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WHO CAN APPLY TO BE A CITIZEN BY NATURALIZATION AND HOW ?

Any person over the age of 21 years who is not a citizen and if the Federal Government is satisfied that

• he or she has resided in the Federation for the required periods and intends, if the certificate is granted, to do so permanently
• he or she is of good character and
• he or she has an "adequate" knowledge of the Malay language

may upon application made by such person, grant a certificate of naturalization to that person.

The period of residence in Malaysia which is required for the grant of a certificate of naturalization is period which amount in aggregate to not less than 10 years in the 12 years immediately preceding the date of the application for the certificate, and which include the 12 months immediately preceding the date.

That means you have to become a permanent resident for more than 12 years and have been in Malaysia for more than 10 years.

Application shall be made in Form C which can be obtained from the counter of Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara or Registration Department of Malaysia.

Your application in Form C must be accompanied by the following documents :

• Identity card of applicant
• Birth certificate of applicant
• Entry permit of applicant
• Travel document of applicant owned in the last 12 years
• Marriage certificate of applicant (if any)
• Identity card of applicant's spouse (if any)
• Identity cards or birth certificates of applicant's children
• Birth certificates or identity cards of applicant's parent (if any)
• Identity cards of 2 recommenders
• 3 photographs of applicant

You will need 2 recommenders who should be a Malaysian citizen who is of or over the age of 21 years. Husband or wife, relatives, advocate and solicitor, person confined in a prison or in a psychiatric institution by order of court, person convicted of any offence and paid agent are disqualified.

No application for citizenship shall be accepted unless it is presented at the National Registration Department by the applicant in person who shall be required to sign the application in the presence of a Registrar of Citizens.

Once your application is approved, you'll have to pay a fee of

• RM$200.00 if you are resident in the States of Malaya on Merdeka Day, 31 August 1957
• RM$300.00 if you commenced residence in Malaysia after Merdeka Day, 31 August 1957

for the issue of your certificate of citizenship.