The government is conducting a study to extend the validity of passports to 10 years, compared to the current five.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said several countries already practised the 10-year validity period.
“The 10-year passport validity period has been adopted by Asean countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, as well as by Italy, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom,” he said.
He was speaking at a press conference after the opening of the Shaftsbury Passport Office in Putrajaya today.
Also present was Immigration Department director-general Ruslin Jusoh.
Saifuddin said the study would be concluded within a reasonable timeframe.
Meanwhile, he said another Immigration passport office will be opened at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah, which is expected to start operating in June.
“In this way, we can improve the quality of service without adding positions, but making it easier for dealings between the Immigration Department and the community,” he added.
Regarding the Shaftsbury office, he said it will be the 78th office and among the offices which accept online applications for passport renewal.
Other immigration offices that accept online applications for passport renewals are the Wangsa Maju, Kajang, and Kelana Jaya branches.
In other developments, he said a total of 3,057,825 passports were issued last year compared to 2,574,435 the previous year, which is an increase of 20 percent.
- Bernama
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