Malaysia issues 63,475 upgraded passports

Photo courtesy of The Star

Malaysia has issued 63,475 upgraded international passports since the new document was launched on July 1, according to Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.

ROLLOUT ACROSS 71 OFFICES

The programme has entered its third implementation phase, with several Immigration offices already issuing the new passport. Authorities previously said the rollout would be conducted in phases across 71 offices nationwide.

The document contains 94 security elements, compared with 49 in the previous version. These include holograms, ultraviolet printing, hidden images, guilloche patterns and specialised forensic features intended to make forgery more difficult.

Malaysia introduced its first ePassport in 1998. The upgraded version complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and forms part of efforts to strengthen national identity-document security.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR FOREIGNERS IN MALAYSIA

The change mainly affects Malaysian passport holders and should not alter immigration requirements for foreign visitors. Foreign residents applying for Malaysian services may notice the new document during identity checks involving Malaysian family members, employees or business partners.

Malaysians renewing passports should check which offices currently issue the upgraded version and follow official appointment and documentation guidance. Existing valid passports remain subject to the expiry date and conditions printed in them unless authorities announce otherwise.

24 July 2026