UPDATE: I have updated this entry with comments from readers. Please read through it.
I recently renewed my passport for a trip to Singapore. Prior to renewing my passport, I went to the Immigration Department’s website to look for a guide in renewing my passport, but I couldn’t find any. So that sparked a tiny thought in my head, why not create a guide in my blog and teach the people how to renew it. If the government department can’t do it, I’ll do it! This will also mark a new category in my blog, where I post up guides and stuff, hoping to benefit the readers out there, all 10 of you guys!
Renewing a Malaysian Passport
Things to prepare before going to the Immigration Department
- Photo copy of your MyKad, both sides (1 copy on a piece of A4 paper)
- Passport sized photo. Bring a recent one and most importantly, bring one that is different from your old passport. (1 piece, bring more just in case, there is a photo booth at the immigration department)
- Your old passport
- MyKad
- RM300 in cash (for 32 pages)
- Your thumb
Go to the machine renewal counters, take an envelop from the counter, write your name, IC and contact number.
Go to the machine, put in your passport and slot in your MyKad then follow the on screen instructions. You’ll be asked to select either a 64 page or 32 page passport. You’ll also be asked to place your thumb on the fingerprint reader. Pay the machine RM300/RM600, one note at a time. After that, put your old passport, photo copy of your MyKad and passport size photo in the envelope, slot it into the machine. The envelope will be very thick but just put it in nevertheless. You will then be issued a receipt that will tell you when and where (which counter) to collect your passport.
You’re done! The process usually takes about 5 minutes or less. Your passport will be ready in 2 hours, 3 if the lunch hour is in between.
P.S. This guide is only for those with a working MyKad and also a working Malaysian passport with a microchip embedded at the back cover.
P.P.S. Neither me nor justinkoh.net will held responsible if you are stranded in a foreign country or miss your flight because of an expired passport. Always renew your passport when you are expected to travel.
UPDATE:
One of my readers, Shasha, used this guide and renewed her passport. I’ll also update this guide base on her comments:
If you realize your passport has less than 6 months validity and you’ll need to leave the country soon and have no time to renew it, don’t panic. As long as you have your return ticket with you, there should not be a problem with the immigration.This happened to Shasha at the beginning of November 2008. So if you are reading this after a few months, it might not be valid.
Shasha’s suggestion: Renew your passport before you travel. It only takes 2 minutes to do it and 2 hours to collect it.
Thanks Shasha.
UPDATE 2:
Another reader, A Syed, provided some very useful information. His comment answers the most popular question – If my passport expires in less than 6 months, will I still be able to travel? A Syed commented on 22 Jan 2010 and according to his comment, he traveled last month, which is December 2009. If this is too dated when you read it, it might be too old. So have a valid passport when you are expected to travel.
If you have about the 6 months balance on your passport, it is not a problem when you are returning to your own country. The M’sian immigration does not even have a problem with you leaving the country with less than 6 months validity, but they want to avoid problems with other nations and avoid cases where their nationals will be sent home. Likewise, the airlines don’t want you to board the plane with less than 6 months validity because if you are returned they have to pay a big fine. And you will also have to pay for extra return ticket. I discovered all this last month when I was about to leave for Jakarta and realised I only had 5 months validity on my passport. Unfortunately, I realised it at the Air Asia counter when the clerk refused to check me in. Luckily, as a previous resident of Indonesia, I had old visa stickers to prove that I was not just a tourist and in fact had to visit my sick father-in-law. The Air Asia guy was kind enough to let me go, especially when I told him that I would get someone to meet me in Soekarno Hatta airport. When I passed through Malaysian immigration, the machine gate rejected me and I had to talk to an Immigration officer. What he said was, “We have no problem with you leaving, but you may get into trouble there. If you are sure you wont have a problem, you may go.” I assured him that I would be okay and not cause problems for him. Actually, I wasnt sure but really needed to get back there and didn’t want to waste my ticket! Finally, when I got there, there was a small problem with the Indonesian immigration. When they established I was married to a local and had a family emergency, the allowed me to enter. Still, what I have learned is, always, always, always have a valid passport!
CHIP Malaysia
myMacBUZZ
i went to the imigration dept in kelana jaya at 8am. Slotted in RM300 for renewal, given a receipt. Got my new passport at 9.20am. It was a breeze!! And it was a SUNDAY!! Yupe, its OPen!!
Your info on what is required is very clear but Justin I need to renew my passport asap as my sister is on life support in Perth please let me know the nearest Imm. office I can go as I am staying at 8th miles Cheras. Please help.
I know someone in Malaysia, a Nigerian citizen who was scammed into paying money to an employment agency to work in Malaysia, of course – no real jobs. These same people were working with a ring in Malaysia. They picked him up at the airport & took him to where they live.
He has been there almost 2 years now, his Malaysian Visa is expired. He does not work because his Visa is expired and with an expired Visa, he cannot attend school either.
How does he get out of this impossible situation?
Can he simply obtain a passport & leave that place? He wants to come to the U.S. where there are many opportunities to work.
Can he contact the Nigerian Consulate for amnesty & assistance? He is now in Malaysia illegally & could be imprisoned if detected in Malaysia illegally.
With no money, no job – what is the easiest exit for him & how much would it cost in U.S. money to help him either come to the U.S. or get back to Nigeria safely?
Please help – he wants to get back on the right track, I thought if he could renew his passport there, maybe he could work or if he could obtain another Visa, he could get a job at a hotel or some form of income – if so, what are the costs associated with getting a new Visa so he can be legal again?
If not, what do you recommend for this Nigerian citizen, it is obvious that he needs help.
Thank you for your assistance.