PUTRAJAYA: Online passport renewals will be introduced at the Kajang, Kelana Jaya and Wangsa Maju immigration branches from next month.
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This means that these three branches will no longer accept walk-in applications for people between the ages of 13 and 59.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the three branches were selected as they issued a high number of passports.
“Another reason we made the decision was because the three branches were located in areas with full Internet penetration.
“I was also informed that these areas have 90% 5G Internet coverage,” he told reporters at the Immigration Department Hari Raya celebration on Tuesday (May 16).
He said these three branches would still accept walk-in applications for children under the age of 12 as well as their accompanying family members.
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“They would also accept walk-ins for the disabled, those over the age of 60, as well as pilgrims and students under the age of 21, who have offers to study abroad.
“The department is also in the midst of upgrading the online applications mechanism for first-time passport applicants, aged 18 and above, including senior citizens,” he added.
Saifuddin said in the first four months of this year, the Immigration branches of Kajang, Kelana Jaya and Wangsa Maju had issued a total of 91,931 passports (32,788, 38,417 and 20,726 passports respectively).
“Since the movement control order ended, a total of 2,347,493 passports were issued nationwide between April and December last year.
“As of May 12 this year, a total of 1,674,293 passports were issued nationwide with 464,725 of them being done online,” he said. – The Star