- Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the department is prepared to be audited over the issuance of Malaysian passports with validity periods exceeding 10 years, amid concerns over the affected documents.
- The maximum 10-year validity period for the Malaysian International Passport (PMA) will continue as usual, as implemented on July 1, according to Zakaria.
- Zakaria confirmed that the issuance of PMAs with a validity period exceeding 10 years would be discontinued, ending the previous practice of granting a total validity period of 10 years and six months.
- Previously, applicants renewing for 10 years were given an additional six months to avoid losing remaining validity.
- Difficulties had been faced by Malaysians as some airline systems did not recognize PMAs with a validity period exceeding 10 years.
- The department offered free replacement passports to those who had already been issued passports with a validity period of 10 years and six months.
- The department referred the matter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which responded that there was no restriction against PMAs having a validity period exceeding 10 years.
Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban confirmed that the 10-year validity period for the Malaysian International Passport (PMA) will continue as usual, effective July 1. However, the additional six months previously granted upon renewal will be discontinued due to complications with airline systems.1
Shaaban explained that the extra six months was initially introduced to assist Malaysians with significant validity remaining on their old passports. “So that Malaysians would not lose out on the remaining validity, we gave them an extra six months. Our intention was to help Malaysians,” he stated.
The decision to discontinue the additional period comes after reports of confusion, particularly with two unnamed airlines, which did not recognize PMAs exceeding 10 years. “Following this, action was taken to offer free replacement passports to those who had already been issued passports with a validity period of 10 years and six months,” Shaaban added.46
The department is also prepared for an audit regarding the issuance of these passports, as concerns have been raised about their validity. “We have referred the matter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which responded that there was no restriction against PMAs having a validity period exceeding 10 years,” he noted.7
This change aims to streamline the passport renewal process and ensure compliance with international standards while addressing the needs of Malaysian travelers.
“The extra six-month validity was originally meant to help Malaysians avoid losing remaining validity, but some airline systems failed to recognize such passports. The department has referred the matter to ICAO, which confirmed no restriction against validity exceeding 10 years, and is offering free replacements to affected holders.”
Malaysiakini
The Star
