Malaysia's planned rollout of the new Malaysian International Passport (PMA) has been postponed from its original launch date of June 1, 2026 to a later, unspecified date [1, 2, 3, 4].
Officials cited the need to ensure smooth service delivery and provide the public with the best possible experience as reasons for the delay [1, 2, 3, 4]. The new passport includes 94 advanced security features aimed at enhancing the security of Malaysia's travel documents [1, 2, 4].
These features encompass hidden visual elements, holograms, ultraviolet printing, and a specialised security thread binding the passport booklet [2, 4]. Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, Immigration Director-General, stressed that the public can continue renewing existing passports as usual and that current valid passports will remain accepted until expiry dates [1].
"The public can still renew their passports as usual, and those which are currently valid will remain usable until their expiry date," he said [1].
Any further updates on the implementation of the new passport will be announced through official channels of the Malaysian Immigration Department, according to Shaaban [1].
The original rollout was set for June 1 but has been delayed as of today, May 26, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The government has not announced a new launch date.
