Malaysia’s Migrant Repatriation Programme Records 155,000 Registrations, 138,000 Returns; RM77m Raised in Fines: Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 155,000 foreign nationals have registered for Malaysia’s Migrant Repatriation Programme since its launch last year, with over 138,000 individuals successfully returned to their home countries so far.

Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said the program has also contributed over RM77 million in government revenue, collected through fines and compounds imposed on participating migrants.

According to him, Bangladeshi nationals recorded the highest number of participants, followed by migrants from Indonesia.

“The response to this programme has been very encouraging since its implementation last year, with many undocumented migrants choosing to regularise their status and return home voluntarily,” he said.

Datuk Lokman reminded foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or lack valid permits to make use of the programme before it ends in April, warning that strict enforcement action will resume once the deadline passes.

“After the programme concludes, any individual found residing illegally in the country will be dealt with under existing immigration laws,” he stressed.

He added that participation is expected to increase further as the closing date approaches, noting that past amnesty initiatives showed a similar trend.

“In most cases, numbers surge closer to the final weeks of the programme,” he said.

Previously, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that the government had agreed to extend the programme until April 30 this year, following its initial launch on May 19, 2025. The extension applies to Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

The Migrant Repatriation Programme is a voluntary amnesty initiative that allows undocumented migrants to return to their countries of origin without facing prosecution, subject to specific compounds based on immigration offences.

Under the programme, a RM500 compound is imposed for entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass, as well as for overstaying after a pass has expired. A RM300 compound applies to breaches of pass conditions. Participants are also required to pay a RM20 Special Pass fee for each issuance.

However, foreign children under 18 who have overstayed or entered the country without valid documents are exempted from compounds, though they must still pay the Special Pass fee.