ID Cards. The Pros (and Cons?)

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One handy alternative ID that I carry (since I can see no benefit of applying for a local driving license) is my EU-style UK driving license - pink, plastic, credit card size, with photo & signature. So far this has always been accepted within Malaysia in place of passport.
regards, John

Good Idea John.....unfortunately I have got the old style A4 size, which doesn't fit easily into anything!!!
I don't plan to have it renewed (until perhaps it expires) as I haven't lived in the UK since 1994, and no longer have an address there!

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Just thought it would be interesting to do another 'straw poll'.
Each forum member has up to 4 votes, so you can tick up to four of the options.
You cannot see the result until you vote, and you can change your vote.

Let's see!

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I was in KL this week so I made a trip to PWTC and obtained my MM2H  I-kad. It was simple and very quick.

The Immigration chap confirmed that my passport will no longer be stamped every time I pass through passport control. I travel quite a lot so that is the main benefit for me. The pages in my current passport are almost full and even with fewer Malaysian stamps it will have to replaced longer before it expires. Hopefully my next passport will last the full 10 years.

I wouldn't have made a trip to KL specially to collect the I-kad though.

Bill

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Now that is a benefit BillJay.

Can you or anyone else please feed back when you pass through customs to confirm that this is indeed the case!

Many thanks
FCS

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hi,

I've got an old British driving license, so no photo. This is a problem at police check points, although quite often they look at me, and the old motorbike, and wave me through. Sympathy no doubt. The past couple of years instead of carrying my passport, I've used my Singapore Motor Boat license. It's got a photo. No problem.

Personally I'll be getting the MM2H I-Kad, it's less hassle all round. The idea of less Malaysian stamps to fill my passport sells it for me.

regards, Scott

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You have a motor boat in Singapore  , I think I saw the film, wasnt it Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacaul??

I used to have a pilots licence for the Manchester Ship Canal but they pulled it when I rammed Latchford Locks in a Liberian Liberty ship.

Bob

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Personally I'll be getting the MM2H I-Kad, it's less hassle all round. The idea of less Malaysian stamps to fill my passport sells it for me.

regards, Scott

Ditto here, Scott. Plus not having to fill in the white immigration form upon each entry to Malaysia.

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You will still have to fill in the immigration form whist re-entering the country!!

Megalink....Mary at the MM2H One Stop Center says that you still do need to fill in the white immigration card...which I always find a pain in the ar5e!

Once an ID card holder confirms that having entered/exited the country you no longer get a stamp, then I will get one, as I consider that sufficient benefit in itself!

If that same person or someone else confirms that you no longer need to fill in that silly little form, then I will get one in an instant!

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FCS,

When I arrived at KLIA immigration last month, the officer told me that I should apply for the I-kad to avoid stamps on my passport while she was searching for a space. I asked the immigration guy at PWTC whether the card would stop me having to get stamps on my passport and he said yes. I hope it's true but I won't be able to confirm until after my next overseas trip in May.

Bill

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Thanks Bill
I think I will get one anyway as it cost nothing, I am nearby, and it may have the occasional benefit in addition to 'no stamps'!
FCS

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hi,

Tuesday's (24/03/09) The Star carried this article headlined, "Identity cards for MM2H Expatriates."

Bid to Make Lives more Convenient

"The Tourism Ministry has started issuing identification cards for expatriates participating in the MM2H programme. The ministry's secretary-general Datuk Dr. Ong Hong Peng said that 30 people had been issued the silver-coloured cards since March 9th.

"The idea is to make the lives of expatriates more convenient so that they will not have to carry their passports everywhere for the purposes of identification. They can use the cards for things like applying for a credit-card or insurance," he said at a press conference after the launch of the MM2H re-branding exercise yesterday.

"We have been calling up the participants to come and apply for the card so we expect to issue more in the coming months," he added.

He said other improvements under the re-branding exercise included allowing MM2H participants to invest actively and work in critical areas where Malaysians did not have the expertise, and extending the five-year social visit passes issued earlier to 10 years.

