Renewing your Malaysian passport is an important process to keep your travel document valid and up to date. Malaysian passports are generally valid for 5 or 10 years depending on your age. Renewing on time ensures you avoid any issues traveling internationally or dealing with immigration.

The Malaysian Immigration Department has made efforts in recent years to streamline and simplify passport renewal through initiatives like UTC passport renewal centres and online passport renewal. While the process may seem daunting, this guide will walk you through all the key steps and requirements to renew your Malaysian passport smoothly.

Read on to learn about online and walk-in renewal, appointments vs walk-ins, renewal after expiry, senior citizen renewal, weekend renewal, and expected renewal duration. With the right preparation and documentation, Malaysian passport renewal does not have to be a troublesome affair.

Read also: How to Apply for Myanmar Visa in Malaysia

Table of Content

1. When to Renew Your Passport
2. What to Bring to Renew Passport in Malaysia
3. Online Malaysian Passport Renewal
4. Walk-in Passport Renewal
5. Appointment vs Walk-in
6. Passport Renewal After Expiry
7. Malaysian Passport Renewal for Seniors
8. Weekend Renewal for Malaysian Passport
9. Renewal Duration

How to Renew Malaysian Passport in 2024

How to Renew Malaysian Passport in 2024

When to Renew Your Passport

It is recommended to renew your Malaysian passport at least 6 months before it expires. This is to avoid any last minute rush or unforeseen circumstances that may delay your renewal.

Passports usually take a few weeks to process and receive, so leaving it too late increases the risk of your passport expiring before you get your new one. Applying with plenty of time to spare ensures you'll have a valid passport and avoids disrupting any upcoming travel plans.

The Malaysian Immigration Department advises submitting your passport renewal application up to a year before expiry. But at the minimum, you should lodge your application no later than 6 months before expiry. Renewing 6 months in advance is the safest bet to guarantee you'll have your new passport in time.

What to Bring to Renew Passport in Malaysia

To renew your Malaysian passport, you will need to bring the following documents and items:

1. Original Passport - This is required for all passport renewals. Your old passport will be cancelled and returned to you after renewal.
2. MyKad or MyKid - Your national identity card is required as proof of citizenship. Make sure it is not expired.
3. Passport Photos - You need 2 recent passport-sized photos with a blue background. Photos should be in accordance with passport photo guidelines.
4. Processing Fees - Fees for renewal are RM200 for a 5-year passport validity and RM300 for a 10-year validity. Payments can be made in cash, debit card, or credit card.
5. Supporting Documents - If your name or particulars have changed, you may need marriage cert, deed poll etc. Check requirements.
6. Minor Renewal - Minors under 12 need consent from both parents. Bring child's birth cert and parent's MyKad.

Make sure you have all the right documents before going for renewal to avoid delays. Carry photocopies too.

Online Malaysian Passport Renewal

Renewing your Malaysian passport online via the Immigration Department website can be a convenient option for many. Here are some of the potential benefits and drawbacks of online passport renewal:

Pros of Online Renewal

• Convenience - you can renew from the comfort of your home without having to visit an office.
• 24/7 access - the online system allows you to submit your renewal application anytime.
• Quicker process - online applications are typically processed faster than mail renewals.
• Status tracking - you can check the status of your renewal online.

Cons of Online Renewal

• Technical issues - the website may experience downtime or technical glitches.
• Uploading documents - you need to have electronic copies of your documents to upload.
• Photos - you'll need to provide your own passport photo which meets specifications.
• Payment - you'll need a credit card or online banking to pay fees.
• Eligibility - online renewal may not be available to some applicants.

Overall, for those who meet the eligibility criteria, have the required documents in electronic form, and are comfortable with the online process, applying for passport renewal online can be a faster and more convenient option than in-person renewal.

Walk-in Passport Renewal

One of the easiest ways to renew your Malaysian passport is to simply walk into a UTC (Urban Transformation Centre) and submit your application on the spot. Here's what you need to know about walk-in passport renewal:

1. Renew at UTC - There are 51 UTCs located across Malaysia where you can walk-in and renew your passport. Find your nearest UTC location and head there during operating hours to renew.
2. Bring Documents - Be sure to bring your expiring passport, IC, and passport photos. The UTC staff will verify your documents and submit the renewal application for you.
3. Pay Fees - A standard adult renewal is RM200. You'll need to pay this fee at the UTC when submitting your application. Cash, credit card, and debit are accepted.

