Fastest passport renewal experience

Do you know that you can renew your Malaysian international passport with the minimum of hassle?

Got my wife's and mine done at the immigration department in Putrajaya within 1-1/2 hours. We went to the immigration office located on the third floor of a government building when it opened its door at 7.30am. and left the premises at 9.00am.

There is no need to fill up any forms. No need to bring along any photographs because there is a camera at every counter to take a digital portrait of your face. There is no need to wear smartly because you can use the free black coats to spruce up your image when taking the snap shot of your face, courtesy of the immigration department.

All you are required to bring along are your Mykad, cash to pay for the service and your expired passport.

The application process is simple and straightforward.

First you tell the officer at the reception the nature of your application and you will be given a ticket with a specific number for the type of application. After getting a number you sit down at the waiting area for your number to be flashed at the electronic score board.

When you see your number in the score board you go to the counter assigned to your number. At the counter you hand over your Mykad to the officer who will then insert it in a card reader to extract the relevant information stored in the card's chip. The officer will also scan your left and right hand thumbs to verify that the thumb scans match the thumb prints stored in the MyKad's chip.

When everything is in order the officer will ask you to pose for a digital snap shot of your face using a camera mounted beside the counter and operated by the officer. You will be asked to put on a black coat and remove your glasses, if you are wearing one before taking the snap shot. The black coat is provided free of charge, courtesy of the immigration department.

After the photo session the officer will take away your MyKad and also the expired old passport for further processing. After that you are required to stamp your right thumb print on a sheet of paper document. With the ticket counterfoil the officer will direct you to Counter 23 or 24 where you are required to pay the processing fee.

At the payment counter you pay the processing fee when your ticket number is flashed on the electronic scoreboard. Upon paying the fee you will get an official receipt and will be directed to wait for the passport to be issued at another counter. As a senior citizen I paid RM150 which is half the normal price for a 5-year passport.

At the collection counter, after signing an acknowledgment form you will be issued with the new passport. You will also be given back your Mykad and the cancelled expired passport with notches cut out at the edge of the document.