The Immigration Department of Malaysia — Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia (JIM) — is the agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs that issues passports and travel documents to Malaysians, grants visas, passes and permits to foreigners, controls movement at every authorised entry and exit point, and enforces the country's immigration laws. It serves Malaysian citizens, permanent residents and foreign visitors alike. Its services are split across several official portals, all reached from imi.gov.my.
- JIM sits under the Ministry of Home Affairs and was formed on 21 July 1922; its headquarters is at Persiaran Perdana, Precinct 2, Putrajaya.
- It administers the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Immigration Regulations 1963, the Passport Act 1966, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
- A standard passport renews online via MyOnline Passport for RM200; a new 10-year passport costs RM350 for adults aged 18–59 and RM175 for seniors 60+.
- Most foreign travellers must submit the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) no more than three days before arrival — mandatory since 1 January 2024.
- Different tasks live on different official portals: imigresen-online.imi.gov.my for passports and eServices, malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my (MYVISA) for visas.
Who this applies to: Malaysians needing a passport, and foreigners visiting, working in, or settling in Malaysia.
On this page
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.
How do I renew my Malaysian passport online?
Use MyOnline Passport at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my. A renewal costs RM200, paid by internet banking (FPX), with processing stated as around 24 hours. The online channel is for renewals only — not first-time, lost or damaged passports.
Do I need the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card to enter?
Most foreign travellers must submit the free MDAC online, no more than three days before arriving. Malaysian citizens and permanent residents, Singapore citizens, diplomats, Bruneians with a General Certificate of Identity, and certain Thai and Indonesian border-pass holders are among those exempt.
How much is the new 10-year passport?
The 10-year passport costs RM350 for applicants aged 18–59, RM175 for seniors aged 60 and above, and is free for OKU (disabled) card holders aged 18 and above, under the Fees (Passports and Visas) (Amendment) Order 2026.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Exact current 5-year passport fee post-June-2026 (whether RM200/RM100 tiers still coexist with the new 10-year option, or were replaced) — confirm against P.U.(A) 208/2026 gazette text on lom.agc.gov.my.
- Total number of JIM state/branch offices and overseas Immigration attaché posts — get an exact count from the imi.gov.my directory rather than stating a figure.
- Current total JIM personnel/headcount — the ~14,000 figure is dated ~2014 reporting and needs a current official source.
- Whether the MDAC exemption list (Singapore citizens, Bruneian GCI holders, Thai/Indonesian border-pass holders, etc.) is current — confirm on imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac before relying on it.
- Exact eVisa / eNTRI eligibility and current fees via malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my.
- Confirm the 10-year passport rollout is publicly live nationwide (reporting as of 4 June 2026 did not confirm full public commencement).
Sources
- Introduction – Malaysian Immigration Department — Immigration Department of Malaysia (imi.gov.my)
- Passport – Malaysian Immigration Department — Immigration Department of Malaysia (imi.gov.my)
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Wikipedia
- Malaysian International Passport Renewal Application — MyGovernment portal (malaysia.gov.my)
- 10-year Malaysian passport introduced at RM350 — The Star
- Malaysia Digital Arrival Card — Wikipedia
- MyOnline Passport / MYVISA – Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia — Immigration Department of Malaysia (imi.gov.my)
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 14 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |