What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?
This is UNHCR asylum registration and documentation in Malaysia, not a Malaysian visa, work pass or direct resettlement application. UNHCR describes registration as the first step of its asylum process. Current operational availability remains unresolved during the transition to government DPP registration.
See recorded sources
- The live route name records temporary suspension. UNHCR currently publishes My Services request instructions, while the captured 23 July 2026 ministerial report says registration was halted. No primary dated reopening/transition notice was found; do not promise an available appointment or silently remove suspension.
- The first step in the asylum process
The first step in the asylum process is registration. Registration is the recording, verifying, and updating of information on asylum-seekers and refugees by UNHCR. Please note that UNHCR Malaysia can only register individuals in Malaysia who have submitted a request. How to register with UNHCR Malaysia? To register with UNHCR Malaysia, please follow the following steps: 1Submit a request using My Services Portal You will first need to submit a request using the self-service portal My Services. You can create your personal account through the self-service portal and request specific services from UNHCR Malaysia. Please note that only some services provided by UNHCR in Malaysia can be requested through this self-service portal. Find out how to create an account and use the self-service portal. After you have submitted your request, you will receive a reference number, which you should keep and indicate in your future communication with UNHCR. If you have made a request through the Refugee Malaysia website and you are still waiting to be registered by UNHCR Malaysia, please submit your request via My Services indicating your Refugee Malaysia website reference number. Please do not create multiple accounts for yourself on the My Services portal. Doing so will delay processing for you and others. UNHCR Malaysia does not receive applications based on physical letters sent to us. Do not pay anyone, including community groups, to assist you in sending letters to UNHCR requesting registration. It will not help to speed up your submission. 2Call from UNHCR for Registration interview All requests for registration will be processed, but due to the high number of submissions, UNHCR may not be able to respond immediately. Please wait to be contacted by UNHCR for a registration interview appointment. There are many individuals waiting for registration, so the waiting period is long. Learn more about how UNHCR prioritizes registration. Once you have been contacted by UNHCR Malaysia with an appointment date, you can prepare for your appointment. UNHCR will inform you who can accompany you to your registration interview appointment. Any other individuals who are not listed in the appointment, even family members, will not be allowed into the UNHCR Reception Centre. Please do not come to the UNHCR Reception Centre if you do not have an appointment. When you are scheduled for an appointment, you will receive a phone call or email for an appointment and then an SMS confirmation with the date and time of your appointment. You can find more information on how to add family members or a newborn child to your UNHCR File here. 3Appointment with UNHCR On the day of your appointment, you will need to show the confirmation email or SMS to UNHCR staff at the UNHCR Reception Centre to be allowed entry. Please come 30 minutes before your appointment time. Without an appointment, you will not be allowed to enter the Centre, as the number of appointments is fixed to ensure the health and well-being of refugees and asylum-seekers. It is important that you provide correct, truthful and complete information when registering with UNHCR. Incomplete or incorrect information may be detrimental to your case. You will have to give details of all your family members whether they are with you in Malaysia or elsewhere in the world. This includes spouses, parents (birth and/or adopted), brothers and sisters (full, half, step, adopted), and children (biological, adopted, stepchildren and from previous marriage or relationship). What do I need to bring to my registration appointment? Please bring all available documents relevant to your case, including passports, identity papers, marriage certificate, birth certificate, family census or national identity document, Temporary Registration Card (White Card or Kapra), military service booklets, medical certificates, evidence of previous registration with another UNHCR office, UNRWA office or a foreign government. Please also bring – if you have any of the following: UNHCR-issued document such as an identity card, Under Consideration (UC) letter, appointment card, and referral letter on your appointment date. Any documentation received from a UNHCR Office other than Malaysia should also be presented. These documents help UNHCR to confirm your identity, family details and update your records correctly. They also help to provide you with the right support and services. Please bring your own water containers and snacks/food, as there are no shops available nearby, and be prepared to wait for your interview at the Centre. Interviews may not commence based on time of arrival at the Centre as UNHCR has a system of prioritization for interviews, prioritizing families and individuals with specific needs during the start of processing for the day. Please note that there are rubbish bins at your disposal in front of the Centre and inside of the Centre. 4Issuance of UNHCR Documents Upon completion of the interview process, you will be considered as registered with UNHCR and provided a UNHCR identity document which explains that the bearer of the document is under the protection of UNHCR. UNHCR identity documentation is not a replacement to a Malaysian visa or permit but is proof of registration with UNHCR Malaysia to seek asylum in Malaysia. It may reduce the risk of arrest, detention and forced return to your country, and allow limited access to health services, education and other essential support services from UNHCR, its partner organizations or other actors. UNHCR identity documents are issued to individuals registered with UNHCR and show two different numbers: UNHCR registration group number shared by all individuals registered in the same household or case; and UNHCR individual number unique to the document holder. These numbers appear in different places on the document you hold. Please see the sample documents below for more information.
- Ministry public post 26 November 2025
DOKUMEN PENDAFTARAN PELARIAN (DPP) Pendaftaran Rasmi Di Bawah Kerajaan Malaysia Berkuat kuasa 1 JANUARI 2026 Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) memperkenalkan Dokumen Pendaftaran Pelarian (DPP) sebagai mekanisme tunggal dan rasmi kerajaan dalam menguruskan pelarian di Malaysia. Langkah ini memastikan keselamatan negara terus terjamin melalui sistem data yang lebih tersusun, sahih dan bersepadu. Kenapa DPP Penting? Pangkalan Data Biometrik Komprehensif Kerajaan kini mempunyai rekod biometrik penuh untuk memastikan pemantauan keberadaan pelarian lebih tepat dan berkesan. Memperkukuh Keselamatan Negara DPP membantu mengurangkan risiko penyalahgunaan identiti dan ketidakseragaman data selaras dengan Arahan MKN No. 23. Menggantikan Sistem UNHCR Dengan pelaksanaan DPP, kerajaan menggantikan sistem pendaftaran unilateral UNHCR bagi memastikan kawal selia yang lebih teratur dan sah. Dokumen Pengenalan Rasmi & Tunggal Semua pelarian yang disahkan akan menerima Dokumen Pengenalan DPP yang diiktiraf sepenuhnya oleh Kerajaan Malaysia. Implikasi Penting & Pengurusan Jangka Panjang Data pelarian yang direkodkan menerusi DPP akan digunakan dalam proses penentuan penempatan akhir termasuk: Penempatan ke negara ketiga Pulang ke negara asal Deportasi sekiranya melanggar undang-undang Malaysia Kenyataan Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri “Maklumat dan biometrik pelarian akan disimpan dalam sistem DPP. Mereka yang disahkan sebagai pelarian akan diberi dokumen pengenalan rasmi yang merupakan dokumen tunggal diiktiraf Kerajaan.” – YB Datuk Seri Dr. Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri (25 November 2025)
