Federal Constitution · Reprint · Chapter 1 · Acquisition of Citizenship
16. Citizenship by registration (persons born in the Federation before Merdeka Day)
Feedback & supportSubject to Article 18, any person of or over the age of eighteen years who was born in the Federation before Merdeka Day is entitled, upon making application to the Federal Government, to be registered as a citizen if he satisfies the Federal Government—
that he has resided in the Federation during the seven years immediately preceding the date of the application, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than five years;
that he intends to do so permanently;
that he is of good character; and
that he has an elementary knowledge of the Malay language.
Citizenship by registration (persons resident in States of Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysia Day)
**16a. Subject to Article 18, any person of or over the age of eighteen years who is on Malaysia Day ordinarily resident in the
State of Sabah or Sarawak is entitled, upon making application to the Federal Government before September 1971, to be registered as a citizen if he satisfies the Federal Government—
that he has resided before Malaysia Day in the territories comprised in those States and after Malaysia Day in the
Federation for periods which amount in the aggregate to not less than seven years in the ten years immediately preceding the date of the application, and which include the twelve months immediately preceding that date;
that he intends to reside permanently in the Federation;
that he is of good character; and
except where the application is made before September 1965,
*This Article has been amended by section 3 of the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2025
[Act A1752], not yet in force.
**This Article has been amended by section 4 of the Constitution (Amendment) Act 2025
[Act A1752], not yet in force.
Art. 15—(cont.)
Clauses (4) & (5)
The words “States of Sabah and Sarawak” substituted for the words “Borneo States” by
Act A514, section 19, in force from 27-08-1976.
Clauses (3) to (6): See note on previous page.
Art. 15a
a. Added by Act 14/1962, section 4, in force from 01-10-1962.
b. This Clause was amended by Act A1752, section 3, not yet in force, as follows: