Kdn Conducts Study On Extending Passport Validity Period To 10 Years

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry (KDN) through the Immigration Department is conducting a study to extend the validity period of passports to 10 years, compared to the current five years.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was because several countries had already practised the 10-year passport validity period.

"The 10-year passport validity period has been adopted by ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore, as well as by Italy, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom," he told a press conference after the opening of the Shaftsbury Passport Office, here today.

Also present was Immigration Director-General Datuk Ruslin Jusoh.

Saifuddin Nasution said the study would be concluded within a reasonable timeframe, following which a decision on the matter would be made.

Meanwhile, he said another Immigration passport office will be opened at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, in Sabah,  which is expected to start operating in June this year.

"In this way, we can improve the quality of service without adding positions, but making it easier for dealings between the Immigration Department and the community," he said.

Regarding the new immigration office, he said it will be the  78th office and among the offices which accept online applications for passport renewal.

Other Immigration offices that accept online applications for passport renewals are the branch offices in Wangsamaju, Kajang and Kelana Jaya.

In other developments, he said a total of 3,057,825 passports were issued last year compared to 2,574,435 the previous year, which is an increase of 20 per cent.

-- BERNAMA