KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysians aged 18 and above will be able to choose between a five-year and a 10-year passport starting July 1, in a move aimed at improving convenience and strengthening travel document security.

The new passport structure was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Parliament lobby on June 30, according to the Home Ministry.

The ministry said the reform marks a major step in enhancing the security of Malaysia’s travel documents while offering greater flexibility to the public.

It added that eligible applicants can now select a passport validity period based on their travel needs.

The 10-year passport is priced at RM350, while the five-year passport remains at RM200.

The ministry said users opting for the 10-year option could save RM50 compared with renewing a five-year passport twice over the same period.

It said the new passports incorporate 94 security features, compared with 49 in the current version.

These include guilloche patterns, holograms, latent images, rainbow printing, line width modulation and ultraviolet features aligned with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

The ministry added that the updated passport design also reflects Malaysia’s national identity and cultural heritage.

The Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing butterfly has been introduced as the main icon, replacing the hibiscus in the previous design.

The government said the butterfly symbolises Malaysia’s biodiversity and natural heritage.

The rollout will be carried out in phases at 71 passport offices nationwide starting July 1.

The ministry said new-generation printing machines will support production of up to 60 passports per hour to meet demand.

It added that the system is expected to handle around 160,000 passports issued monthly.

Members of the public were advised not to rush to replace valid passports, as existing documents remain valid until six months before expiry.

The ministry said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to providing secure, modern and internationally compliant travel documents.