4 Things You Need To Know About the New Malaysian Passport

By Danial Martinus • 01 Jul 2026 in News

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(source: Kementerian Dalam Negeri / Facebook)

Malaysia has begun rolling out new passports today in a bid to strengthen and modernise our iconic little red book.

Featuring a whopping 94 security elements, the newly enhanced Malaysian passport nearly doubles the previous version’s level of protection, making it a must-have for anyone in need of a passport renewal for their next trip abroad.

Here are 4 things you need to know about the new Malaysian passport.

1. You can choose between a five-year or 10-year passport validity period

Aside from the usual five-year validity you’re probably used to with previous versions, the latest Malaysian passport now offers a 10-year validity option. This is a convenient option if you plan on travelling a lot in the future, or if you’re just too lazy to renew it every five years.

Of course, with longer validity comes a higher price tag: RM350.

If you’d like to stick with the five-year passport, it’ll cost you RM200.

2. The new passport is more secure and even more difficult to forge than ever

“Previously, we had 49 security features. For the new passport, we have increased it to 94 features, making it more secure and more difficult to forge,” says Immigration Department director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.

Some of these new security upgrades include holographic elements, ultraviolet (UV) printing, hidden visuals, as well as other specialised security features.

3. The rollout is happening in phases, starting today (1 July 2026)

According to Zakaria, the rollout of the new Malaysian passport will be carried out in seven phases across 71 passport offices across the country.

The first phase (which starts today) involves 14 offices, including state offices and Urban Transformation Centres (UTC). The implementation is a gradual process, so don’t be surprised if the passport issuing office closest to you doesn’t have them in stock yet.

4. You don’t have to replace an existing passport that’s still valid

If you already have a valid version of the previous passport, you won’t need to rush to your nearest passport issuing office to get the new one.

According to Zakaria, you’ll only need to get the new passport once your current passport has expired. But if you don’t have a (valid) passport to begin with, now’s a great time to get one!