Malaysia’s Immigration Department has capped the validity of the Malaysian International Passport (PMA) at a maximum of 10 years with immediate effect, following travel difficulties faced by some Malaysians holding passports valid for longer periods.

The department said the decision was taken to standardise passport requirements and prevent confusion during international travel.

Under the new measure, the Immigration Department will stop issuing passports with validity exceeding 10 years until the matter is resolved with relevant parties.

Malaysians who already hold passports valid for more than 10 years will be eligible for free replacement passports, with the new documents carrying a maximum validity of 10 years. Affected holders will also be given priority in the replacement process.

The department will issue notification letters to airlines to help Malaysian travellers affected by the issue while overseas.

The Immigration Department said the measure was aimed at ensuring smoother international travel and improving the implementation of passport requirements.