Malaysia will begin rolling out its new international passport on July 1 in phases, with the first stage covering 14 passport offices nationwide before expanding to all 71 passport offices by August.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially launched the new passport at the Parliament building on Tuesday.

Immigration Department Director-General Zakaria Shaaban said the nationwide implementation would take place in seven phases between July and August.

Under the new system, Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above will be able to choose between passports with a validity period of five years or up to 10 years. The fee for a 10-year passport has been set at 350 ringgit, while the existing fee of 200 ringgit will remain for five-year passports.

According to the Immigration Department, the new passport includes major upgrades in security features. While the previous version contained 49 security elements, the new passport carries 94 security features, including holograms, ultraviolet (UV) printing, covert visual elements and advanced forensic protection technology.

Malaysia was among the first countries in the world to introduce electronic passports in 1998. Authorities said the new passport has been developed in line with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Officials also advised current passport holders not to rush to replace valid documents. Zakaria said existing passports will remain usable until their expiry dates and can be renewed when necessary.