Automatic Citizenship for Children Born Abroad to Malaysian Mothers Expected by Mid-2025

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian mothers married to foreign spouses may soon see long-awaited relief, as the government prepares to implement automatic Malaysian citizenship for their children born overseas by the middle of next year.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that the initiative is in its final stages, with work progressing on new registration forms, system upgrades, and notifications to Malaysian diplomatic missions worldwide.

He said the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) is currently completing a detailed review of the required legal amendments, including changes to the Nationality Regulations 1964 and the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1957, following Parliament’s historic approval of the constitutional amendment last year.

Once fully implemented, the amendments will ensure that children born abroad to Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers will automatically acquire Malaysian citizenship—a right previously reserved only for children whose Malaysian parent was the father.

According to Saifuddin, Malaysian mothers living overseas will be able to register their children’s births at embassies, and the issuance of birth certificates will officially confirm the children’s Malaysian citizenship status.

The landmark amendment, passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 17 last year with a two-thirds majority, aims to uphold principles of justice, equality, and transparency, reflecting Malaysia’s evolving social landscape.

Saifuddin said the policy shift represents an important stride toward eliminating gender discrimination in citizenship laws and aligns with constitutional values of equality.

He also noted the government’s progress in resolving long-standing citizenship backlogs. Of more than 50,000 pending applications, only about 6,000 cases remain under review.

“While the remaining number may seem small, the impact on families is immense. Knowing that we are fixing this issue gives me deep satisfaction,” he said.

The move is expected to positively transform the lives of thousands of Malaysian women and their children, many of whom have faced years of legal uncertainty.