[Please refer to How to Read a Country Entry for help interpreting this material. It was produced prior to March 2001 as part of a US government report entitled Citizenship Laws of the World. The accuracy and depth of these country listings varies significantly, and some information may be incorrect. At best, this page presents only part of the story for a particular country. Additional information for this country may be available in Country Information]

MALAYSIA

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship laws are based upon the Constitution of Malaysia.

BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Malaysia does not automatically confer right to citizenship.

BY DESCENT: Child born in wedlock, both of whose parents are citizens of Malaysia, regardless of the child's country of birth. Child born in wedlock, in Malaysia, of a Malaysian mother and a foreign father. Child, born in wedlock, abroad, of a Malaysian mother and a foreign father, obtains father's citizenship. Child born out of wedlock, in Malaysia, of a Malaysian mother. A child born out of wedlock, outside of Malaysia, to a Malaysian mother, is not considered a citizen of Malaysia. The child may return to Malaysia with the mother with a permanent residency status and may apply for citizenship later.

MARRIAGE: A foreign woman who marries a citizen of Malaysia may obtain citizenship through registration. However, citizenship is revoked if the marriage is dissolved by divorce or annulment within the first two years.

BY NATURALIZATION: Citizenship by naturalization is not encouraged. Naturalization conditions were not provided.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Malaysian citizenship is permitted by law. Contact the Embassy for details and required paperwork.

INVOLUNTARY: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of Malaysian citizenship: Person voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship. Registered or Naturalized citizen: Comes under criminal sentence at home or abroad within five years after gaining citizenship. Shows disloyalty to the country and Government of Malaysia. Works for a foreign government without permission of the Malaysian government. Resides continuously abroad for more than five years without registering with Malaysian Embassies or Consulates. Citizenship was obtained through fraud or false statement.

ANY QUESTIONS concerning citizenship, should be directed to an address below:

Embassy of Malaysia Consular Section 1900 24th St., NW Washington, DC 20008 Tel: 202-328-2700 Tel: 202-328-2742 Fax: 202-483-7661 [email protected]

Consulate General of Malaysia 313 East 43rd St New York, NY 10017 Tel: 212-490-2722 Fax: 212-490-8576 [email protected]

Consulate General of Malaysia 550 South Hope St. Los Angeles, CA 90071 Tel: 213-892-1238 Fax: 213-892-9031 [email protected]

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