How to Apply for Malaysian Baby Passports (Complete Guide)

Are you planning a family trip since you have a new member in your family? Do you want to take your kids to travel out of Malaysia? We would like to remind you of an important certificate before starting out with babies, which is the Malaysian passport for newborn babies.

As a beginner, you might be confused that what you should prepare, how long it takes and whether there are any special requirements for minors’ passports. Actually, the process to apply passport for a baby in Malaysia is generally similar to that for adults. And this passage would go over the requirements and steps so as to help you get prepared.

Baby Passport Requirements

First of all, let’s learn about baby passport qualifications in order to apply Malaysian passport for a newborn baby. Make sure all the documents you display are original copies. Photocopies would not be accepted. The general requirements are listed as follows:

• The minor should be under 18.
• The applicant should possess legal parental responsibilities which refer to the father, mother, statutory guardian or adoptive parents.
• The guardian must own parental consent for the child.
• Renew the baby passport every 5 years.
• Fill in the Form IM.42.
• Provide baby passport photo (optional). For photo requirements, please check the Baby Passport Photo Requirements below.

For babies born in Malaysia:

• Malaysian identity card for the kid (MyKad or MyKid).
• The kid’s birth certificate.
• The parent’s identity card (MyKad).

For babies born outside of Malaysia:

• The kid’s birth certificate/Form W/Certificate of Status
• The kid’s travel documents to go back to Malaysia
• The parent’s identity card (MyKad)

For babies from Sabah or Sarawak and submitting the application in Peninsular Malaysia：

• The kid’s birth certificate.
• Identity card for the kid (MyKad or MyKid). The MyKad or MyKid must be indicated with the letter ‘H’ meaning Sabah or ‘K’ meaning Sarawak, or you have to adjust it at the National Registration Department.
• A temporary identification certificate (known as JPN. KPPK 09 or 11) is also acceptable if there is no Mykad.

For babies with deceased parent(s):

• The kid’s birth certificate.
• Malaysian identity card for the kid (MyKad or MyKid).
• Death certificate of the deceased.
• Legitimate declaration from statutory guardian
• Identity card for the Guardian or other valid identity certificates like passports (for foreigners).

For babies with divorced parents:

• The kid’s birth certificate.
• Malaysian identity card for the kid (MyKad or MyKid).
• Legitimate declaration from statutory guardian
• Identity card for the Guardian or other valid identity certificates like passports (for foreigners).

For adopted babies:

• The kid’s birth certificate.
• Malaysian identity card for the kid (MyKad or MyKid).
• Certificate of Adoption
• Identity card for the Guardian or other valid identity certificates like passports (for foreigners).

How to Apply for a Passport for a Baby in Malaysia

To apply for a Malaysian passport for newborn babies, the guardian and the child must appear in the immigration office in person. Google the immigration offices near you and try to visit as early as possible in case you have to wait for a long time in the queue. After arriving, just follow the steps below:

1. Present your documents to the queue counter and get a number to line up. Infants and senior citizens are usually given priority, so you can get the service more quickly when you apply passport for babies in Malaysia.
2. Wait until your number is called for your turn to go to a specific service counter.
3. Submit all the documents we have stated before to the officer. Please note that the office will ask only one parent to sign the forms under his/her supervision.
4. Fulfill payment. The cost of a baby passport (below 13 years old) is RM100. The cost is RM200 if the child is 13 or above, equal to a standard passport. Remember to pick up your documents and the receipt.
5. Wait for the passport to get ready. You can pick it up at the same of the application if nothing goes wrong.
6. Show your Mykad and the baby’s birth certificate to get the passport, which aims to confirm your identity and relation with the baby.

Baby Passport Photo Requirements

Although it is difficult to work with your little ones while taking a formal biometric photo to apply passport for a baby in Malaysia, there are some general rules that you should pay attention to.

Size & ratio

The baby passport photo must be cropped to 35mm (width) x 50mm (length).

The head should take up about 50%-60% of the picture, in other words, measuring 25mm-30mm from the chin to the top of the head.

Subject

Make sure that the baby is the only subject with head and shoulders visible. A family photo is definitely unacceptable. If you hold the baby while taking the picture, don’t show your hands in the photo. As an alternative, you can also lay it down and take pictures from above. 

Background

The background must be pure white and clear of any other colors, patterns and shadows. Sometimes toys or snacks are used to attract and comfort the baby. Make sure don’t capture those distracted items.

It is easy to solve background problems today because there is an intelligent passport photo editor like AiPassportPhotos to modify the background.

Validity

Babies’ appearance might change as they grow up. A baby passport is valid for 5 years. The photo must present the current features, so make sure it is taken within the last six months.

Posture

The head must stay in the center, with no tilting or looking around. Keep the baby looking directly at the camera. Here is a trick. Use toys or snacks to attract its attention behind the camera. 

Facial 

Let the baby hold a natural expression, no funny faces, crying faces or sticking tongues out. That is to say, don’t amuse them excessively. Don’t take a shot while they close their eyes or open mouths because it would distort their facial expression.

Lighting

The lighting should be evenly spread on the face in case of shadows. Babies are sensitive to photoflash lamps or strong artificial light might, so it is recommended to take the photo under natural light.

Dress code

In contrast with the white background, the outfit should be a dark color. Remember to dress your baby because a passport photo with a naked baby would be rejected. Keep the dressing simple. Accessories like glasses, hats, headbands, and uniforms are not acceptable.

If your baby has to wear a hijab for religious beliefs, make sure it is in dark color distinguishable from the blank background.

How to Make Baby Passport Photos

Since it could be a great challenge to stop an infant from moving, I bet that you don’t go through the photography again, so ensuring the compliance of the photo before submitting is essential. However, even if you have entirely got acquainted with the requirements, it remains uncertain to judge the photo quality by yourself. Therefore, we would like to recommend an online passport photo maker to you, AiPassportPhotos.

This online tool promises to provide the best shot with 100% approval from the authority, thus shortening the time of getting your baby’s passport. Moreover, the results come out within seconds, which means you don’t have to queue up at the photo studio anymore. Additionally, the cost of printout and online service is much cheaper than turning to a professional photographer. If you apply passport for the whole family, it would be a good deal. 

How to Crop a Passport Photo Online?

AiPassportPhotos is user-friendly without complicated installation or manual retouching. Now, let’s crop a compliant passport photo step by step.

Step 1. Prepare photos

First of all, you can take a baby passport photo with a camera or smartphone according to the baby passport photo requirements. Take as many shots as possible so you have more choices.

Step 2. Upload the photo

Then, visit the AiPassportPhotos and select Malaysian Baby Passport Photo service. Upload the selected image and let it process the image automatically. It will scan and detect the biometric features, dressing, posture, lighting, etc. If the image is detected to be unqualified, just replace a new one.

Step 3. Auto processing

If the image is detected to be qualified, it would crop the size automatically. The background would be changed if necessary. You don’t have to be worried about failing to find a suitable background.

Step 4. Download the printable template

It consumes one credit to download the digital template and print it out in a retail store. New users would be given 5 free credits.

Wrap Up

Taking a family trip would be exciting. Failing to get a Malaysian passport for newborn babies would foul up your plan. We hope that this article would help you thoroughly learn how to apply passport for babies in Malaysia, including documents for different conditions, steps to fulfill applications and ways to create the best baby passport photo. It deserves reading carefully and getting everything required prepared before your start.