Kota Kinabalu: The Immigration Department is ready to issue passports with a validity period of 10 years after a feasibility study deemed it suitable for the country.
However, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasutian Ismail declined to reveal when this would be implemented, saying it will be announced in due time. For now, the maximum passport validity period is five years.
He said neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore have already implemented it, alongside Europe and the United States.
Saifuddin said this when launching the country’s first airport Immigration office at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), here, Friday.
It has been operating for two weeks (Monday to Friday) from 8am to 5pm, processing only international passports for the time being with more services to follow.
Saifuddin said based on feedback, customers were happy that it took them only an hour of waiting time.
“Malaysia Airlines Holdings Berhad allocated the space and having the office in KKIA is strategic as Kota Kinabalu is receiving an influx of international flights.
“An immigration office was also opened at Kuala Lumpur International Airport compounds but not exactly inside the airport. KKIA is concentrated, so the decision for it to be placed here is apt and people-centric,” he said.
Saifuddin said Sabah’s second international airport, Tawau, will be receiving four new inbound and two outbound immigration counters in response to overwhelming arrivals in the State’s East Coast.
“Malaysia’s passport credibility allows visa-free travel to 183 countries, ranking the 12th most powerful in the world and fifth in Asia according to the Henley Passport Index which gets its data from the International Air Transport Association,” he said.
