Table of Contents
Updated as of 8 November 2022
Disclaimer: Please note that this guide is prepared with the good intention to help Malaysian binational families with preparatory administrative tasks to get their suitable documentation to stay and live in Malaysia. The list may not be exhaustive and as such should not be taken as your sole advice source. We wish to stress that it is advisable to check with your local immigration/ Government offices and relevant embassies/ High Commission offices for any updates on documentation requirements and processes.
If you notice any change/ error here due to updates, please do reach out to the FSSG team via community@familyfrontiers.org. Thank you in advance!
Useful sources of information:
Residence Pass: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/pass/residence-pass/
Entry Permit/Permanent Residence: https://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/permit/
Permanent Residence #
Eligibility #
- Married to a Malaysian citizen
- Had been issued with a Long Term Visit Pass and stayed continuously in Malaysia for a period of five (5) years
- Required to submit “Surat Akuan Perkahwinan”
- Spouse has to be the sponsor
- For child/children of Malaysian Citizen below age 6, parents must be the sponsor
Documents needed #
- Application of Entry Permit [Form IMM.4]
- Form IMM.270
- 4 Passport-sized photos with a blue background [One of them will be placed on the “Surat Akuan Sumpah Perkahwinan Form” (Declaration of Marriage)
- 2 Passport-sized photos of Malaysian spouse
- Applicant’s Birth Certificate (for verification purpose)
- Overseas Marriage Certification (if applicable)
- Death / Divorce Certificate from previous marriage (if applicable)
- 1 passport-sized photo of your sponsor
- Photocopy of your sponsor’s MYKAD and original for verification purpose
- Photocopy of your sponsor’s birth cert and original for verification purpose
- Malaysian Spouse passport page [only applicable if you married overseas]
- Photocopy of Applicant’s Children’s MYKAD & Birth Certification and original for verification purpose [if applicable]
- Photocopy of Applicant’s Children’s passport [if applicable]
- A copy of your water or electricity bill to prove your residence address. [Bring along the original bill for verification purpose]
- A personalised cover letter in Bahasa Malaysia [In the letter, include your name, your passport number, spouse name, your spouse MYKAD number and the purpose of you drafting this letter]
- Malaysian Sponsor’s proof of income [it can be in payslip]
- Malaysian Sponsor’s proof of employment [ you can request your sponsor’s company HR to issue a letter of confirmation of employment to prove your sponsor’s employment]
- If your Malaysian Sponsor is self-employed, bring along the Company Registration certificate
- Note: It is better to get your document translated in Bahasa Malaysia or English if it’s in another language
Things to take note #
- The approval for application of Permanent Residence can take up to 5 years.
- Continue renewing your LTSVP while you are waiting for your application for Permanent Residence to be approved.
- If you do not have the documents required at hand or it is in your home country, it is advisable to send it to Malaysia (an option would be via courier).
- Make sure that the documents that are going to be submitted to the Immigration Officer are in either English or Bahasa Malaysia.
Residence Pass #
Residence Pass is issued to any foreign national who falls under any category specified under Regulation 16A, Immigration Regulations 1963
CATEGORIES #
Categories 3 – A person who has ties with a Malaysian Citizen #
The applicant can either be:
- Husband / wife of a citizen
- Divorcee / widow / widower to a citizen with a biological child who is a Malaysian Citizen
- Biological mother / father to a Malaysian Citizen
- Mother / father in law to a Malaysian Citizen who is holding a valid pass in Malaysia
Categories 4 – A person with family ties with a Permanent Resident in Malaysia #
- Husband / wife to a Permanent Resident
CONDITIONS TO APPLY FOR A RESIDENT PASS #
- The applicant must have a valid travel document or passport with a validity at least 6 months
- The applicant has been staying in Malaysia on a valid long term pass
- For Category 3, the applicant must hold a valid long-term pass and has resided in Malaysia at least 3 years
- For Category 4, the applicant must hold a valid long-term pass and has resided in Malaysia at least 5 years
- The application must be sponsored by a Malaysian aged 21 years and above
- For Category 3 & Category 4, application may be submitted to the nearest Immigration office or the Immigration Headquarter located at Putrajaya or via online https://eservices.imi.gov.my/myimms/myPR
- For Category 3(iii), divorcee / widow / widower to a Malaysian citizen who has been granted full or joint custody of the biological child by the relevant court of law
- All photocopied documents issued by a foreign country MUST be certified by the corresponding foreign missions in Malaysia. [It can be certified by the Embassy of the applicant’s home country in Malaysia]
- Applications in West Malaysia must be sponsored by a Malaysian citizen
- Applications in Sabah and Sarawak must be sponsored by a Malaysian citizen of Sabah or Sarawak origin
- Both sponsor and applicant MUST be present during the submission of documents at the Immigration office
CHECKLIST OF DOCUMENTS #
CATEGORY 3 – A PERSON TIES WITH A MALAYSIAN CITIZEN #
- Husband / wife of a citizen
- Form IMM16a
- Photocopy of applicant’s passport (new and old)
- 2 copies of passport size photos
- Photocopy of husband’s or wife’s identity card (MYKAD)
- 2 photocopies of the sponsor’s identity card (MYKAD)
- Photocopy of marriage certificate of applicants
- Photocopy of birth certificate and identity card of biological children (if applicable)
- Divorcee / widow / widower to citizens with a biological child who is Malaysian citizen
- Form IMM16a
- Photocopy of applicant’s new and old passport
- 2 copies of passport size photos
- 2 photocopy of the sponsor’s identity card
- Photocopy of birth certificate and identity card of the biological children
- Photocopy of Court Order by the relevant court of law that determines the custody of the biological child
- Statutory declaration of non-married
- Photocopy of marriage certificate of the applicants
- Photocopy of divorce certificate / death certificate of husband or wife
- Biological mother / father to a Malaysian citizen
- Form IMM16a
- Photocopy of applicant’s new and old passport
- 2 copies passport size photos
- 2 photocopies of the sponsor’s identity card
- Photocopy of birth certificate and identity card of the biological children
- Photocopy of marriage certificate of the applicants
CATEGORY 4 – A PERSON WITH FAMILY TIES WITH A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF MALAYSIA #
Husband / Wife to a Permanent Resident
- Form IMM16a
- Photocopy of applicant’s new and old passport
- 2 copies of passport size photo
- Photocopy of marriage certificate of applicants
- Photocopy of identity card (MyPR) of husband or wife
- Photocopy of Entry Permit of husband or wife
- Photocopy of birth certificate of the children (if applicable)
- 2 photocopies of the sponsor’s identity card
COST FOR A RESIDENCE PASS #
- Residence Pass costs RM500.00 for 5 years
- Multiple Entry Visa by country
TIME REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION TO BE APPROVED #
- Immigration officers have said it would take up to 90 days.
- However, considering the COVID-19 situation, the estimated time might be longer.
Permanent Residence
https://visaguide.world/asia/malaysia-visa/residence-pass/permanent/
https://www.imi.gov.my/portal2017/index.php/en/entry-permit.html
http://www.globalpartners.com.my/index.php/entry-permit
Residence Pass
https://www.imi.gov.my/portal2017/index.php/en/pass.html?id=284
