Overview
Regional mobility is central to services liberalisation in ASEAN. The region has made significant strides in increasing mobility through the ASEAN Agreement on Movement of Natural Persons, which facilitates the mobility of businesses and people across the region. ASEAN will continue its commitment to streamlining processes and reducing barriers to facilitate seamless movement of businesses and people across ASEAN Member States. ASEAN will continue to enhance mobility and improve the employment potential of professionals and talent in the region, including by developing plans to further refine and expand agreements to foster greater ease of travel, promote cross-cultural exchanges, and bolster the socio-economic ties binding the ASEAN community. These efforts will unlock the full potential of human capital and contribute to the dynamism and interconnectedness of the region.
Movement of Natural Persons (MNPs)
Originally signed in 2012 and updated in 2024, the Movement of Natural Persons (MNPs) Agreement provides a dedicated framework to facilitate the temporary cross-border movement of service providers within ASEAN. It supersedes Mode 4 commitments under the AFAS, offering a more streamlined and transparent mechanism for managing mobility.
The MNP Agreement supports ASEAN’s goal of achieving a single market and production base by enabling business visitors, intra-corporate transferees, and contractual service suppliers to move more easily across Member States. It establishes clear procedures for immigration formalities, while respecting national regulations and safeguarding domestic labour markets.
By enhancing mobility for skilled professionals and service providers, the MNP Agreement contributes to a more integrated and competitive ASEAN services economy, one that is more responsive to business needs and regional growth.
Click here for ASEAN Member States’ latest MNP commitments.
Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
ASEAN MRAs play a key role in facilitating the cross-border mobility of professionals across the region. These arrangements enable ASEAN Member States to recognise each other’s professional qualifications in the agreed sectors, reducing barriers to practice and enhancing regional integration.
Currently, MRAs cover seven key professions: Engineering, Architecture, Accountancy, Surveying, Medical Practice, Dentistry and Nursing. Each MRA is implemented and overseen by a dedicated coordinating committee, ensuring that professionals meet agreed standards and can be recognised across borders. These mechanisms help streamline licensing procedures, promote trust in qualifications, and support the development of a more competitive and mobile ASEAN workforce.
MRAs are a practical tool to support ASEAN’s vision of a single market and production base, and they complement broader frameworks such as the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) and the Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) Agreement.
Click here to see ASEAN MRAs for the seven professions.
ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF)
AQRF is a regional tool that supports the comparison and alignment of qualifications across ASEAN Member States and across occupations. It complements national qualification frameworks (NQF) and promotes quality assurance. It is implemented by an ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework Committee (AQRFC).
Currently, four (4) ASEAN Member States have completed the referencing of their NQF into the AQRF.
