I would like to share this experience of mine whereby I was in a dilemma on how to do things about the transferring of my visa from my old passport to my new passport. This is actually new to me but I believe some knew about this matter already.

I also believe that this is worth sharing for especially for those who have the same situation as me. Let me start this story.

With our new passport, our embassy will eventually puncture our old passport. That’s the rule. This means, once a passport is punctured, it is already considered invalid.  Just like what happened to me during the Immigration Check at CIQ in Johor Bahru. We are supposed to travel to Singapore for a short holiday on that day, but the immigration officer told us that I need to transfer the visa endorsement from my old passport to my new passport.

Yes, I am allowed to exit Malaysia on that day, but the officer advised me that when I returned back to Malaysia, I will be in trouble. I will be paying something like “JP Pass worth RM500”. So in the end, we decided to cancel our trip to Singapore.  And at that time, I feel so sad for my son and my wife because we are all excited to see the animals in Singapore Zoo… Let me continue the story…

We went home very upset. So I immediately searched articles online about this situation but there were no many write up about this subject. So we decided to go to the immigration office at Setia Tropika to do all these necessary actions/arrangements about this matter.

In our inquiry to the Immigration office, my situation is under the transaction of “Transfer of Endorsement”, whereby your spouse or your company will write a formal letter to the Immigration officer about your request to transfer your visa from your old passport to your new passport.

Here are the requirements:

• A letter in (Bahasa Melayu )addressed to the Head of Immigration office where you are based on the request to transfer your Visa from your old passport to your new passport.
• Application form (Borang IM 12)
• Photocopy of your old passport personal data page
• Photocopy of your old passport Work Permit/ Spouse Visa / Multiple Entry
• Photocopy of your New Passport Personal data page
• Immigration Fee (I’m not sure but accordingly it’s about RM15-20- this needs to be confirmed-- but for me, I think I didn't pay cause I renewed mine at the same time) Processing time will take you about 2-4 weeks.

I believe that things happened for a reason. We may not get into that short holiday but the good thing was that we manage to renew my Spouse / Multiple Visa into my new passport without undergoing a “Transfer of Endorsement” which will take about 3-4 weeks and without paying JP pass worth RM500.

And just an advice to all spouses: Once you got your new passport, you need to update your visa to be transferred first to that passport at the immigration officer, then to be followed by your:

• Bank account (update)   
• Drivers license   
• HR (your company)   
• Marriage Cert (but according to the lawyer- it is not necessary)   
• Spouse’s EPF and everything

Always remember that once you got a new passport, automatically your documents will identify you based on your new passport number.  

Special Note: Please be advised that before heading to Immigration Department Office, please secure your appointment date HERE. This follows the SOP ruling amid to MCO/CMCO/RMCO announcement from Malaysia Government. New SOPs may be updated from time to time.