Malaysia: Whether a Malaysian citizen who left Malaysia in 1992 on a valid Malaysian passport that expired in 1996 would face any legal obstacles to re-establishing residence in Malaysia or be prohibited from seeking employment on return
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 22 August 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MYS39624.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Malaysia: Whether a Malaysian citizen who left Malaysia in 1992 on a valid Malaysian passport that expired in 1996 would face any legal obstacles to re-establishing residence in Malaysia or be prohibited from seeking employment on return, 22 August 2002, MYS39624.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4dd915.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Both an official in the consular section of the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa and a representative of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Vancouver stated in 19 August 2002 telephone interviews with the Research Directorate that, in cases where a Malaysian passport has been expired for more than five years, an application for a new passport must be submitted to the Immigration Department of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
Whether the application is approved by the Malaysian immigration officials is determined on a case by case basis (Consulate General of Malaysia 19 Aug. 2002; High Commission of Malaysia 19 Aug. 2002). The official in Ottawa further stated that, in most cases, such an application would normally not be approved (ibid.).
Based on the Malaysian Immigration Department's recommendation, a person whose application for passport renewal has been rejected can be issued a "certificate of status," which would allow them to return to Malaysia (ibid. 22 Aug. 2002). Whether such a certificate would be issued or not would depend on the applicant's status in Canada and whether his/her family in Malaysia was willing to sponsor the application (ibid.).
Information contained on the Website of the Immigration Department of Malaysia states that a Certificate of Status is "issued to a person who has a claim for 'Right of Entry' as a citizen of Malaysia from abroad," further stating that "applications can be submitted by a local sponsor in any Immigration Department in West Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak by producing documentary evidence as to the person's Malaysian status" (n.d.).
In regard to the establishment of residency in Malaysia, the official of the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa stated that the Immigration Department of Malaysia requires that the individual apply for a residence permit, which requires the sponsorship of the person's family (19 Aug. 2002).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Consulate General of Malaysia, Vancouver. 19 August 2002. Telephone interview with an official.
High Commission of Malaysia, Ottawa. 22 August 2002. Follow-up telephone interview with an official.
_____. 19 August 2002. Telephone interview with an official.
Immigration Department of Malaysia. n.d. "Passport and Travel Documents."
