Malaysia

Foreign nationals birth registrations exceed 60,000 since 2000 with no guarantee of citizenship

Over 60,000 births involving foreign nationals and UN High Commissioner for Refugees cardholders have been documented by the National Registration Department over the past twenty-six years

Updated 2 months ago · Published on 20 Jun 2026 5:07PM

Foreign nationals birth registrations exceed 60,000 since 2000 with no guarantee of citizenship — Authorities emphasise that registration does not confer automatic citizenship - June 20, 2026

MALAYSIA has recorded a total of 60,698 birth registrations involving foreign nationals, including United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees cardholders, since the year 2000, according to official data released by the National Registration Department.

National Registration Director-General Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias stated that the birth registration records involve three main categories, which are citizens of Myanmar, Burma, and UNHCR cardholders.

The majority of these births are believed to involve the Rohingya ethnic group, though the department does not break down the figures by specific ethnicity to avoid data inaccuracy.

"To date, in our records, there are more than 60,000 birth registrations involving these three categories since the year 2000," Badrul said at Kampung Padang Tanjung during a community event.

"The majority involves this group, but there are also UNHCR cardholders from other groups, and their number is less than five per cent."

The registration chief strongly clarified the legal boundaries of these records, dispelling misconceptions regarding the rights granted to children born to foreign nationals within the country.

"Birth registration made in this country does not automatically qualify a person to obtain citizenship status," Badrul added.

The department head added that the citizenship status of a child is strictly determined based on the citizenship of the parents as well as their marital status. - June 20, 2026