No need to wait long after your arrival in Malaysia. Here’s everything to know about the Malaysian Immigration Department’s new MyBorderPass system, and how you can apply for it, both as a domestic or international tourist.
The prospect of vacationing is all fun and games until you arrive at the airport, where the real hassle of administrative paperwork reveals itself in its layered complexities. Depending on where you happen to be and where you happen to be heading, immigration regulations and requirements can differ vastly. But in the case of Malaysia, both domestic and international tourists will be glad to know that you can soon skip out on the dreaded counter queues that have become such an intrinsic part of travel.
MyBorderPass: How to apply and get through KLIA immigration under 10 seconds
This is all thanks to the deployment of MyBorderPass, a new QR-based system that reduces immigration checks from the fifteen to twenty seconds previously required via auto gate to a measly five to seven seconds. Needless to say, the considerably shorter wait times are likely to translate into shorter lines, making this a boon for wanderlusts.
A total of 40 MyBorderPass lanes have been rolled out in KLIA; 20 can be found in Terminal 1 while the remaining 20 will be found in Terminal 2. An earlier implementation of the system was first deployed in the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (BSI) complex at the Johor-Singapore border.
It has never been easier to take advantage of its convenience, as all you will need on hand is your smartphone and passport before following the instructions below:
- Download the MyBorderPass app (Apple App Store or Google Play Store)
- Open your MyBorderPass app and tap on ‘Register Now’, if this is your first time
- You will be prompted to use your phone’s camera to scan your passport. Please lay your passport flat, with the page displaying your photo and the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) clearly visible.
- The app will automatically capture your passport details, including your name, IC number, gender, date of birth, and other pertinent details.
- Type in your contact details. You will also see a field for your vehicle registration number, but you may leave this out if you’re not travelling across borders by car.
- When prompted, take a selfie for verification.
- You’re all set.
Keep in mind that you will need to secure your MyBorderPass app using a 4-digit PIN, which you are required to input every time you open the app. What’s more, the app will automatically refresh the generated QR code every 60 seconds.
Upon arrival at KLIA, all you’ll have to do is head to the MyBorderPass lanes after checking in for your flight and scan your QR code at the gantry entrance. The gates will automatically grant you entry into the second area, where you will need to scan your face. Once complete, the second set of gates will open, and you’re ready to take to the skies.
Keep in mind however that while you do not need to show your passport at the MyBorderPass lane, you are still required to carry it on your person at all times in the airport. Also, do note that only one user can be tied to one MyBorderPass account; there are no options to check-in families at this point in time.
With all that said, having a MyBorderPass account isn’t a mandatory immigration requirement upon entering or departing Malaysia, as its sole purpose is meant to expedite queues encountered during immigration checks. If you wish to complete the immigration process using either the auto gate or manual immigration counters, those options remain available at KLIA.
[Feature and hero image credits: Khanh Nguyen/Pexels; Jordan Ling/Unsplash]
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Written by
Benjamin Wong
Senior Editor, Fashion and Dining
Armed with an Advertising major from Lancaster University, Benjamin is a senior editor who has spent his time oscillating between the social media and digital media landscape since 2018. With a keen interest in haute fashion and gastronomy, he has written for publications such as ERROR Digital, WORLD OF BUZZ, and KL Foodie. Beyond the keyboard, you can find him arms-deep in a thrift pile.
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