Russia and Malaysia aim to finalise a mutual visa-free agreement for short-term travel by the end of 2026, with the deal now at an advanced stage.
MOSCOW: Russia and Malaysia plan to finalise the agreement on a mutual visa-free regime for short-term trips by the end of 2026, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported, citing the Russian Embassy in Malaysia.
Currently, Russians can visit Malaysia visa-free for 30 days, while Malaysian citizens must obtain a visa to travel to Russia. Once the agreement is concluded, the regime will be reciprocal.
“We assess the document as being at an advanced stage of readiness. During the 5th meeting of the Joint Russian-Malaysian Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation, held recently in Vladivostok, the parties expressed their intention to complete the agreement process by the end of this year,” the embassy told the Izvestia newspaper.
The diplomatic mission noted significant public interest in Malaysia in developing tourism ties with Russia.
Direct flights between Moscow and Kuala Lumpur were originally planned for the first half of 2026, but the plans were postponed amid the escalating situation in West Asia and rising air travel costs.
