MyOnline Passport Adds a Longer Validity Option
Malaysians aged 18 and above will be able to choose a passport valid for five or 10 years through MyOnline Passport from November 2, extending an option that had been available only at immigration counters since July 1. The passport valid for 10 years costs RM350, while the option lasting five years remains RM200.
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The Immigration Department announced the expansion on November 1. It brings the longer validity option into the online renewal service, where applicants previously could apply only for passports lasting five years.
The department described the change as a way to give applicants more control over the document they choose and the amount they spend. In its announcement, it said:
This initiative provides more flexibility and convenience for Malaysians to choose the validity period for their passports based on their respective needs.
The expansion follows three months in which the department issued 627,142 passports, including 85,148 valid for 10 years. Those figures show that the longer option attracted thousands of applicants, although passports lasting five years still accounted for most documents issued.
The online rollout also follows a change to how expiry dates are calculated. On August 13, the department said it would cap passport validity at 10 years after some travellers reported being unable to board flights because airline systems did not recognise documents issued with longer periods.
Who Can Choose Each Option?
Malaysians aged 18 and above may choose either validity period under the passport arrangements introduced on July 1. The latest change extends that choice to online renewals through MyOnline Passport.
Applicants choosing the longer period pay RM150 more at renewal. In return, the stated validity period is twice as long. Those choosing five years retain access to the existing RM200 option, keeping the immediate cost lower.
The department has not announced that the shorter option is being withdrawn. Its stated approach is to let eligible applicants choose according to their needs, rather than require everyone to pay for a passport lasting 10 years.
The practical change concerns the application channel: adults who want the longer period can now select it online instead of having to use an immigration counter for that choice. Passport issuance and the operating conditions at the relevant office remain part of the process.
How the Two Prices Compare
A passport costing RM350 for 10 years works out to RM35 for each year of stated validity. A passport costing RM200 for five years works out to RM40 a year. This simple comparison helps explain the price difference beyond the amount paid on application day.
At the announced prices, two consecutive periods of five years would cost RM400 in passport fees, compared with RM350 for one period of 10 years. That is a difference of RM50, or 12.5%, assuming the shorter passport fee stays unchanged when the second renewal is needed.
The longer option therefore combines a higher initial payment with a lower fee for each year of validity. Someone choosing it pays RM150 more now, while someone choosing five years keeps that money available for other spending.
These calculations compare passport fees alone. For applicants, the choice also depends on whether they prefer a smaller payment now or a longer interval before their next scheduled renewal. The department has retained both options rather than making that decision for them.
Most Applicants Initially Chose Five Years
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said 541,994 passports valid for five years and 85,148 valid for 10 years were issued between July 1 and September 30. Together, they totalled 627,142 documents.
The longer option accounted for about 13.6% of passports issued during those three months, while the shorter option accounted for about 86.4%. Put simply, roughly one in seven passports issued in that period had a validity of 10 years.
The figures cover the initial period when the longer option was available through applications made in person. The November expansion gives online applicants access to the same choice, broadening the route through which they can request it.
Zakaria described the public response to the new passport as encouraging. He said its longer validity, improved security features and redesigned appearance had received positive feedback. He also said members of the public had been able to plan their passport use and renewals.
Why Some Travellers Encountered Boarding Problems
Some Malaysians reported being prevented from boarding flights back to Malaysia after renewing their passports early. Their new documents carried expiry dates more than 10 years after issuance because unused validity from the previous passport had been added to the new term.
For example, a person renewing with six months remaining could receive a new passport carrying the fresh 10 years plus those six months. Some airline systems reportedly did not recognise that longer period, creating a problem when passengers tried to board.
The Immigration Department responded on August 13 by saying it would stop issuing passports with validity exceeding 10 years. Under that approach, the maximum period is 10 years regardless of how much validity remains on the old passport.
For someone renewing six months before expiry, the new passport will therefore be capped at 10 years rather than carry a period of 10 years and six months. The change addresses the expiry date calculation that had caused difficulties for affected travellers.
No number of affected passengers or timetable for resolving individual cases was given. The concrete policy change was the maximum validity limit, which applies even when a previous passport still has time left.
How the Rollout Reached the Online Service
Zakaria had said the online expansion would follow completion of implementation at passport offices in Malaysia and overseas, together with confirmation that the system was stable. Until that expansion, online applications were limited to passports valid for five years.
The sequence separates the introduction of the longer passport from its later availability online:
- July 1: Malaysia introduced the new passport, allowing adults to choose validity of five or 10 years, with the longer option initially available in person.
- August 13: The Immigration Department said newly issued passports would have a maximum validity of 10 years.
- July 1 to September 30: The department issued 627,142 passports, including 85,148 valid for 10 years.
- November 1: The department announced the expansion of online applications.
- November 2: MyOnline Passport begins offering both validity periods.
The rollout means applicants gain another way to request the longer passport several months after its introduction. The department has also committed to watching public feedback and the operation of the service as implementation continues.
What the One Hour Issuance Figure Means
Zakaria said the average waiting time for a new passport was about one hour after payment, depending on processing efficiency and conditions at the issuing office. He also acknowledged that more applicants during peak periods could cause slight delays.
The starting point matters for anyone planning a visit: the figure describes the average time after payment. Applicants still need to allow for the other steps involved in their application and for conditions at the office handling their passport.
Zakaria also reminded the public that passports in the older design with more than six months of remaining validity remain valid for travel. A traveller holding such a document can continue using it rather than replacing it simply because a new design or longer validity option has become available.
The November change gives eligible adults a wider choice when renewal is needed. They can keep the lower initial fee for five years or pay RM350 for 10 years, with the longer period now accessible through the online service.
Key Points
- MyOnline Passport offers renewals valid for five or 10 years from November 2.
- Malaysians aged 18 and above may choose either period.
- The announced fees are RM200 for five years and RM350 for 10 years.
- From July 1 to September 30, the department issued 85,148 passports valid for 10 years out of 627,142 passports in total.
- New passport validity is capped at 10 years, regardless of time remaining on the previous document.
- Average issuance takes about one hour after payment, subject to operating conditions.
- Older passport designs with more than six months of validity remain valid for travel, according to the immigration director-general.
