Malaysia's 10-year passport validity does not breach international rules, says Immigration Dept
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has dismissed viral claims that Malaysia's 10-year passport validity exceeds international limits and can cause travellers to be barred from boarding flights.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Immigration Department has clarified that the country's 10-year passport validity does not violate international rules or lead to boarding complications for travelers. Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban affirmed that existing international and domestic laws do not restrict any nation from issuing passports with a validity period of 10 years or more. He emphasized that longer passport validity does not hinder international travel or result in issues at border checkpoints.
Zakaria explained that Malaysia's decision to limit passport validity to a maximum of 10 years has been communicated to international airlines. He advised Malaysians with 10-year passports who intend to travel abroad to obtain their tickets directly at airline service counters, enabling staff to verify the passport's validity on-site.
The Immigration Department stated that they do not provide supporting documents to verify the validity of 10-year passports as travel documents. Travelers are required to purchase their tickets directly at the counter, allowing for real-time validation. The department has received complaints regarding flight booking issues, mainly due to delays in passport verification.
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