Malaysia has unveiled a list of 15 African countries whose citizens can travel into the Southeast Asian nation without obtaining a visa in advance, with Nigeria absent from the latest exemption list.
The updated entry policy, released under Malaysia’s Visa Reference Requirement (VDR) guidelines for 2026, identifies African countries whose nationals are eligible for visa-free entry, while travellers from other countries, including Nigeria, are still required to obtain the necessary travel authorisation before arrival.
According to the list, citizens of Botswana, Eswatini, The Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia can enter Malaysia without a visa for short stays.
The exclusion of Nigeria means that Nigerian passport holders must continue to comply with Malaysia’s visa application procedures before travelling to the country.
Malaysia’s visa policy classifies countries according to their entry requirements, with some nationals allowed visa-free access, others eligible for electronic visas or visa-on-arrival, while citizens of certain countries must first obtain a Visa Reference before departure.
The development comes as several countries continue to review their immigration policies to promote tourism, strengthen diplomatic ties and enhance border security.
Although Nigerians were not included among the visa-free beneficiaries, travellers can still visit Malaysia after meeting the country’s applicable visa requirements before departure.
