Immigration blames airline systems for long-validity passport headaches

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 — The Immigration Department has attributed difficulties faced by Malaysian International Passports (PMA) holders with validity periods exceeding 10 years to airline systems, rather than foreign countries' immigration control systems, according to Datuk Zakaria Shaaban. He explained that the issue lies within airline systems that impose a maximum passport validity period of 10 years.

Zakaria stated that Malaysia would coordinate with ICAO and airlines to resolve the matter, though no specific timeframe for resolution was provided. He further explained that the department still issues PMAs with a 10-year validity and has ceased granting additional validity carried forward from previous passports, resulting in new passports having a maximum validity of 10 years.

Application renewals no longer provide an extra six-month extension based on the remaining validity of the old passport. Existing passport holders with validity periods exceeding 10 years can obtain replacement passports free of charge, while a notice will be issued to airlines to assist Malaysians currently traveling abroad.