National Registration Department (JPN) Malaysia | Newborn Birth / Late Birth Registration

1. What is Birth Registration (Daftar Kelahiran)?

When a baby is born, a birth registration must be completed in order to obtain a Birth Certificate.

2. Is Birth Registration Important?

Absolutely.

A Birth Certificate serves as the foundation for a person’s identity documents, including:

📌 MyKid

📌 Identity Card (IC)

📌 Other official identification records

3. How and Where Can It Be Done?

Simply bring the required documents to the nearest National Registration Department (JPN) office to complete the registration.

4. Is There a Time Limit?

Yes.

A child’s birth must be registered within 60 days from the date of birth.

If registration is made after 60 days, it will be treated as a Late Registration (Daftar Lewat).

5. Who Can Register the Child?

The child’s father or mother may carry out the registration.

6. What Documents Are Required?

Generally, the following documents are required:

📌 Birth Certificates of both parents

📌 Identity Cards

📌 Marriage Certificate

📌 Passport (if either parent is a foreign citizen)

7. What Happens If We Forget to Register?

If more than 60 days have passed, the application can only be made through the Late Registration (Daftar Lewat) process.

8. What Problems May Arise If Registration Is Not Done?

The consequences can be significant.

Many modern services require proper identification documents.

Without an Identity Card, a child may face difficulties in various aspects of daily life.

For this reason, the Birth Certificate is an extremely important foundational document.

9. If the Parents Are Not Married, Does the Child Automatically Lose Citizenship?

No.

If the mother is a Malaysian citizen and the child is born in Malaysia, the child may generally obtain Malaysian citizenship even if the biological father is not registered.

This is because citizenship in such circumstances is primarily determined based on the mother’s status.

If both parents are Malaysian citizens but are not legally married, both parents will generally need to attend the registration process, and the father will be required to sign the relevant documents.

10. If the Biological Father Is Malaysian and the Biological Mother Is a Foreigner, Can the Child Be Registered?

Yes.

However, if the Birth Certificate issued is classified as a non-citizen Birth Certificate, the child will not be recognised as a Malaysian citizen.

11. How Long Does It Take to Obtain the Documents After Registration?

In most cases, the Birth Certificate can be collected on the same day.

If the application is submitted close to lunch hours, collection may be available later that day.

12. What If the Child Is Born Overseas?

The parents may apply through the nearest Malaysian Embassy or Consulate and obtain the relevant Borang H documentation.

For Malaysian citizenship purposes:

📌 The lawful father must be a Malaysian citizen.

In addition, since June 2024, where the mother is a Malaysian citizen and the child is born overseas, the child may also be entitled to Malaysian citizenship under the applicable law.

13. What Is Late Registration (Daftar Lewat)?

A birth registration submitted more than 60 days after birth is classified as a Late Registration.

14. How Is Late Registration Different From Normal Registration?

Both parents must be present.

In addition, two sponsors (Penganjur), acting as witnesses, are required.

15. What Additional Requirements Apply to Late Registration?

Additional documents may include:

📌 Passport-sized photograph of the child

📌 Full-body photograph of the child

📌 School confirmation letter (for children above 7 years old)

📌 Certification from a local community leader or elected representative confirming that the child resides within the locality

16. Are Any Other Documents Required?

Yes.

Additional supporting documents may include:

📌 The mother’s pregnancy-related medical records

📌 Utility bills showing the current residential address

17. Can the Birth Certificate Be Issued Immediately?

No.

Late Registration applications generally take approximately three to four months.

In some cases, the process may take up to six months.

18. Is Approval Guaranteed?

Not necessarily.

Approval depends on the supporting documents submitted.

Certain documents, such as hospital-issued birth records, may require verification, which can take several months.

19. What If the Application Is Not Approved?

Where further clarification is required, JPN will usually contact the applicant and request additional supporting documents.

In many cases, the more significant issue is citizenship eligibility.

If the mother is not a Malaysian citizen, the child may still be classified as a non-citizen even if born in Malaysia, regardless of whether the application is submitted early or late.

20. What If the Child Is Approved but Classified as a Non-Citizen?

The available option would generally be to submit an application for Malaysian citizenship.