Home Ministry ready to issue passports valid for 10 years

The Home Ministry is ready to issue passports valid for 10 years.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the implementation date for issuing these passports will be announced after studies on the matter.

“Are we ready? Yes... after comprehensive studies, we have decided to move forward with the issuance of 10-year passports,” he told a press conference after officiating the opening of a passport office at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) today.

Saifuddin said this allows Malaysians to choose between a five- or 10-year validity period.

He said the Immigration Department has conducted several feasibility studies to evaluate Malaysia’s readiness to introduce such passports, following similar practices by other nations.

The minister noted that the move is not new, as neighbouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, as well as the United States and Italy, also issue passports with a validity of 10 years.

On the opening of the passport office at KKIA, Saifuddin said that it is the 72nd Immigration Department office nationwide and the first located within an airport building.

“In Sabah, it is the seventh Immigration Department office that has been operational for the past two weeks, initially processing applications for international passports,” he said.

Saifuddin said Malaysian passport holders can enjoy visa exemptions in nearly 183 countries, placing the country in the top 12 globally, according to this year’s data from the International Air Transport Association.

He also said that the immigration clearance lanes at Tawau Airport have been increased to six lanes to facilitate passenger transactions on the east coast of Sabah.

- Bernama

Court allows Daim's wife to get passport temporarily for overseas trips

Muhyiddin gets passport to attend granddaughter's UK graduation

Immigration Dept busts foreign passport-forging syndicate

Immigration DG: Cannot reject passport renewal based on BM fluency