# The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM): What It Does and Every Service It Runs

> The Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, JIM), an agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, issues passports, visas, passes and permits, controls every entry and exit point, and enforces Malaysia's immigration laws.

- Category: settling-in
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-14
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/settling-in/immigration-department-jim

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One agency stands behind almost every document that lets a person cross Malaysia's border, live here, or work here. The **Immigration Department of Malaysia** — *Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia* (**JIM**) — is the body under the **Ministry of Home Affairs** that issues passports to citizens, grants visas and passes to foreigners, staffs every airport and land-border counter, and enforces the immigration laws. It serves Malaysian citizens, permanent residents and foreign visitors, and it has run since **21 July 1922**. The catch for newcomers is that its services are scattered across several official websites — this page maps them.

## What does JIM actually do?

JIM's work falls into four core functions:

- **Passports and travel documents** for Malaysian citizens and permanent residents.
- **Visas, passes and permits** for foreign nationals — employment, study, dependant and visit categories.
- **Border control** — managing movement at every authorised entry and exit point.
- **Law enforcement** under the immigration statutes.

Its stated vision is *"World Class Immigration Services,"* and its mission is to systematically enhance service delivery in the interest of national security and the people's well-being. The department is led by the **Director General of Immigration**, a post held since 17 September 2024 by **Dato' Zakaria bin Shaaban**, and works from its headquarters at **No 15, Persiaran Perdana, Precinct 2, Putrajaya**.

## Which laws does it enforce?

Four statutes anchor JIM's authority:

| Legislation | Covers |
|---|---|
| Immigration Act 1959/63 | Entry, stay, passes, removal and offences |
| Immigration Regulations 1963 | Detailed rules under the Act |
| Passport Act 1966 | Malaysian passports and travel documents |
| Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Amendment 2010) | Trafficking and migrant smuggling |

A Malaysian passport, note, remains **the property of the Government of Malaysia** and can be revoked at any time. The current biometric e-Passport — an ICAO-standard, 48-page document with a chip secured by Public Key Infrastructure — was launched on 2 February 2010.

## What does a passport cost, and where do I renew it?

Renewals are done online through **MyOnline Passport** at `imigresen-online.imi.gov.my`. A standard renewal costs **RM200**, paid by internet banking (FPX), with processing stated as around 24 hours. The online channel handles renewals only — first-time, lost or damaged passports must be done in person.

Since **3 June 2026**, the Fees (Passports and Visas) (Amendment) Order 2026 has also offered a new **10-year passport**:

| Passport option | Fee |
|---|---|
| 10-year passport, adults 18–59 | RM350 |
| 10-year passport, seniors 60+ | RM175 |
| 10-year passport, OKU cardholders 18+ | Free |
| Standard renewal (MyOnline Passport) | RM200 |

Replacing a lost or damaged 10-year passport (adults 18–59) costs **RM550** for the first replacement, **RM850** for the second, and **RM1,350** for the third and beyond.

## Which portal handles which task?

JIM's biggest source of confusion is that one department runs several sites. The rule of thumb:

- **imi.gov.my** — the main department site; start here for information and links.
- **imigresen-online.imi.gov.my** — MyOnline Passport and other eServices.
- **malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my (MYVISA)** — visa facilitation for foreign nationals.
- **The MDAC system** — the **Malaysia Digital Arrival Card**, a free electronic arrival form most foreign travellers must submit no more than three days before arrival, mandatory since **1 January 2024**. Malaysian citizens and PRs, Singapore citizens, diplomats, Bruneians with a General Certificate of Identity, and certain Thai and Indonesian border-pass holders are exempt.

Always begin from a `.gov.my` address — several private look-alike sites charge for forms that JIM provides for free.

## What's next

If you are settling in, identify the exact pass you need before applying — employment, dependant or long-term visit — and work only through MYVISA. Travellers should confirm their MDAC obligation (and any exemption) before departure. And because the June 2026 fee changes are recent, verify the current passport fee against the official portal before you pay.

## Sources

- Introduction – Malaysian Immigration Department — https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/departments-profile/introduction/ (Immigration Department of Malaysia (imi.gov.my))
- Passport – Malaysian Immigration Department — https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/passport/ (Immigration Department of Malaysia (imi.gov.my))
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Department_of_Malaysia (Wikipedia)
- Malaysian International Passport Renewal Application — https://www.malaysia.gov.my/en/digital-services/malaysian-international-passport-renewal-application (MyGovernment portal (malaysia.gov.my))
- 10-year Malaysian passport introduced at RM350 — https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/06/04/10-year-malaysian-passport-introduced-at-rm350 (The Star)
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Digital_Arrival_Card (Wikipedia)
- MyOnline Passport / MYVISA – Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia — https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/main (Immigration Department of Malaysia (imi.gov.my))

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