"Foreigners married to Malaysian citizens will also have a choice now to join the programme," he said, adding that the MM2H centre would now have an immigration officer attached to it to save the applicant a trip to the Immigration Department.

According to statistics released at the re-branding exercise which was launched by Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Tengku Mohd Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra, there are now 12,566 participants in the MM2H programme with most coming from China, Bangladesh and Britain.

It all reads pretty good, huh.   

regards, Scott

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One handy alternative ID that I carry (since I can see no benefit of applying for a local driving license) is my EU-style UK driving license - pink, plastic, credit card size, with photo & signature. So far this has always been accepted within Malaysia in place of passport.

regards,

John

Equally, as someone living in Thailand (but with MM2H visa) my Thai driving license - credit card style with photo -  is always accepted here in-lieu of British passport.

It has also meant: entry to National Parks at 'local' rates, discounts in hotels, id card usage and Police fines at 'local' rates. Best £4 I have ever spent.

Now that I am allowed to work for 20 hours in Malaysia, may finally make that move down south.....

Bucklt

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...my Thai driving license - credit card style with photo -  is always accepted here in-lieu of British passport......
It has also meant: entry to National Parks at 'local' rates, discounts in hotels, id card usage and Police fines at 'local' rates. Best £4 I have ever spent. Bucklt

I had the same experience in Thailand 10 years ago. In fact whilst in Thailand i still keep the old Thai license in my wallet, even though it has long since expired!

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The Immigration chap confirmed that my passport will no longer be stamped every time I pass through passport control.

Personally I'll be getting the MM2H I-Kad, it's less hassle all round. The idea of less Malaysian stamps to fill my passport sells it for me.

Ditto here, Scott. Plus not having to fill in the white immigration form upon each entry to Malaysia.

...Mary at the MM2H One Stop Center says that you still do need to fill in the white immigration card...which I always find a pain in the ar5e!

When I arrived at KLIA immigration last month, the officer told me that I should apply for the I-kad to avoid stamps on my passport while she was searching for a space. I asked the immigration guy at PWTC whether the card would stop me having to get stamps on my passport and he said yes. I hope it's true but I won't be able to confirm until after my next overseas trip in May. Bill

Thanks Bill, I think I will get one anyway as it cost nothing, I am nearby, and it may have the occasional benefit in addition to 'no stamps'!

As mentioned previously, given that the i-KAD is free, and that I live nearby, I decided to get one today, and as stated previously, it is all rather simple and straight forward, and took about 20 minutes after my number was called!

On receiving the i-KAD, I inquired if stamps would no longer be place in my passport on exit/entry from/to Malaysia, and the young chap behind the desk (not an imigresen person!!) stated, “Oh yes, you will still get stamps, but you don’t have to fill in the ‘white immigration form’.
WoW!!!! Would you believe it?

I actually think he is right, and will be able to put it to the test in 2 weeks time when I drive up to Phuket.

The reason why I think he is right is because the Thai Immigration personnel always search for the Malaysian exit stamp as soon as you give them your passport. If they don’t find it they ask you where it is!!!!!

The plot thickens.

If you hold an i-KAD, and travel in/out of Malaysia in the next 2 weeks, please post here with your findings!!

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It is quite simple........but you have to go along in person (an agent cannot do this for you) as you will be required to provide an image of both thumb prints! 

In addition take along the following:-

1.  Original passport.
2.  Copy of the MM2H Visa page and the information page with your photo/expiry date/place of issue etc (colour if possible).
3.  Original Sales and purchase agreement (or duplicate copy if original is with the mortgage lender), plus a relevant copy of the 3 or 4 relevant pages. If you don't own a property you will need a copy of your rental contract.
4.  Original current utility bill with obviously your name and address on it!
5.  Two passport sized photos with white background.

When you arrive there you will need to obtain a queue number, and while you wait you can fill in a simple 'Application Form' (copy attached), which you will find in a rack next to the 'Queue Number machine'.

Once your number is called, the whole thing then takes about 20 minutes; (5 minutes for the 'clerk' to process/collate your forms, and fifteen minutes for the card to be produced), and you are on your way!