Passport Application Guide (Malaysia)

A Passport Application Guide in Malaysia sets out the particulars an applicant must provide to obtain the approval concerned.

The Passports Act 1966 empowers the Director General of Immigration to issue, renew, amend, or cancel Malaysian travel documents, including passports, restricted travel documents, and emergency travel documents (ETDs). The Act was significantly amended by the Passports (Amendment) Act 2012, which introduced biometric passports (e-Passports) with embedded chips containing the holder's facial image and fingerprint data, enhanced security features, and a machine-readable zone (MRZ) compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Document 9303 specifications.

Malaysia issues several categories of travel documents. The regular Malaysian passport — a maroon-covered booklet available in 32-page and 64-page formats — is issued to all eligible Malaysian citizens. The Diplomatic Passport (dark green cover) is issued to Malaysian diplomatic officials, Members of Parliament, and senior government officers by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia (Wisma Putra) under the Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act 1966. The Official Passport (blue cover) is issued to government officers travelling on official business. The Emergency Travel Document (ETD) is issued by Malaysian embassies and consulates abroad to citizens who have lost their passports while overseas.

Passport applications in Malaysia may be submitted at any Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia office throughout Malaysia, selected Pos Malaysia branches certified as MyPostal Kiosk agents, and Jabatan Imigresen counters at international airports. Online pre-application is available through MyOnline Imigresen or MyImigresen mobile app, with biometric capture required in person at any approved outlet. Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia introduced the e-Passport renewal kiosk (kiosk MyPassport) at selected locations in 2023 for eligible applicants renewing passports without name or date of birth changes.

The fee for a Malaysian passport varies by type and page count. As of 2024 under the Immigration (Fees) Regulations, a regular 32-page passport costs RM 200 and a 64-page passport costs RM 300 for adults, with reduced fees for children under 12. The replacement fee for a lost passport is RM 300 for a 32-page passport under the Passports Act 1966, reflecting the administrative burden and security measures required.

The legal framework governing the Passport Application Guide (Malaysia) in Malaysia draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under Malaysian law, the Contracts Act 1950 (Act 136) governs contractual obligations. The Companies Act 2016 (Act 777) regulates corporate entities through the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). The Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) and the Department of Labour govern employment matters. The Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Act 709) and the Personal Data Protection Department protect personal data. The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) administers tax obligations. The Industrial Court adjudicates employment disputes under the Industrial Relations Act 1967 (Act 177). Parties executing a Passport Application Guide (Malaysia) in Malaysia should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Contracts Act 1950 (Act 136) sets the foundational requirements.

A Malaysian passport application is required in the following circumstances under the Passports Act 1966 and Jabatan Imigresen procedures.

A first-time passport application is needed when a Malaysian citizen — whether an adult or a child — does not hold a valid passport and wishes to travel internationally or apply for foreign visas. There is no minimum age for a Malaysian passport; newborns and infants may be issued their own passports, though parents often include young children on parental passports historically — a practice discontinued with the introduction of biometric passports under the Passports (Amendment) Act 2012.

A passport renewal is required when the existing Malaysian passport has expired or will expire within six months — as many countries and airlines require at least six months' validity remaining on a traveller's passport. Renewal applications can be submitted up to twelve months before the current passport's expiry date.

A passport replacement application is needed when a Malaysian passport has been lost or stolen, requiring the submission of a statutory declaration of loss before a Commissioner for Oaths and a police report (Laporan Polis) to Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, along with the replacement fee of RM 300 for a 32-page passport.

A passport application is required when a Malaysian citizen changes their name — following marriage (with the marriage certificate from JPN or the Syariah Court), conversion (with the conversion certificate), or by court order — and needs a new passport reflecting the updated name.

A child passport application is needed for Malaysian citizen children travelling internationally. Each child must hold their own individual biometric passport under ICAO Document 9303 specifications, as family passports are no longer issued by Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia following the full implementation of biometric passports.

A complete Malaysian passport application requires the following documents and information under the Passports Act 1966 and Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia's requirements.

Applicant's Identity Documents: Original MyKad (NRIC) for adults, or MyKid and birth certificate for children under 12. For first-time applicants who are overseas Malaysians registering late, a Consular Birth Certificate or citizenship documentation from JPN under the Federal Constitution of Malaysia may be required.

Current or Previous Passport: For renewal applications, the original current passport (to be surrendered and cancelled upon issuance of the new passport). For replacement applications, the statutory declaration of loss and police report in lieu of the original passport.

Completed Application Form: Jabatan Imigresen Form IM.42 (Permohonan Pasport Malaysia) or the online equivalent through MyOnline Imigresen. The form requires the applicant's full name as per NRIC, NRIC number, date of birth, address, contact details, and travel purpose.

Passport Photographs: Two recent colour passport-sized photographs (35mm x 50mm) with a white background, clear facial features, and no glasses — meeting ICAO biometric photograph specifications. JPN's biometric capture kiosks and Pos Malaysia agents may capture the photograph in-office.

Prescribed Fee: RM 200 for a regular 32-page adult passport; RM 300 for a 64-page passport; RM 100 for a children's (under 12) passport; RM 300 for a lost passport replacement (32-page). Fees are payable at Jabatan Imigresen counters or selected Pos Malaysia branches.

Parental Documents for Child Applications: Both parents' original MyKads and copies, the child's birth certificate, and — where one parent cannot attend — a Letter of Authorization or a court custody order if the parents are divorced.

Biometric Data Capture: Every passport applicant must attend an approved application point in person for fingerprint and facial photograph capture, which is stored on the e-Passport chip under ICAO Document 9303 specifications. Jabatan Imigresen's e-Passport kiosks allow eligible applicants to complete biometric capture at self-service kiosks at selected locations.

Additional compliance elements for a Passport Application Guide (Malaysia) used in Malaysia include: Under Malaysian law, the Contracts Act 1950 (Act 136) governs contractual obligations. The Companies Act 2016 (Act 777) regulates corporate entities through the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). The Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) and the Department of Labour govern employment matters. The Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Act 709) and the Personal Data Protection Department protect personal data. The Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) administers tax obligations. The Industrial Court adjudicates employment disputes under the Industrial Relations Act 1967 (Act 177). Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Malaysia-compliant documentation.