Malaysians aged 18 and above will be able to choose between a five-year or 10-year passport beginning July 1 under a new passport system introduced by the government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially launched the new passport structure at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday, the Home Ministry announced.
In a statement, the ministry said the initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the security of Malaysia’s travel documents while offering greater convenience and value to passport holders.
Under the new system, eligible Malaysians can select either a five-year or 10-year passport based on their travel requirements.
The ministry said the introduction of the 10-year passport is expected to reduce the need for frequent renewals, saving both time and costs for travellers.
The 10-year passport is priced at RM350, while the existing five-year passport will continue to cost RM200.
According to the ministry, those opting for the 10-year passport will save RM50 compared with renewing a five-year passport twice over the same period.
The redesigned passport also features significantly enhanced security, incorporating 94 security elements compared with 49 in the current version.
These include a combination of visible, covert and forensic security features aimed at preventing forgery, tampering and misuse.
Among the technologies integrated into the passport are guilloche patterns, latent images, rainbow printing, line width modulation, holograms and ultraviolet printing, all of which comply with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Beyond security improvements, the new passport has been redesigned to better reflect Malaysia’s national identity through themes inspired by the country’s history, cultural heritage and constitutional monarchy.
One of the most notable changes is the introduction of the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing butterfly as the passport’s new signature emblem, replacing the hibiscus featured in the previous design. The butterfly was chosen to represent Malaysia’s rich biodiversity and natural heritage.
The Home Ministry said the new passport will be introduced in phases across 71 passport offices nationwide beginning this month to ensure a smooth transition.
The rollout will be supported by next-generation printing machines capable of producing up to 60 passports per hour, helping meet the country’s average monthly demand of approximately 160,000 passports.
Despite the launch, the ministry advised the public not to rush to replace passports that remain valid, noting that existing passports can continue to be used until they are within six months of their expiry date.
The ministry said the upgraded passport demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring Malaysia’s travel documents remain secure, modern, reliable and aligned with international best practices.
