Immigration union moots 10-year passports

President Ajeet Singh says extending the validity will take the pressure off passport services staff

PETALING JAYA: A union for immigration department staff has floated the idea of making passports valid for up to 10 years.

“The existing passport booklets can be used, but only the validity period needs to be extended.

“Meanwhile, the existing application and renewal of five-year passports is maintained, and the citizens have a choice,” Immigration Services Union of Peninsular Malaysia (KPISM) president Ajeet Singh said.

He said most countries required a passport to have a validity of at least six months, so Malaysians only get to “enjoy” international travel four years and six months before having to renew their passports.

“More than 100 countries have introduced passports valid for 10 years. Many third-world countries also issue passports for a 10-year period,” Ajeet said.

He said this move would offer the staff some respite, in light of their extensive working hours.

“Immigration officers working in state passport offices and branches are forced to work seven days a week without rest. The welfare of these officers is a matter of great concern to the union.”

On May 16, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said immigration offices at Kajang, Kelana Jaya and Wangsa Maju would only accept online passport applications and renewals from June 1.

He said the move was aimed at reducing the congestion and waiting time.

Last year, the operating hours at six passport issuing offices and immigration department counters were extended until 10pm, while another stayed open until 6pm.

Former immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said this was one of the measures to address problems with passport services, apart from increasing the number of staff to handle the application process.

https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/...year-passports/

no

Yes..there are many countries with 10 years validity liao

Yes and No

10 years passport might damaged and having issue on getting verify at foreign countries ..then u are farked (no other doc can prove your identity)

good part is ..no need carry old passport if VISA stick at old passport

Take pressure off passport service staff.

How about I dont know. Improve your god damn system and workflow and increase efficiency?

De fark

🍿🍟🍷👀

Yup, Philippines already issuing 10 years passport. my wife lucky no need to renew

My wife’s Singaporean passport already 10 years validity. No problem at immigration. Only mine will kena scrutiny macam I will lompat kapal terbang like that PUI

Same logic with 5 also.

See even SG has it... Damn

Yes if don't charge high overpriced fee la.

When stupid talks about online passport renewal and appointment ..

At the counter, just 1 counter is dedicated for that which defeat the purpose .. Lame

Saya setuju, tak yah risau satu dekad masuk danok/betong

Yes.

Same goes to driving license.

Good la, less renewal as it is a pain in the ass.

It was like that, until kuthir reduce to 5 and increases the price

nothing is free in this world

If people wanna add to the insult
Some African countries is already 10 years validity

I tot we use to have it those days, the 10 years validity ones

Should have done this a long time ago. So many countries are having 10 years renewal.

First of all, why do we need to have an expiry date on passport? We can use our nric for almost forever after the mandatory change at 21.

Think about it... if everyone had the same passport number for life, it would make it hard to counterfeit. Countries that you have been to would have records and would make it hard for others to impersonate you and enter the country with a fake passport.

This post has been edited by andrekua2: Nov 28 2023, 09:47 AM

Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand,Brunei and Philippines passports also have a 10-year validity.

In 2019, the validity of Thai passports was increased from 5 years to 10 years.

10 years renew for my Indonesian workers already, good ah, less hassle for everyone

Do it. It's good for the consumers, less hassle to keep renewing.

Masa Dr . M ?

Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand,Brunei and Philippines passports also have a 10-year validity.

Just look at our 5 neighbours

Which year decrease?

hmm x ingat
but I remember there is such option those days
30 pages and 60 pages

Sinkapok only started recently. It used to be 10 then change to 5, now back to 10.

Long overdue.

Ah ok, make sense

5 years validity for both 30 / 60 pages. I used to have 60 pages due to work travel back then

good.. apec card for 10 years then

so msia never 10 years option before?

Don't know, my papa told me kuthir replaced the IC and passport by making them *smart*, but in actual fact helping cronies like IRIS

10 years is international practice la, please implement it

Yes please, my passport mati next year and only used like 4 pages thanks to covid!

Not that I can remember. My first passport was 1986

>inb4 sexykevin splurge new passport thread
topkek
Nearlee

10 years renewal period is quite common for most countries actually.

meaning passport will be RM 400 for 10years. one-shot

Great idea...
20 years even better.... 5 times in lifetime to visit to Pejabat Imigresen

Make it permanent like Mykad la.... Renew apa lanjiao, Thailand driving license is permanent man, Malaysia need renew by paying money, but does it help in reducing traffic accidents?

10 years? Page not enough use la

can get new passport before expiry kan?

cannot, like that, imi dont have enough money

Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand,Brunei and Philippines passports also have a 10-year validity.

In 2019, the validity of Thai passports was increased from 5 years to 10 years.


Why they can?

Maybe 100 pages or 80 pages

Of course. So many ppl have it, why here only 5 years?

good idea. even fucking thailand has 10 year passport..

Passport was so outdated
Need to use esystem QR code je..
Add whatever biometric or eye scan
Online renew je
Kekwa

Only driving license. Then they removed it.

Now u turn

many countries nowadays no longer need to chop. AU, HK, SG, KR all no more chop.

good also la...no need every 5 years go queue up at immigration office

Save paper. save the trips to immigration offices. Save the environment. Collect more money upfront

10 years validity will reduce crony income.

