Living in a globalised nation like Singapore, it has become more common nowadays for people to meet and marry someone from another country.
More than a third of marriages each year over the past decade in Singapore had involved transnational couples, consisting of a citizen and non-citizen. Oftentimes, the foreign spouses have been residing in Singapore for years even prior to meeting their other half here.
As a transnational couple, you will likely have more opportunities to travel to your foreign spouse’s original country, which in this case is Malaysia and spending time there whether to visit your foreign spouse’s family or travel. If you are considering getting permanent residency in Malaysia, here are some things you can look into before making a decision to do so.
Read Also: Marrying A Foreign Spouse in Singapore: This Is What You Need To Plan For
Benefits Of Becoming A Permanent Resident (PR)
Permanent residents typically enjoy numerous benefits that are second to only citizens in the country itself.
For starters, permanent residents are able to continuously stay in Malaysia for extended lengths of time. They don’t have to go through the trouble of renewing their visa every few years.
With a permanent residency status, you can also work in any industry and establish a business of any nature (as long as it’s legal) in Malaysia.
Aside from that, you also make contributions to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and can access subsidised education and healthcare services. Employees in Malaysia contribute 11% of their salary to their EPF account every month, and employers make a matching contribution of 12% of the salary. This is to help workers in Malaysia save for their retirement. EPF members can withdraw a portion of their EPF savings to pay for housing, medical and education expenses.
While permanent residents are privy to certain benefits, they are not able to vote in country’s elections or participate in political activities.
Do You Need A Permanent Residency In Malaysia?
The decision of applying for a permanent residency in Malaysia basically boils down to whether you intend to spend a long period of time in the country.
Currently, Singaporeans do not require a visa when travelling to Malaysia for up to 30 days. But if you want to stay beyond that period in Malaysia continuously, then you may consider getting a spouse visa.
As a foreign spouse in Malaysia, you can apply for the Long-Term Social Visit Pass with the Immigration Department of Malaysia. The pass lets you live in Malaysia continuously for up to five years after which you need to renew it. Your Malaysian spouse will need to be present during your visa renewals. You can work and engage in business activities on the condition that you get approval from the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
After living in the country for a minimum of five years, the Malaysian government may grant foreign wives with a permanent residency status. Foreign husbands need to stay in Malaysia for 10 continued years to be eligible to apply for a permanent residency.
Becoming A Permanent Resident In Malaysia
Recently, the government had expedited foreign spouses’ application for permanent residency in Malaysia. Foreign wives will be able to apply for permanent residency after three years of marriage, instead of five years. They will need to hold the Long-Term Social Visit Pass for at least one year to apply.
Foreign husbands will need to be married for five years before being eligible for permanent residency.
The government will also remove the points system that is currently used when considering a permanent residency application for foreign spouses. When it comes to approving permanent residency applications for foreign spouses, the authority will look at how long the couple has been married and number of children. These new guidelines are expected to be enforced starting September 2025.
For security reasons, every application will also go through a thorough screening process by the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP).
In addition, the applicant and sponsor will also be interviewed and asked to provide information and checked for any irregularities in giving the information. This is to prevent the incidence of people marrying out of convenience as a way to obtain permanent residency status.
Upon successfully becoming a permanent resident, you will need to apply for a MyPR identification card with the National Registration Department Malaysia. You can apply for the MyPR card at the National Registration Department Headquarters in Putrajaya or other states for the first time. There is an application fee of RM40. Subsequent applications can be made at any National Registration Department counters nearest to you.
You will need to bring along the following documents for your application:
Original and copy of passport
Original and copy of entry permit
Original birth certificate and copy for those born in Malaysia
Original adoption certificate and copy (if applicable)
Other relevant documents
The card contains your personal details, original citizenship information and entry permit number. The MyPR card has a red background to differentiate it from the citizen’s MyKad, which has a blue background.
When it comes to granting permanent residency status, the Malaysian government claims to give priority to foreign spouses of citizens.
Even so, the granting of permanent residency in Malaysia is ultimately dependent on the government’s decision. It can also be a lengthy process, with some applicants having voiced complaints and dissatisfaction over delays in processing applications for permanent residency in the past.
As traveling and living abroad becomes more widespread, transnational marriages become more common. The Malaysian government is trying to accommodate such families by easing the permanent residency application for foreign spouses, especially for those who want to stay in Malaysia for the long term.
Read Also: Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme: How You Can Buy An HDB BTO Or Resale Flat With A Foreign Spouse
The post Marrying A Malaysian Spouse: Should You Get A Malaysian PR (And What You Need To Get It) appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
