Malaysia suspends passports with over 10-year validity

The Malaysian Immigration Department has suspended the issuance of Malaysian International Passports (PMA) with validity periods exceeding 10 years, effective immediately. The decision follows reports of Malaysian travelers encountering difficulties during airline check-in procedures at various overseas airports.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban stated that the move aims to standardize the maximum validity period at 10 years to prevent confusion regarding the six-month validity requirement, which has been interpreted inconsistently by different international airlines. While the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) indicated there were no formal restrictions on longer validity periods, technical issues with airline databases in certain regions caused practical travel disruptions.

To assist affected citizens, the department will provide free passport replacements for current holders of PMAs with validity periods longer than 10 years. These individuals will also be given priority during the replacement process. Additionally, the department plans to issue notification letters to airlines to help mitigate issues for Malaysian travelers currently abroad.