Malaysia runs its passport photo process much like a handful of other countries: for a standard in-person application, the Immigration Department (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia) captures your photo digitally at the counter using Facial Live Capture, so there is usually no photo to prepare beforehand. A printed photo still matters for specific cases — and when it does, Malaysia's own size is 35 × 50 mm, noticeably larger than the 35 × 45 mm many applicants expect from other countries' passports.
Fast diagnosis
A common mistake is preparing a printed photo for a standard application that Immigration will simply capture live at the counter. For the cases that do need a photo, the top causes are printing the common 35 × 45mm size instead of Malaysia's own 35 × 50mm, wearing glasses or contact lenses of any kind, and a background that is not plain, shadowless white.
For a standard in-person passport application, the Immigration Department photographs each applicant using Facial Live Capture at the passport counter, so a printed photo brought along is generally not used. Confirm with your specific passport office or overseas mission before ordering studio prints you may not need.
For the cases that do need a submitted photo, Malaysia's official size is 35 × 50 mm with the face measuring 25-30 mm — larger than the 35 × 45 mm many applicants know from other countries' passports. Printing the more common size is rejected.
Official guidance states that the use of contact lenses and spectacles is not permitted during the photo. This is stricter than most other countries, which normally only ban glare or tinted lenses rather than eyewear entirely.
The published specification calls for a shadowless white background. Current guidance states plainly that other background colours will not be accepted, and a visible shadow behind the head causes the same rejection.
Guidance asks for hair that does not cover the face, and for the forehead to stay visible for applicants wearing a hijab. A fringe or loose hair crossing the forehead, or a hijab pulled down over it, causes the same rejection as a hat.
Hats and other headwear are not accepted. Religious head coverings such as the hijab or tudung are permitted, provided the face stays fully visible from chin to forehead.
Passport photo guidance consistently asks for a photo taken within the last six months, across first-time, renewal and replacement applications. An older photo is rejected even if your appearance has not changed noticeably.
Usually not. For a standard in-person application, the Immigration Department photographs each applicant using Facial Live Capture at the passport counter. A submitted photo matters mainly for specific cases, such as some overseas missions or particular replacement applications — confirm with your specific passport office before ordering prints.
Malaysia's official size is 35 × 50 mm with the face measuring 25-30 mm, larger than the 35 × 45 mm size used by many other passport authorities. Printing the more common 35 × 45 mm size for a Malaysian application is one of the most frequent reasons a supplied photo is rejected.
No. Official guidance states that contact lenses and spectacles are both not permitted during the photo, a stricter rule than most other countries, which usually just ban glare or tinted lenses rather than eyewear itself. Remove glasses and contacts entirely before the photo is taken.
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