Renouncing Malaysian Citizenship and Why Malaysia Does Not Allow Dual Citizenship

A Malaysian who takes an oath to become a citizen of another country is often shocked to find that their blue passport and MyKad are no longer valid — not because of some hidden administrative act, but because the Federal Constitution itself treats dual citizenship as something that is not recognised. The matter centres on two closely related provisions: Article 23 (voluntary renunciation) and Article 24 (deprivation upon the acquisition of foreign citizenship).

Why does Malaysia not recognise dual citizenship?

The Government’s official position is that Malaysia does not recognise the holding of more than one citizenship for adults. In 2019, the Home Minister at the time stated that “Malaysia does not recognise dual citizenship”, and explained that Malaysians who acquire citizenship elsewhere may lose their Malaysian citizenship under Article 24(1) of the Federal Constitution.

The legal basis lies in the text of the Constitution. Article 24(1) provides:

“If the Federal Government is satisfied that any citizen has acquired by registration, naturalization or other voluntary and formal act (other than marriage) the citizenship of any country outside the Federation, the Federal Government may by order deprive that person of his citizenship.”

Article 24(2) in turn allows deprivation if a citizen has “voluntarily claimed and exercised” in a foreign country any right that is granted exclusively to citizens of that country.

Note the words “may by order deprive”. Textually, this is a discretionary power of the Federal Government exercised through an order, and not a loss that occurs automatically at the moment foreign citizenship is acquired. There is a difference of emphasis in how this provision is described: some describe it as a loss that in practice occurs consistently once foreign citizenship is taken up, while the constitutional text itself frames it as a deprivation order issued by the government. This article states both framings factually and without taking sides.

What is the difference between Article 23 and Article 24?

Both provisions sit within Chapter 2 (Termination of Citizenship) of Part III of the Constitution, but they are set in motion by different parties.

Aspect	Article 23 — Renunciation	Article 24 — Deprivation
Who initiates	The individual themselves (voluntary)	The Federal Government (by order)
Trigger	An application to renounce citizenship	The Government being “satisfied” that foreign citizenship has been acquired or an exclusive right has been exercised
Nature of the act	A registered declaration	A deprivation order
Text reference	Article 23(1), (2), (3)	Article 24(1), (2)

In many situations, a person who has taken up foreign citizenship will voluntarily renounce their Malaysian citizenship under Article 23, rather than waiting for a deprivation order under Article 24.

Who is eligible to renounce citizenship under Article 23?

Article 23(1) sets out the following conditions:

• Aged 21 or above;
• Of sound mind; and
• Already a citizen, or about to become a citizen, of another country.

According to the MyGovernment portal, there is no age limit for a married woman — consistent with Article 23(3), which extends this provision to women under the age of 21 who are married.

There is also a wartime condition: Article 23(2) provides that a declaration made during any war in which the Federation is engaged shall not be registered except with the approval of the Federal Government.

The effect of renunciation is final. The MyGovernment portal states that the decision is “permanent and irrevocable”, and that a person permanently loses all rights and privileges as a Malaysian citizen.

What is the renunciation procedure through the JPN or a mission abroad?

According to the National Registration Department (JPN), the application is made using Form K. The main steps are as follows:

1. Complete two original copies of Form K, and sign before an authorised officer (for example a magistrate, judge, notary public, or commissioner for oaths).
2. Prepare the required supporting documents (see the list below).
3. Appear in person at the JPN Citizenship Division counter, or at a Malaysian Consular Office abroad.
4. Pay the application fee of RM10.00.

The supporting documents listed by the JPN include:

• A copy of the foreign passport;
• The foreign citizenship certificate, or a letter of confirmation that the applicant will become a foreign citizen;
• The Malaysian birth certificate, or Form W for a birth abroad;
• The Malaysian citizenship certificate (if any) and the identity card (if any);
• Two passport-sized photographs with a blue background;
• Left and right thumbprints; and
• The Malaysian passport or travel document.

All document copies must be on A4-sized paper.

What is the position of those who already hold two citizenships?

The issue of MyKad surrender by holders of two citizenships once sparked public misunderstanding. On 17 December 2025, the JPN clarified that there was no policy change and that no automatic action would be taken against those who voluntarily surrender their MyKad. According to a Bernama report, the JPN was considering allowing holders of two citizenships to voluntarily surrender their MyKad without facing legal action, alongside the mandatory forfeiture of one of their citizenships. (This detail is Bernama’s characterisation of the JPN’s position, and not a direct quote from the Director-General of the JPN.)

The JPN also stressed that no arbitrary action would be taken, and that each case would be assessed thoroughly based on the facts, the provisions of the Federal Constitution, and the approval of the relevant authorities. This reinforces the position that the process under Articles 23 and 24 involves a case-by-case assessment, and not a blanket action.

What’s next

The provisions and procedures above are drawn from the text of the Federal Constitution (Reprint 2020) as well as official information from the JPN and the MyGovernment portal at the time this draft was prepared. Fee rates, document lists and forms may change, so confirm the latest details at a JPN counter or on the official website jpn.gov.my before applying. For those with specific cases — such as a child born abroad, or issues relating to inheritance rights and tax — professional legal advice is advisable, because the effect of renunciation is permanent. This article is descriptive and not legal advice.