MalaysiaMyKadIdentity Documents

How to Compress a Scanned IC or Passport PDF in Malaysia

Malaysian government portals, banks, and HR systems commonly require scanned copies of your MyKad (IC), passport, or driving licence — and most impose strict upload limits of 1MB–2MB. Smartphone scanners produce high-resolution images that easily hit 5–15MB per document. Here's how to compress them quickly and safely, without the scan leaving your device.

Upload Limits by Portal

Portal / SystemUpload LimitRecommended Size
MyEG / eRezeki2MBUnder 500KB
LHDN e-Filing (ezHASiL)2MB per attachmentUnder 1MB
KWSP / EPF i-Akaun2MBUnder 500KB
PERKESO / SOCSO portal2MBUnder 500KB
Bank account opening (online)2MB–5MBUnder 1MB
JPA / SPA job applications1MB–2MBUnder 500KB
University admissions (UPU, UTAC)2MBUnder 500KB
HR / company onboarding formsVaries (2MB–10MB)Under 1MB

How to Compress Your IC or Passport PDF

1

Open ShrinkPDF in Your Browser

On your phone or computer, go to shrinkpdf.fyi. No app download or account needed.

2

Upload the Scanned PDF

Tap Choose PDF File and select your scanned IC or passport PDF. This is usually in your Downloads folder, WhatsApp Documents, or Files app depending on how you received or created the scan.

3

Choose Maximum Compression

For scanned identity documents, select Maximum. IC and passport scans are image-heavy — Maximum compression reduces them to under 500KB in most cases while keeping all text clearly legible at normal viewing size.

4

Download and Upload to Portal

Tap Download. The compressed file saves to your Downloads folder. Then go to the portal, find the document upload field, and select the compressed PDF.

Your IC and passport never leave your device

ShrinkPDF compresses files entirely within your browser — no data is sent to any server. Your MyKad number, photo, and personal information remain on your device only. This is critical for sensitive identity documents.

Is It Safe to Compress Identity Documents Online?

The answer depends entirely on which tool you use. Most online PDF tools upload your file to their servers — meaning your IC number, photo, and address are transmitted to a third party.

ShrinkPDF is different: all processing happens locally inside your web browser using JavaScript. The file is never sent anywhere. You can verify this by going offline after the page loads — compression still works because no server is involved.

Check before using other tools

If you use a different PDF compressor, look for wording like "files are processed locally" or "no upload." If a tool shows a progress bar that says "Uploading..." your document is being sent to their server. Avoid this for IC, passport, and other identity documents.

Will the IC Text Still Be Readable After Compression?

Yes — for the purposes of portal submission. Portals review scanned IC uploads to verify your IC number, name, and date of birth. These are text elements that remain clearly legible even after Maximum compression because:

After compressing, open the file and check that your IC number, name, and expiry date are clearly readable. If anything looks blurry, switch to Balanced compression instead.

✓ Compress Your IC / Passport PDF Free

Private. Local. No upload. Your document stays on your device.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum file size for IC upload in Malaysian portals?
Most Malaysian government portals (LHDN, KWSP, PERKESO, JPA, UPU) accept PDF uploads of up to 2MB. Some bank account opening portals allow up to 5MB. To be safe, compress your IC scan to under 500KB — this works for all portals and loads quickly for reviewers.
My phone scanned the IC at 5MB. How do I get it under 500KB?
Use ShrinkPDF's Maximum compression. A single-page scanned IC at 5MB typically compresses to 200–400KB with Maximum — well under the 500KB target. Go to shrinkpdf.fyi, upload the scan, select Maximum, and download the result.
Can I compress a passport scan that was photographed with my phone camera?
Yes, if it's been saved as a PDF. If your phone camera saved it as a JPG, you first need to convert it to PDF — use ShrinkPDF's Images to PDF tool to combine the front and back into one PDF, then compress it. If it's already a PDF (saved via a scanning app), upload it directly to ShrinkPDF and compress.
The portal rejected my compressed IC — what should I try?
Check the portal's requirements — some specify minimum resolution (e.g. 150 DPI) or file type (PDF or JPG only). If the portal needs a JPG instead of a PDF, use ShrinkPDF's PDF to Images tool to convert. If the portal rejects due to quality, try Balanced compression instead of Maximum, which preserves slightly higher image resolution.