{
  "id": 656356,
  "title": "Immigration blames airline systems for long-validity passport headaches",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/immigration-blames-airline-systems-for-long-validity-passport-656356",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:27:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/12/immigration-blames-airline-systems-for-long-validity-passport-headaches/231097"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Putrajaya, August 12 — A problem faced by holders of Malaysian International Passports (PMA) with validity periods over 10 years while traveling abroad, as reported by the Immigration Department, stems from airline systems rather than foreign countries' immigration control systems, according to Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban. Zakaria stated that, based on border controls and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, passports with a validity period of more than 10 years do not cause issues. He clarified that it is not the country's responsibility but rather the airlines' that encounter difficulties, as they have a maximum passport validity limit of 10 years according to ICAO aviation standards. The Immigration Department intends to coordinate with airlines through ICAO to resolve the issue, though no specific timeframe has been set, as it falls outside their jurisdiction. Zakaria explained that the department still issues PMAs with a 10-year validity and has ceased granting additional validity beyond this limit, which previously resulted in some new passports having a validity period of up to 10 years and six months after renewing early. Existing passport holders with passports exceeding 10 years of validity can obtain replacement passports free of charge, and the department will issue a notice to airlines to assist Malaysians currently traveling abroad. Since the introduction of 10-year PMAs on July 1, approximately 38,000 passports have been issued, with 26,000 having validity periods exceeding 10 years.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA, Aug 12 — Difficulties experienced by holders of Malaysian International Passports (PMA) with validity p...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Immigration blames airline systems for long-validity passport headaches",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/immigration-blames-airline-systems-for-long-validity-passport",
        "published": "2026-08-12T09:27:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}