Rollout Of Malaysia’s New Passport With Enhanced Security Features Delayed
PUTRAJAYA: Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM) has announced the postponement of the rollout of Malaysia’s new international passport, which was originally scheduled to be introduced on June 1, 2026.
In a statement issued today, the department said the launch of the upgraded Malaysian International Passport (PMA) would be rescheduled to a later date, with a new implementation timeline to be announced soon.
According to Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, the postponement was made to ensure smooth service delivery and maintain an optimal transaction experience for the public when applying for or renewing travel documents.
“This step is taken to ensure the smooth delivery of services and that the public’s transaction experience remains at an optimal level,” the department said in its statement.
At the same time, the department assured the public that passport renewal services for existing passports would continue operating as usual without interruption.
Current passports that remain valid can still be used for international travel until their respective expiry dates.
Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia also stated that any future updates regarding the implementation of the new passport would be announced periodically through its official communication channels.
The delay is expected to provide authorities with additional time to ensure operational readiness, system stability and efficient service management before the new passport is officially introduced nationwide.
The upgraded passport had attracted public attention following reports that it would feature enhanced security measures aimed at strengthening protection against document forgery and identity misuse.
In the same statement, Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia expressed appreciation for the public’s continued cooperation and support towards efforts to strengthen the security of Malaysia’s travel documents.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to improving service quality while ensuring Malaysia’s passport security standards remain among the highest.
The statement was signed by Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban.
