAN countries, we can now enjoy visa-free travel!
Their latest covid-19 situation as of writing
- Percent of population fully vaccinated: 59.6%
- Trend of cases in the past seven days: Downward with only 1% of cases vs peak of their surge.
- 1 infection per 100K people reported in the last seven days.
Source: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/indonesia/
Requirements
- Vaccination card showing complete vaccination (at least 14 days prior to departure).
- Negative RT-PCR test (taken at least 48 hours prior to departure)
- Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will be required to take a PCR test and a five day quarantine period.
Source: https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/news/new-international-travel-regulations-to-enter-indonesia-as-of-29-november-2021 (updated as of 5 April 2022)
Singapore
Since November 2021, Malaysians have been able to travel quarantine-free to Singapore via the Malaysia-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme. As of 1 April 2022, Singapore has fully opened its borders to vaccinated Malaysians with a new Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) that eases up on restrictions and no daily arrival quotas!
Their latest covid-19 situation as of writing
- Percent of the population fully vaccinated: 87.5%
- The trend of cases in the past seven days: Downward with only 17% of cases vs peak of their surge.
- 391 infections per 100K people reported in the last seven days
Source: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/singapore/
Requirements
- Fully vaccinated status (boosters are not required). Children under 12 are exempt from vaccination requirements.
- Negative PCR or RTK-Ag test taken at least within two days of departure for partial/non-vaccinated travellers.
- For those returning to Malaysia, a PCR test will be required.
Source: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/overview
Australia
A must-visit for wanderlust Malaysians, Australia has finally reopened its borders for all travellers on 21 February 2022. Quarantine is no longer required for vaccinated travellers, and you do not need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test as of 19 April 2022.
However, it is important to note that different states have different procedures on testing/quarantine, so make sure to double check the rules of the state you are visiting.
Their latest covid-19 situation as of writing
- Percent of population fully vaccinated: 83.6%
- Trend of cases in the past seven days: Downward with only 54% of cases vs peak of their surge.
- 1,187 infections per 100K people reported in the last seven days.
Source: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/australia/
Requirements
- Proof of vaccination status (Unvaccinated children under 12 or exempted individuals may need to apply an exemption).
- A completed Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) that must be submitted at least 72 hours before your flight to Australia.
- An Australian ETA visa that you can apply online.
- G2G travel pass for those who want to travel to Western Australia.
Source: https://malaysia.highcommission.gov.au/klpr/covid19.html
As Malaysia enters its endemic phase and the rest of the world starts to open, Malaysians can finally plan their long-awaited vacations. However, despite the relaxed travel protocols, it’s always important to take safety precautions to curb the spread of the virus. So, enjoy your travels but make sure to stay safe and do all you can to keep COVID-19 from spreading!
