Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced that Malaysia's constitutional amendment granting automatic citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers married to foreign nationals is expected to take effect by mid-2026.
The Constitutional amendment granting automatic citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers married to foreign nationals is expected to take effect by mid-2026, following the requirement for royal assent to complete the legislative process.
UN experts welcomed the passing by Malaysia's House of Representatives of a constitutional amendment Bill that will enable children born overseas to any Malaysian parent to obtain Malaysian citizenship, addressing long-standing gender discrimination in citizenship laws.
The amendment modifies Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution, allowing citizenship determination by either father or mother, whereas previously only Malaysian fathers could automatically confer citizenship to overseas-born children.
The new law would not apply retroactively, meaning children from Malaysian mothers born overseas before the amendments were passed will not automatically gain citizenship, which has disappointed many families and advocacy groups seeking broader reform.