The main benefits of walk-in renewal are the speed and convenience - no need to book an appointment online. As long as you have the required documents, you can walk into any UTC during opening hours and renew your Malaysian passport within the same day.

You can renew Malaysian passport on weekends at UTC Mini Keramat, Kuala Lumpur

Appointment vs Walk-in

When renewing your Malaysian passport, you have the option to either make an appointment or do a walk-in renewal. There are pros and cons to each approach.

Appointment

Making an online appointment to renew your passport can be convenient because you can choose your preferred date and time. This allows you to plan ahead and avoid long queues. However, appointment slots fill up quickly and may not be available for several weeks. The key advantage of an appointment is the certainty - you know you will be served at the allotted time.

Walk-in

Doing a walk-in renewal is more unpredictable. You may encounter long wait times, especially during peak periods. However, walk-ins offer more flexibility if you need to renew your passport urgently. The main benefit is avoiding the need to book an appointment in advance.

Overall, appointments are ideal if you want to plan ahead and value punctuality. Walk-ins offer more spontaneity but require patience. Consider your schedule and renewal timeframe when choosing between the two options. Those with ample lead time can make an appointment, while those with immediate travel plans may prefer walking in.

Passport Renewal After Expiry

You can renew your Malaysian passport up to 5 years after it has expired. However, there will be additional late renewal fees that apply:

1. If renewing in the first year after expiry, there is a RM100 late renewal fee.
2. For renewals in the second year after expiry, there is a RM200 late renewal fee.
3. In the third year after expiry, there is a RM300 late renewal fee.
4. For the fourth year after expiry, the late renewal fee is RM400.
5. If renewing in the fifth year after expiry, there is a RM500 late renewal fee.

The regular renewal fees will still apply in addition to these late charges. It's recommended to renew your passport before expiry to avoid having to pay these extra late renewal penalties.

Malaysian Passport Renewal for Seniors

Seniors citizens (60 years and above) get prioritized service and special counters for passport renewal in Malaysia. This makes the process faster and more convenient.

Seniors can walk into any passport renewal office, even without an appointment. They simply need to proceed to the senior citizen counter, which is clearly marked. The staff will verify their senior status, usually by checking their IC.

After verification, they can complete the renewal process without having to take a queue number and wait in line. Everything is handled at the senior counter in a prompt manner.

The documents required are the same - passport, IC, passport photos etc. But the renewal fee is lower for senior citizens, currently fixed at RM100 compared to RM200 for normal applicants.

Overall, senior citizens find it very easy to renew their Malaysian passports. The special counters and priority service ensures they don't have to endure long waits or go through any hassle.

Weekend Renewal for Malaysian Passport

Many people work standard office hours during the week, which can make it difficult to get to the immigration office to renew a passport. A common question is whether passport renewal is possible on weekends in Malaysia.

The answer is that limited passport renewal is available on Saturdays and Sundays, but only at certain UTC branches across the country. Not all UTC locations are open on weekends - it depends on the state and specific office.

Some major UTC branches in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching do open for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday. However, weekend operating hours are typically more restricted than during the regular workweek.

As such, passport applicants who can only renew on weekends should double check if their nearest UTC offers weekend passport services before heading there. The limited weekend operating hours also mean longer wait times are likely compared to renewing during the week.

Overall, while passport renewal is possible on weekends, options are far more limited than Monday to Friday. Checking UTC branch locations, hours, and availability in advance is advised for anyone hoping to renew their passport on Saturday or Sunday in Malaysia.

Renewal Duration

The processing time for a passport renewal in Malaysia is usually quite fast. Most renewals are completed within 1-2 weeks from the date of application.

The Immigration Department aims to process standard renewal applications within 10 working days. However, during peak periods such as school holidays and festive seasons, the processing time may take slightly longer, around 2 weeks.

Expedited services are available for an additional fee, which guarantees renewal within 1-2 working days. This express renewal service needs to be requested and approved at the time of application.

For Malaysian citizens renewing their passport while overseas, the processing time also averages around 1-2 weeks. The renewal application is submitted via the Malaysian embassy or consulate in that country.

In summary, the typical turnaround time for a Malaysian passport renewal application is within 2 weeks, if there are no complications with the application. Applicants are advised to apply for renewal once their passport has less than 12 months validity remaining, to ensure sufficient processing time.