IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) ACT 2026

This Act comes into operation on a date to be appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette.

Amendment of section 2

by inserting before the definition of ‘ “authorized airport”,

“authorized landing place” and “authorized point of entry” ’ the following definition:

‘ “advance passenger information” means information relating to a crew and passenger collected and recorded by the master, captain, driver, owner, charterer, agent or consignee of a vessel, aircraft or train, as the case may be, before arriving in or leaving Malaysia;’;

IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) ACT 2026

by inserting after the definition of ‘ “authorized airport”,

“authorized landing place” and “authorized point of entry” ’

the following definitions:

‘ “automated system” means an automated identification processing system for the purposes of examination of persons entering or leaving Malaysia;

“biometric data” means any personal data resulting from technical processing relating to the physical, physiological or behavioural characteristics of a person;’;

in the definition of “crew”—

by inserting after the words “an aircraft or”

the words “train or”; and

in the definition of “passenger”, by substituting for the words “or aircraft” the words “, aircraft or train”;

by inserting after the definition of “passenger” the following definition:

‘ “passenger name record” means information relating to a passenger of a vessel, aircraft or train including the name, gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issuing country, voyage plan, flight details and train itinerary of the passenger, collected and recorded in the reservation system of the vessel, aircraft or train, as the case may be, before the vessel, aircraft or train arrives in or leaves

Malaysia;’;

by inserting after the definition of “Permit” the following definition:

‘ “personal identifier” means any personal information of a person that can be used to identify the person;’; and

Immigration (Amendment)

in the definition of “stowaway”, by substituting for the words “any aircraft who is on board without the consent of the captain” the words “any aircraft or train who is on board without the consent of the captain or driver”.

New section 18a

The driver of a train who, without reasonable cause, contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.”.

New section 21a

the passenger name record in relation to the passenger who will be on board; and

the advance passenger information in relation to the crew and passenger who are on board.

The master, owner, agent or charterer of every vessel, the captain of every aircraft or the driver of every train who fails to furnish the passenger name record or advance passenger information in accordance with subsection (1), or furnish false or misleading information relating to the passenger name record or advance passenger information shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.”.

Amendment of section 22

in the shoulder note, by substituting for the words “and captains of aircraft” the words “, captains of aircraft and drivers of trains”;

by substituting for subsection (1) the following subsection:

“(1)  The master, owner, agent or charterer of a vessel, the captain of an aircraft or the driver of a train arriving in or leaving Malaysia shall—

if so required by an immigration officer, produce any crew or passenger for inspection and interrogation to the immigration officer;

submit to such search of the vessel, aircraft or train by an immigration officer as may be necessary to establish the presence or absence of other persons on board; and

in the case of vessel, produce any document relating to the vessel as may be required by an immigration officer.”;

by substituting for subsection (2) the following subsection:

“(2)  The master, owner, agent or charterer of a vessel, the captain of an aircraft or the driver of a train arriving in or leaving Malaysia shall report to an immigration officer the presence on board of any stowaway or any unauthorized person or any person proceeding to any state or country on the person’s removal from any other state or country by the competent authorities of that other state or country.”;

Immigration (Amendment)

by substituting for subsection (3) the following subsection:

“(3)  The master, owner, agent or charterer of any vessel, the captain of any aircraft or the driver of any train who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (1) or (2); or any person who hinders or obstructs any examination of a vessel, aircraft or train, shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.”;

in subsection (4)—

by substituting for the words “or aircraft” the words

“, aircraft or train”; and

by substituting for subsection (5) the following subsection:

“(5)  In any proceedings under this section, the certificate in writing of an immigration officer who boarded or examined the vessel, aircraft or train to the effect that it carried on arrival in Malaysia a total number of crew corresponding in description to the advance passenger information furnished under paragraph 21a(1)(b) shall be conclusive proof that the vessel, aircraft or train did on arrival carry that number of crew.”.

New section 22a

The Director General shall have the right to collect and record the personal identifier and biometric data of a person given under subsection (1), in the form and manner as may be determined by the Director General.

An immigration officer may prohibit any person from entering Malaysia if the person refuses to provide his personal identifier and biometric data in accordance with subsection (1).

Section 24 shall apply to a person who is prohibited from entering Malaysia under subsection (3).”.

Amendment of section 24

by renumbering the existing subsection (1) as subsection (1c);

by inserting before the renumbered subsection (1c)

the following subsections:

“(1)  Every person arriving by sea or by air at an authorized airport in Malaysia shall, before entering

Malaysia, be subjected to an examination—

by an immigration officer; or

if so required by an immigration officer, through an automated system.

The examination under subsection (1) shall include the verification of personal identifier and biometric data provided under section 22a.

If examination under paragraph (1)(b) could not be completed, the person shall then appear before an immigration officer for examination.”;

by substituting for subsection (1) the following subsection:

“(1)  Every person who enters Malaysia by land, or who arrives by air or sea in Malaysia at any place other than an authorized airport or authorized landing place, shall enter at an authorized point of entry and shall proceed therefrom by an approved route, prescribed under section 5, to the nearest immigration control post and shall be subjected to an examination—

by an immigration officer; or

if so required by an immigration officer, through an automated system.”;

by substituting for subsection (2) the following subsection:

“(2)  The examination under subsection (1) shall include the verification of personal identifier and biometric data provided under section 22a.”; and

by inserting after subsection (2) the following subsection:

“(2a)  If examination under paragraph (1)(b) could not be completed, the person shall then appear before an immigration officer for examination.”.

Amendment of section 34

by inserting after the words “captain,” wherever appearing the words “driver,”; and

by substituting for the words “vessel or aircraft” the words

“vessel, aircraft or train”.

Amendment of section 43

by substituting for the words “the master or captain and the owner of a vessel or aircraft” the words “the master, captain or driver and the owner of a vessel, aircraft or train”; and

Immigration (Amendment)

by substituting for the words “the vessel or aircraft”

wherever appearing the words “the vessel, aircraft or train”.

Amendment of section 47

in the shoulder note, by inserting after the words “captains,”

the words “drivers,”;

by substituting for the words “vessel or aircraft” wherever appearing the words “vessel, aircraft or train”; and

by substituting for the words “the master or captain”

wherever appearing the words “the master, captain or driver”.

Amendment of section 48

in subsection (1)—

by substituting for the words “or an aircraft” the words

“, an aircraft or a train”;

in subsection (2)—

by inserting after the words “captain,” the words

“driver,”; and

in subsection (3)—

by inserting after the words “captain,” the words

“driver,”; and

in the shoulder note, by substituting for the words

“or aircraft” the words “, aircraft or trains”; and

by substituting for the words “or aircraft” wherever appearing the words “, aircraft or train”.

Amendment of section 51

by inserting after the words “any aircraft” the words

“or train”; and

by substituting for the words “or aircraft” the words

“, aircraft or train”.

Amendment of section 54