Immigration pauses issuing passports with over 10 years’ validity

The immigration department in Malaysia has temporarily halted the issuance of passports with a validity period surpassing 10 years, following concerns raised by passengers during check-in with specific airlines overseas. Director-General Zakaria Shaaban disclosed that these complications stemmed from misunderstandings regarding airlines' expectations of a minimum six-month passport validity for travel.

He clarified that, according to checks with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), there are no restrictions on passports with a lifespan exceeding 10 years. As a temporary solution, the department has opted to issue passports with a maximum validity of 10 years while resolving the issue with ICAO and airlines. Existing passport holders with documents valid beyond 10 years will receive complimentary replacements, with the new passports also capped at 10 years of validity.

These individuals will be given priority in the replacement process, Zakaria announced in a statement. The department intends to inform all airlines about the situation to facilitate travel for affected Malaysians. An online user reported that certain Malaysian travelers encountered difficulties returning from Zimbabwe due to their passports' 10-year validity and six-month remaining period, as they had renewed their passports six months prior to expiration.