Immigration to Malaysia is the process by which people migrate to Malaysia to reside in the country. The majority of these individuals become Malaysian citizens. After 1957, domestic immigration law and policy went through major changes, most notably with the Immigration Act 1959/63. Malaysian immigration policies are still evolving.
In Malaysia there are four categories of immigrants: family class (closely related persons of Malaysian residents living in Malaysia), economic immigrants (skilled workers and business people), other (people accepted as immigrants for humanitarian or compassionate reasons) and refugees (people who are escaping persecution, torture or cruel and unusual punishment).
Currently, Malaysia is known as a country with a broad immigration policy which is reflected in Malaysia's ethnic diversity. According to the 2010 census by Department of Statistics Malaysia, Malaysia has more than 50 ethnic groups with at least 30% of current Malaysians are first- or second-generation immigrant, and 20 percent of Malaysian residents in the 2000s were not born in Malaysian soil.
Sources of immigration
Malaysia receives its immigrant population from over 200 countries of origin.
Malaysian immigrant population by country of birth (2015)
| Rank |
Country of birth |
Population |
Portion of immigrants in Malaysia |
Portion of Malaysian population |
Notes |
2015 immigration statistics
| Number of immigrants granted permanent residence in Malaysia in 2015 by source country |
| Rank |
Country |
Number of immigrants admitted |
Proportion of total |
Notes |
Permanent Residents admitted in 2015
| Rank |
Country |
Number |
Percentage |
Illegal immigration in Malaysia
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See also
References
People's Republic of China
Republic of Indonesia
Republic of India