SG driving licence also one time je

Alasan to take money je

Just embed the passport into the skin and make it permanent.

Some like US Visa valid for 10 years..so assuming u renew passport then go apply visa

After 5 years if u go US then u still need to carry 2 passport

Baru keluar Batu Caves?

if validity extend to 10 years how those passport printers make money?

have you guys thought about their welfare?

10 year passport mana 10 year passport mana: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025...port-yes-please


10-year passport? Yes, please
By RAHIMY RAHIM
Nation
Thursday, 11 Dec 2025

PETALING JAYA: With the new MyKad set to be introduced next year, tourism players and travellers are renewing calls for the government to expedite the imp­le­mentation of a 10-year Malay­sian passport.

The Tour Bus Association of Peninsular Malaysia Tai Poh Kim said many countries have already introduced it, including in the Philippines, Indonesia, the United States, United Kingdom and Aus­tralia.

“The move will be good for students studying abroad and Malay­sians who work overseas,” he said when contacted yesterday.

The existing Malaysian passport is valid for five years and requires renewal at least six months before expiration if one intends to travel overseas.

Tai, who is also managing director of Hello Holidays Sdn Bhd, said that it would be good if the government implemented it, as it would reduce the workload for the Immigration Department in the long run.

“We hope the Malaysian passport will eventually include a QR code to make it easier for travel agents like us to access the necessary data when booking air tickets and hotels.

“At the moment, passport information can only be read using specialised tools or readers,” he said.

Eileen Ooi, 33, who is a frequent traveller, said having a 10-year limit for passports saves the hassle of renewing them every five years.

“I travel quite often and have experienced some close calls, given that the passport is rende­r­ed ineligible for six months before the expiration date.

“At the same time, I don’t have to keep worrying when my passport will expire, especially if I do not fly for a long time,” said Ooi, who takes business trips frequ­ently.

Siti Suhaila Sarifuddin, 35, hopes the government would also make the renewal fees more affordable.

“If the fees are affordable, why not? It would save us from having to queue and wait for long hours.”

The mother of two said that because she has young children, she would still need to update their passport photos every few years.

“Some countries may not accept a passport if, for example, the child is already two or three years old, but the photo used is from when they were a baby.

“So, unless there is an option to update their photos online and simply collect the new passport without any hassle at the immigration office, it doesn’t make much difference.

“Whether the passport is valid for five or 10 years, the process would still be the same for parents like me if we can’t update our kids’ photos easily,” she said, urging the government to implement the 10-year validity for passports soon.

Malaysia Inbound Chinese Asso­ciation (Mica) president Datuk Dr Angie Ng took a neutral stance on the matter, saying that while a longer passport validity would certainly offer greater ­convenience to Malaysians, there is no clear evidence that it would significantly benefit the tourism industry as a whole.

“It will definitely be good for our travellers and is certainly helpful for the public.

“But for us, whether it’s five or 10 years, it doesn’t make much difference,” she says.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in July 2024 that the ministry was ready to introduce a 10-year validity passport, although no implementation date has been set.

He said the Immigration Dep­art­ment had prepared to roll out a 50-page passport with double the current validity period, similar to those offered in several neighbouring countries.

However, there has been no further update on the proposal since then.

From 1 year ago: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024...0-year-passport


‘Speed up 10-year passport’
By RAHIMY RAHIM
Nation
Tuesday, 24 Dec 2024

PETALING JAYA: The travel and tour industry has urged the government to expedite the issuance of a 10-year Malaysian passport, saying the move is long overdue.

Malaysian Tourism Federation president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said the longer validity period would also ease the administrative burden on immigration officers, besides travellers themselves.

“Extending the validity period of passports from five to 10 years means less frequent renewals and, most importantly, it reduces overall cost for individuals.

“Fewer renewals mean fewer passport production materials and resources used too,” he said yesterday.

In July, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that Malaysians would soon have the option to apply for a passport that will be valid for 10 years, for a higher fee.

He had said the Immigration Department was ready to introduce a 50-page passport with double the validity period, as is issued by several other countries in the region.

However, since then, there has been no news on the plan.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia treasurer-general Datuk Koong Lin Loong said people are eager for the move to be implemented.

“It will be less hassle for Malaysian travellers if they issue the 10-year passports.

“There will also be less hassle at Immigration Department counters,” he said.

Inbound Tourism Alliance chairman Uzaidi Udanis called on the government to implement the move immediately.

“If the validity period is longer, it will be better and much easier for all of us. It will definitely make it easier to plan our travels, indirectly benefiting travel operators too,” he said.

A local traveller, who wanted to be known only as John, said the government should keep its pledge to issue 10-year passports.

“Keep the five-year option but please do approve the 10-year passport soon. It is more convenient having a passport with a longer validity period.

“If the people can pay more for it, why hold back on it?” he said.

John said there were instances in the past when travellers were caught in a quandary in renewing their passports when the department was faced with a system glitch.

“It will also be in their own interest to issue the 10-year passports, as it will reduce the pressure on the department tremendously,” he added.

Currently, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia are among the countries in the region with 10-year passports.

The existing Malaysian passport is valid for five years and requires renewal at least six months before expiration if one intends to travel overseas.