# Renewing a Malaysian Passport: MyOnline Passport, UTC Counters, or the Immigration Office

> A straightforward renewal of a Malaysian international passport — not lost, not damaged — can now be done entirely online through MyOnline Passport; other cases (lost, damaged, first-time, children) must go through an Immigration counter or UTC, with different documents and approvals.

- Category: settling-in
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-07-24
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/settling-in/renewing-your-passport

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Your passport expires in a month, the flight ticket is already booked, and
you're not sure whether you'll need to take leave from work to queue at
Immigration. For most Malaysians, the answer is: no need. But for some
cases — lost, damaged, or a first-time application — that easy online
route is in fact closed entirely.

## Three routes, depending on your passport's condition

The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) does not offer a single process
for everyone. According to its official page, applications are accepted at
all Immigration Offices within the country and at Malaysian diplomatic
missions abroad — but *how* you apply depends on the status of your
existing passport.

| Passport condition | Route | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Still in hand, to be renewed | MyOnline Passport (online) | Fully remote up to the collection stage |
| Still in hand, but unable/unwilling to use online | UTC counter or Immigration Office | UTC is a receiving office — the application is sent to the state headquarters for processing |
| Lost or damaged | Immigration Office only | A police report is required; approval is subject to the discretion of the Director General of Immigration |
| First-time application / child | Immigration Office only | Not supported by MyOnline Passport |

## How MyOnline Passport actually works

JIM's official guide for this portal (imigresen-online.imi.gov.my) sets out
a flow that is rather different from the assumption of "fill in a form,
receive the passport by post."

1. **Apply** — log in to the portal and select passport renewal.
2. **Upload a photo** to strict specifications: white background, not a
   selfie/instant photo, dark clothing covering the shoulders and chest, a
   headscarf (if worn) in a dark colour with the face clearly visible, no
   glasses or head accessories, `.jpg` format 100kb–300kb.
3. **Pay** via internet banking (FPX), then **print the receipt**.
4. **Wait for status** — the decision is sent by email from
   `noreplyto@imi.gov.my` (check the spam folder too), or check under the
   "Application Status Enquiry" menu on the portal.
5. **Attend once** at the chosen collection office, bringing your
   **original identity card, old passport, and payment receipt**.

A "fingerprint invalid" status means you need to attend a branch in person
to have your fingerprints retaken; a "photo unsatisfactory" status means
re-uploading the photo through the link provided — without repeating the
entire application.

## The 90-day warning that's easy to miss

This is the part that most often causes loss: according to JIM's official
guide, **a passport not collected within a period of 90 days will be
cancelled**, and no payment already made can be reclaimed from the
government. Set a reminder as soon as the status changes to "passport
collectable" — don't let it hang because you're busy with work.

## Ordinary renewal versus replacing a lost/damaged passport

For an ordinary renewal, JIM's official page lists the basic requirements:
MyKad or a temporary identification document (KPPK 09), the old passport
for presentation, as well as the birth certificate and parents' MyKad for
applicants under 18 years old. Special categories — pilgrims performing
Hajj, students abroad, and senior citizens aged 60 and above — have
simplified document requirements.

Replacing a lost or damaged passport is an entirely different case:
requiring a police report (loss, fire or natural disaster), the
applicant's MyKad, birth certificate and parents' MyKad (under 18 years
old), as well as an employer's confirmation letter if working abroad.
Approval is "fully subject to the decision of the Director General of
Immigration," with a decision usually notified within a period of five
working days — this process cannot be done online.

## Confirmed fees

Based on JIM's official page, the current fee structure is:

| Category | 5-year validity | 10-year validity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adult (standard) | RM200 | RM350 |
| Senior citizen (60 years and above) | RM100 | RM175 |
| Children under 12 years old | RM100 | — |

For online applications through MyOnline Passport / the
malaysia.gov.my portal, the confirmed fee is **RM200**, paid via FPX,
with a stated processing period of 24 hours before the status changes to
"collectable." The fee for replacing a lost/damaged passport increases
according to the number of times it has been replaced — confirm the
exact amount at the Immigration counter, as it is not stated in detail on
the official page reviewed.

## The role of the UTC counter

The passport counter at an Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) makes for a
convenient location, but it is not an issuing office. According to JIM's
official list, a UTC falls under a **receiving office** — the
application is sent to the state Immigration headquarters for processing,
unlike an issuing office (such as Jalan Duta or KLIA) which completes the
application at the same location. The waiting period at a UTC may be
somewhat longer compared to an issuing office.

## Common mistakes

- **Trying to apply online for a lost/damaged passport.** MyOnline
  Passport is only for renewing a passport that is still in hand.
- **Photo rejected repeatedly.** A non-white background, glasses, or a
  brightly coloured headscarf are the most common reasons for rejection.
- **Missing the decision email because it lands in the spam folder.**
  Notifications are sent from `noreplyto@imi.gov.my` — add it to your safe
  senders list before applying.
- **Forgetting to collect the passport within 90 days** and losing the fee
  already paid when the application is automatically cancelled.
- **Assuming every UTC counter processes instantly.** A UTC sends the
  application to the state headquarters; it is not an issuing office.

## What's next

If your passport is lost or damaged, prepare a police report first before
going to the nearest Immigration counter — the online route does not
apply for this case. For children who do not yet have a birth certificate
or identification document, start with
[Registering a Child's Birth](/en/settling-in/registering-a-birth) and
[MyKad](/en/glossary/mykad) before applying for their first passport. To
understand the full scope of the Malaysian Immigration Department's
services — from passports to visas and passes — see the
[Malaysian Immigration Department](/en/government/imigresen) page.

## Sources

- Pasport Malaysia Antarabangsa — https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/passport/malaysian-international-passport/ (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)
- Permohonan Pembaharuan Pasport Malaysia Antarabangsa — https://www.malaysia.gov.my/my/digital-services/permohonan-pembaharuan-pasport-malaysia-antarabangsa (MyGovernment / Malaysia.gov.my)
- Pejabat Penerima dan Pengeluar Pasport — https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/passport/passport-recipient-and-issuance-offices/ (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)
- Proses Permohonan myOnline Passport Bagi Pejabat Pungutan di Malaysia (Panduan) — https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/doc/PanduanMyOnlinePassport.pdf (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)
- MyOnLine Passport — https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/pengumuman/myonline-passport/ (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia)

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