Why was unused validity from old passports added to new ones?

Question

Accepted Answer

Unused Passport Validity Addition Halted Due to System and Travel Rule Conflicts

The Malaysian Immigration Department has ceased the practice of adding unused validity from old passports to new ones, following issues encountered by travellers with certain airline systems and potential conflicts with international travel regulations. Approximately 38,000 10-year passports were initially issued under this policy, with about 26,000 of them exceeding the 10-year mark due to the transferred validity. The department is now offering free replacements to affected passport holders.
Passport Validity Exceeding 10 Years Caused Check-in Problems

Several Malaysian passport holders faced difficulties during check-in procedures with specific airlines while overseas. These issues arose because the passports issued, while technically compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, possessed a validity period extending beyond 10 years. The Immigration Department has acknowledged that some airline systems are configured to only accept passport validity up to a maximum of 10 years, leading to these operational problems for travellers.
International Travel Rules and Airline Systems Prompted Policy Change

The practice of extending passport validity beyond 10 years was discontinued by the Immigration Department due to its incompatibility with certain airline systems and international travel entry requirements. For instance, under European Union (EU) entry regulations, non-EU travellers are required to possess passports issued within the preceding 10 years. This contrasts with the Malaysian practice, which, in some cases, resulted in passports being valid for longer than a decade by carrying over unused time from previous documents.
Comparison with Other Countries' Passport Policies

The approach taken by Malaysia in adding unused validity to new passports differs from practices in other nations. Singapore, for example, caps adult passports at 10 years, with unused validity only being carried forward for five-year passports. Similarly, Australia does not transfer any unused validity into renewed passports. These international comparisons highlight a divergence in passport management policies and underscore the potential for complications when a nation's passport system does not align with global norms or specific travel regulations.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why was unused validity from old passports added to new ones?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends