Malaysia Passport Renewal Experience

November 11, 2008 · Filed Under Events 

Old and New Passports My passport will be expiring in less than 6 months time. It is a requirement that one won’t be able to travel to another country if the passport has a validity of 6 months or less. My previous renewal experience taught me a precious lesson, that is never do the passport renewal during school holidays. The last time I renewed my passport it was near 5 years (in year 2004) and that was during school holidays. The queue at the Subang Immigration Department was extended up till the roadside. It took me 2 days before I got my passport renewed.

This morning, I had my passport renewed in 3 hours:

8:00 am  

Left home and headed to Subang Immigration Department at Terminal 2.

 

8:30 am  

Arrived at Subang Terminal 2 car park. I entered the open space car park, went around for 2 rounds but couldn’t find any parking space. I decided to leave and been charged RM1.50 for the entry.

 

8:45 am 

Arrived at MacDonalds for breakfast, thinking to avoid the morning traffic jam.

 

9:30 am  

Left MacDonalds and headed for the Pusat Bandar Damansara Immigration Department.

 

10:15 am

I reached the Metro car park and managed to find parking space at level 4 for visitors (underground parking).

 

10:25 am

I found the Immigration Department easily after asking around. I spotted the KIOSK machines easily. A store was available for those who need their passport photos taken and also IC (Identity Card) to be photocopied. Each photocopied IC costs RM0.40.

 

10:30 am 

There were 4 active KIOSK machines available. The instructions to renew the machine is very simple as follow:

1. Get an available envelope. Write down your name and Contact number on the envelope.

2. Get the requirements ready - Old Passport, RM300 for 32 pages, 1 Passport Photo, IC.

3. Proceed to the KIOSK machine.

4. Follow the instructions on the machine: It will require you to place the Old Passport, IC, Enter Contact Number and Insert the RM300. Finally, it will ask you to place the Old Passport, Photocopied IC and 1 Passport Photo into the envelope to be dropped into the KIOSK machine. Do not glue the envelope. Upon completion, you will receive a receipt that asked you to proceed to Level 2 to get a queuing number, 2 hours later.

 

10:45 am - 12:00 pm

There were many shops nearby to pass the time while waiting for the passport to be processed. I went to the Starbucks (think the air-cond was faulty) for a hot chocolate and read the Star newspaper. I brought the newspaper and a book by Sean Covey in case there is a long wait.

 

12:00 pm

Headed to the Level 2, Counter 16 for queue number.

 

12:40 pm

I managed to get the number, exactly 2 hours as mentioned on the receipt. Once I got the number, it took less than 20 minutes before my number was called.

 

1:00 pm

I received the new passport.

 

I am glad that the passport renewal process has been improved tremendously. It took me only 3 hours to get my new passport. The old passport was returned to me with a small triangle cut on its cover. I would recommend people to get their passports renewed at Pusat Bandar Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, using the KIOSK machine. Malaysia BOLEH! (CAN).

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Comments

9 Responses to “Malaysia Passport Renewal Experience”

  1. iCalvyn on November 13th, 2008 11:01 pm

    My friend said news paper mention will going to decrease price in this year end… not sure real or not

  2. Jessica on November 14th, 2008 8:24 pm

    Hi iCalvyn,

    Yeah, I read about the fee reduction in paper some months ago. It will be great if they are able to reduce it. ;=)

  3. Frost Fox on November 15th, 2008 9:07 pm

    i guess the system to renew passports/IC/migrate and etc has been improved alot in Malaysia in the past few years ;)
    Frost Foxs last blog post..My Exam Results

  4. shaxx on November 16th, 2008 2:31 am

    yup. it is very fast now to renew. love it!

  5. Hicham on November 16th, 2008 9:18 pm

    I’ve a question, is it red as appears in the image of the post? I think ‘red passport’ is a diplomatic one!

    Sorry but curiosity and I’m a cat; human cat ;)

  6. Jayce on November 18th, 2008 2:43 pm

    Mine still can last until 2010. I should be able to get cheaper renew fee on that time. :D
    Jayces last blog post..Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650 Preview

  7. Jessica on November 19th, 2008 2:27 pm

    Hi friends,

    Yeah, I think the passport renewal process can be used as a good sample (to follow) for other government departments! :=)

  8. Esther on November 29th, 2008 8:23 pm

    I have a question: Is this passport renewal KIOSK machine can be use for applicant under 18yrs old?

  9. Jessica on December 1st, 2008 10:45 am

    Hi Esther,

    If I am not mistaken, for those under 18 years old will need to be done at the counter. Hope it helps :=)

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