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 / System | Upload Limit | Recommended Size |
|---|---|---|
| MyEG / eRezeki | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| LHDN e-Filing (ezHASiL) | 2MB per attachment | Under 1MB |
| KWSP / EPF i-Akaun | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| PERKESO / SOCSO portal | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| Bank account opening (online) | 2MB–5MB | Under 1MB |
| JPA / SPA job applications | 1MB–2MB | Under 500KB |
| University admissions (UPU, UTAC) | 2MB | Under 500KB |
| HR / company onboarding forms | Varies (2MB–10MB) | Under 1MB |
How to Compress Your IC or Passport PDF
Open ShrinkPDF in Your Browser
On your phone or computer, go to shrinkpdf.fyi. No app download or account needed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
- Text on a MyKad is printed at high contrast (dark text, light background) — it remains legible even at lower image resolution
- Maximum compression reduces resolution but doesn't blur text to the point of unreadability at normal viewing size (100%)
- Portal reviewers open documents at 100% zoom — they don't zoom in to 400% to read your IC number
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
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