Malaysians can apply online for passports with a 10-year validity period starting today, Monday (November 2). The Immigration Department announced on Sunday that the online passport application service has been expanded, so the public can now choose either a five-year or a 10-year Malaysian International Passport when applying online. Until now, online applications were available only for the five-year version.
Why the department made the change
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the 10-year option would be rolled out gradually once all passport-issuing offices in Malaysia and overseas had completed the implementation and the system was confirmed to be stable. He said the initiative gives Malaysians more flexibility and convenience to choose a validity period based on their needs.
Key facts on the new passport
The new passport was introduced on July 1. Malaysians aged 18 and above can choose between five and 10 years of validity. The 10-year passport costs RM350, while the five-year passport remains at RM200. Zakaria said public response to the new document has been encouraging, with the longer validity, improved security features and redesigned look receiving positive feedback.
Numbers and waiting time
Between July 1 and September 30, a total of 627,142 passports were issued, made up of 541,994 with five-year validity and 85,148 with 10-year validity. The average waiting time for a new passport is about one hour after payment, although slight delays may occur during peak periods. The department says it will keep monitoring public feedback to ensure services remain efficient.
What about older passports?
Zakaria reminded the public that the old version of the passport remains valid for travel as long as it has more than six months of validity left. Travellers planning trips abroad should still check the entry requirements of their destination countries.
Readers who plan to renew are advised to use the official Immigration Department channels and to be cautious of unofficial agents or websites.
Source: The Star - Online application for 10-year passports starts on Monday
