Malaysia’s National Registration Department disclosed in early January 2026 that 61,116 malaysians applied to renounce their citizenship and become citizens of another country in the five-year period ended Dec 17, 2025, with 57,315 bound for Singapore.
“A total of 61,116 Malaysians applied to move and become citizens of another country in the five-year period ended Dec 17, 2025. Of these, 93.78 per cent, or 57,315 applicants, were bound for Singapore,” said Badrul Hisham Alias, Director-General of Malaysia’s National Registration Department (JPN), in a statement dated January 7, 2026.
Drivers and official explanation
Badrul Hisham linked the surge to work, income and family ties, describing a pattern that has made singapore the destination for nearly 94% of those who renounced their citizenship during the period.
“The factors that cause them to abandon their citizenship are known to be either economic- or family-based. Those working in Singapore are able to obtain citizenship due to employment- and income-related factors, while those who marry foreigners may choose to give up their Malaysian citizenship to emigrate to their spouse’s country,” he said on January 7, 2026.
JPN’s account of the drivers behind the trend focused on employment and income advantages in Singapore and family-based decisions tied to marriage and emigration.
Scale and demographics
JPN’s figures show the applications averaged about 10,000 a year, with women and young professionals making up the majority of applicants, Badrul Hisham said.
Women accounted for 35,356 of those who renounced, making them the majority in the five-year totals reported by JPN.
Applicants aged 31–40 formed the largest group, with 19,287 people, or 31.6%, followed closely by those aged 21–30 at 18,827, or 30.8%.
- 31–40: 19,287 applicants (31.6%)
- 21–30: 18,827 applicants (30.8%)
- 41–50: 14,126 applicants (23.1%)
- >50: 8,876 applicants (14.5%)
Destinations
Singapore dominated the destination breakdown, with 57,315 applicants, or 93.78%, while other destinations accounted for a small share of the five-year total.
- Singapore: 57,315 applicants (93.78%)
- Australia: about 1,314 applicants (2.15%)
- Brunei: about 592 applicants (0.97%)
- Other countries: about 1,895 applicants (3.1%)
Legal context and consequences
The figures reflect a legal and policy reality: Malaysia does not recognize dual citizenship under Article 24 of the Federal Constitution. Singapore generally requires adult citizens to hold only one nationality, a requirement that can force a choice for Malaysians who seek to settle permanently across the border.
Renouncing citizenship carries practical consequences in Malaysia that extend beyond the loss of a passport, according to the impact description provided alongside the figures.
- Loss of political rights: former citizens lose the right to vote in Malaysia.
- Property restrictions: can lose the ability to own certain types of property reserved for Bumiputera or citizens.
- Subsidized services: potential loss of access to subsidized healthcare and education.
For those who successfully become Singaporean, the benefits described include full access to Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF) and public housing (HDB) subsidies.
New citizens can also qualify for the “Baby Bonus” scheme and receive what was described as one of the world’s most powerful passports.
Impact and concerns
The concentration of applicants in the 21–40 age bracket has fed concerns framed as a “brain drain” of skilled Malaysian professionals to Singapore driven by salary and career prospects.
Reports suggest that many from minority communities, including Chinese and Indian Malaysians, seek Singaporean citizenship to access merit-based opportunities and leave Malaysia’s ethnic-based affirmative action policies, though the JPN statement itself emphasized economic and family factors.
Even with financial and practical appeal, the impact summary described emotional costs: many former Malaysians report challenges in social integration and the emotional weight of permanently severing legal ties with their country of birth.
Sources and timing
The JPN figures and Badrul Hisham’s statements were disclosed in early January 2026 and were attributed to reporting by Harian Metro and The Straits Times in the material accompanying the quotes.
As of January 14, 2026, there were no official statements from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the Malaysia–Singapore renunciation trend.
Summary
For Malaysia, the five-year total of 61,116 applications and the concentration of 57,315 Singapore-bound cases underscore how closely citizenship choices can track the pull of jobs, incomes and family ties just across the border.
For those Malaysians who renounced their citizenship during 2020–2025, the decision meant trading political rights and subsidized benefits at home for a new set of entitlements and obligations in Singapore, along with the personal challenge of starting over socially after a permanent legal break.
Malaysia’s National Registration Department reported that 61,116 citizens renounced their nationality from 2020 to 2025. Nearly 94% chose Singapore, motivated by economic stability and family reunification. The majority of these individuals are young professionals under 40. This shift is influenced by Malaysia’s ban on dual citizenship and the allure of Singapore’s social benefits, though it results in the loss of voting and property rights in Malaysia.
