What You Need to Know About the New Malaysian Passport Arriving Later This 2026

What we know so far about the new Malaysian passport, set to debut in the second half of 2026 with 94 security features in tow. 

One of the most powerful passports in the world, the Malaysian passport is set for a refresh this 2026. The deep red-hued travel document will be arriving with 94 security features, an upgrade from the current 49. According to reports from 26 May, the release date has been postponed from 1 June to later this year. At the time of writing, no new date has been announced yet. While the new passport comes with a slew of upgrades, Immigration Department of Malaysia director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban has reminded the public that there is no rush to replace your current passport if it is still valid. Below, we give you a quick overview of everything we know about the new Malaysian passport.

WHERE TO GO FOR YOUR NEW PASSPORT

The Immigration Department of Malaysia has planned for the rollout to occur in stages. These four locations will be the first to issue the new Malaysian passport:

1. Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya
2. Kuala Lumpur Immigration Office
3. Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) passport office in Wangsa Maju
4. Shah Alam Immigration Office

Eventually, the rollout will be in effect nationwide and you will be able to renew your passport and the office closest to you. 

WHAT ARE THE NEW FEATURES?

While we don’t have a comprehensive list of all the security features in the new Malaysian passport, we do know that it includes more holograms, ultraviolet (UV) printing, hidden visual components, special security threads in the passport stitching, and other specialised forensic features. All the features will help protect the passport from tampering and forgery. 

TIPS TO KNOW WHEN UPDATING YOUR PASSPORT

As mentioned above, if your passport is nowhere near its expiry date and still has more than six months of validity, there is zero need to upgrade it to the new one. This will help the process be smoother and more efficient for those who urgently need renewals and new documents. The current passports will remain usable and valid as long as it is within its validity period. 

Datuk Zakaria has also warned the public against submitting photos that have been altered in any way, including with AI. According to him, the Immigration Department has received applications with photos that have been brightened and edited, all of which have been detected by the officers. 

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