Last month, I finally submitted my application for Permanent Residency (PR) in Malaysia after residing continuously in the country for 5 years on a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP). For foreign spouse of Malaysian, the road to PR is paved with bureaucracy and long waits. You can only apply after you have lived continuously in Malaysia on a valid LTSVP for at least 5 years along with having at least one Malaysian sponsor.

Why am I interested in becoming a permanent resident of Malaysia? This is simply because I wish to settle down permanently in Malaysia. Being granted with Permanent Residency will allow me to stay and remain in the country indefinitely, have full working rights and able to acquire properties.

As usual, I am documenting the entire process to share about my experience with people who are in the same situation as me. Please note that everything that I shared in this post is solely based on my own experience. The documents required may vary from case to case, so please use this post only as a reference.

Applying For Permanent Residency

I have already obtained the checklist and application forms from the immigration when I was renewing my LTSVP back in September. You can get them from the "Permit Masuk" counter at the Pass and Permit Division from the immigration branch where you applied your LTSVP. For my case, I went to the Jalan Duta branch. Simply get a number ticket from the counter and wait to be called. You are required to show your passport and all your previous LTSVP for the immigration officer to verify your eligibility. The officer will pass you the checklist and forms if you are eligible to apply.

Even though I collected the forms in September, I only submitted my application in early October. Please note that both the forms and checklist are in Bahasa Melayu and it is best that you fill in the forms in Bahasa Melayu too in order to avoid rejection. Below are the documents I have submitted as required on the checklist.

1. Entry Permit Application Form (IM.4)

Get this from the Permit Masuk" counter and fill it up in Bahasa Melayu.

2. Form Imm.270

Get this from the Permit Masuk" counter and fill it up in Bahasa Melayu.

3. 3 Applicant's Passport Photo with blue background 

Actually you will need four (4) photos instead of three (3). You will need to paste one (1) of it on Surat Akuan Sumpah Perkahwinan Form. Please remember to bring along your Malaysian spouse's photo as well.

4. 1 Marriage Photo or Family Photo

We submitted our marriage photo in 4R size since we do not have any children.

5. Applicant's's Birth Cert

Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required.

6. Applicant's Passport Pages

Photocopy of each passport pages with travel stamps and all your previous LTSVP, including the first page. Empty pages are not required. Please bring along your original passports as well for verification.

7. Malaysia Marriage Certificate

Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required.

8. Overseas Marriage Certificate 

This is for those who registered their marriage overseas. Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required.

9. Surat Akuan Sumpah Perkahwinan Form

This is same as the one you submitted for your application and renewal for your LTSVP. You will need to fill in all the required and visit the Commissioner of Oath office to do some stamping.

10. Death / Divorce Certificate From Previous Marriage (If Any)

11. 1 Malaysian Sponsor Photo

You will need 1 passport photo of your Malaysian sponsor with blue background. In this case, my husband is my sponsor. I am not sure what is the salary requirement for sponsor. You might want to check with the immigration officer.

12. Malaysian Sponsor's MyKad

Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required

13. Malaysian Sponsor's Birth Cert

Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required

14. Malaysian Spouse's Passport Page (If Married Overseas)

This is not applicable in my case since we registered our marriage in Malaysia.

15. Applicant's Children's MyKad & Birth Certificate 

Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required

16. Applicant's Children's Passport

Both photocopy and original (for verification) are required

17. Security Bond Receipt

You should receive a receipt after you have made payment for your security bond during your first LTSVP application. I submitted a photocopy of the receipt and do remember to bring along the original one for verification.

18. Proof of Residence

You can either submit a photocopy of your water or electricity bill in order to prove your residence address. Do remember bring along the original one for verification.

19. Cover Letter 

You will need to submit a letter of application in Bahasa Melayu. In the letter, you must mention your name, passport number, your spouse's name and MyKad number and the purpose of the letter.

20. Malaysian Sponsor's Proof of Income

We submitted my husband's 3 months payslip to prove his income

21. Malaysian Sponsor's Proof of Employment

My husband requested his company HR to issue an employment confirmation letter and we submitted that to prove his employment.

22. Company Registration (If Self-Employed)

I really recommend getting the documents ready before you visit the immigration office. But unlike LTSVP, you do not have to visit the immigration too early because the queue was not very long. After all, there are not many people who are eligible to apply for PR in Malaysia.

Anyway, I was given a date for an interview at the immigration office right after I have submitted the documents. My interview date is in January 2019 and I am feeling really worried about it because I could barely understand or speak in Bahasa Melayu. I will update about my interview session in another post again.

For foreign spouse who plans to marry and reside in Malaysia on a long term basis, you may wish to learn more about the following topics too. If you are interested to know how to:

1. Register your marriage in Malaysia: Marrying A Malaysia Part 1

2. Apply for a Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse pass) with a work endorsement: Marrying A Malaysian Part 2: Obtaining A Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse Pass)

3. Renew Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse Pass) Malaysia: Marrying A Malaysian Part 3: How To Extend Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse Pass) Malaysia

4. Renew Long Term Social Visit Pass (Spouse Pass) Malaysia (Updated August 2018): Marrying a Malaysian: Renewal of Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) Malaysia  - New Updates! (As at August 2018)

5. Immigration interview for permanent residency: Marrying a Malaysian: Immigration Interview For Permanent Residency (PR) In Malaysia