Most Malaysians move house at least once and never touch the address on the back of their MyKad, which is why so many of us are still officially living with our parents.
There is a rule about this, and it is older than most people realise. Under Regulation 15 of the National Registration Regulations 1990, if you change your place of residence and the stay is 90 days or more, you are required to apply for a replacement identity card showing the new address.
Here is what the process actually involves in 2026, including the parts that catch people out.
The One Thing to Understand First
A MyKad address change is not an update. It is a replacement.
Your residential address is printed on the physical card, so there is no way to change it without producing a new card. That is also why the process cannot be completed online: JPN captures your photograph and thumbprints at the counter as part of issuing the card.
Any service or article that promises a fully online MyKad address change is describing something that does not exist. You can prepare online. You cannot finish online.
What It Costs
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Malaysian citizen | RM10 |
| Non-citizen (permanent resident) | RM40 |
That fee covers the replacement card. It is separate from the fees for a lost or damaged card, which are higher — we covered those in our guide to what a lost MyKad replacement actually costs.
Which Addresses JPN Will Not Accept
This is where applications get rejected, and it is worth reading before you turn up.
The address must be a permanent residential address in Malaysia. JPN does not accept:
- A workplace or office address
- The address of an organisation, association or company
- A PO Box
If you are renting, the rental address is fine — it is still a residential address. The requirement is about the nature of the premises, not about ownership.
What to Bring
Prepare these before your appointment:
- Your current MyKad. The original, not a photocopy.
- Proof of the new address. Commonly accepted documents include a recent electricity bill, a water bill, a sale and purchase agreement, or a tenancy agreement. The document should show the new address clearly.
- The completed Borang Pertukaran Alamat. The change-of-address form is available at the counter, and is also downloadable from the JPN website so you can fill it in beforehand.
- The fee, in whatever payment forms your branch accepts.
If the applicant is under 18, a parent or guardian must accompany them.
A practical note on proof of address: if the utility bill is in your landlord's name or a family member's name, bring the tenancy agreement or a supporting document that links you to the premises. Turning up with a bill in someone else's name and nothing else is the most common reason people get sent home.
Step by Step
1. Book an appointment
JPN operates an online appointment system, MyJanjiTemu, at mytemujanji.jpn.gov.my. Book a slot before going — walk-in capacity varies by branch and day, and busy urban offices can be effectively appointment-only at peak. Choose whichever branch is convenient; you are not tied to the one nearest your old address.
2. Fill in the form in advance
Download the Borang Pertukaran Alamat, complete it, and bring it printed. It saves you a queue-and-fill cycle at the counter.
3. Attend the appointment
Bring your documents. Expect the counter process to include verification of your supporting documents, capture of your photograph and thumbprints, and payment.
JPN counter operating hours for most states — including Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor — run Monday to Friday, roughly 8.00am to 4.45pm. States with a different working week operate on different days, so confirm on JPN's counter hours page before travelling.
4. Collect the new card
You will be told the collection arrangement at the counter. Keep the receipt — it is your proof of application and, in most cases, what you present at collection.
JPN began rolling out a new-generation MyKad in 2026, so a replacement card issued now may look different from the one you have been carrying. The card number and your identity details do not change.
Why It Is Worth Doing Anyway
The 90-day rule is the legal answer. The practical answer is that a stale MyKad address quietly creates friction across a surprising number of services.
Your MyKad address is what a lot of institutions treat as your address of record — banks, insurers, and government correspondence among them. Court and enforcement notices, in particular, are often served to the registered address, which means a letter you never see is still a letter that was delivered.
There is also the household-data angle. Government assistance and subsidy programmes increasingly rely on household and residency data, and mismatches between systems create delays. Our guide to PADU registration and profile updates covers a related piece of that puzzle.
On the perennial WhatsApp forwards claiming a crackdown or special operation on MyKad addresses: JPN has publicly addressed those claims through Bernama, and it is worth reading the department's own statement rather than the forward. As always with anything involving your MyKad, official portals are the only source worth trusting.
FAQ
Can I change my MyKad address online?
No. You can book an appointment and download the form online, but the application itself must be completed in person at a JPN office because your photograph and thumbprints are captured there.
How much does a MyKad address change cost?
RM10 for Malaysian citizens and RM40 for non-citizens. That covers the replacement card.
Do I get a new MyKad number?
No. Your identity card number stays the same for life. Only the physical card is replaced.
What if I rent and my name is not on the utility bill?
Bring your tenancy agreement as the supporting document. The requirement is evidence that the address is your residence, not that you own the property or hold the utility account.
Is there a penalty for not updating my address?
The requirement sits in the National Registration Regulations 1990 rather than being a discretionary courtesy. Separately from any legal exposure, the practical cost is missed official correspondence sent to an address you no longer live at.
Can I use my office address?
No. JPN requires a permanent residential address. Workplace addresses, organisation addresses and PO Boxes are not accepted.
Official details for the service are published on JPN's identity card address change page and summarised on the Malaysia government services portal. Fees and document requirements can change, so verify against those pages before you go.
