Many remain reluctant to hire foreign spouses even when they are eligible for work approval, pushing some into informal work or unpaid family labour.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s immigration framework for crossborder marriages needs updating to better support mixed-nationality families facing challenges over employment, residency and long-term stability, an academic said.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia International Relations and Strategy Studies senior lecturer Dr Aizat Khairi said non-citizen spouses continue to be treated largely as temporary visitors despite their integral role in Malaysian households.
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“Foreign spouses are not merely visitors. They are parents, caregivers, income earners and long-term members of Malaysian households.”
Non-citizen spouses are mainly recognised through the long-term social visit pass (LTSVP), which allows residence and application for work permission.
However, Aizat said the framework, while seemingly accommodating on paper, presents practical challenges for many families.
“The policy is designed around temporary residence and administrative discretion, while the reality involves permanent family life, childcare, housing, employment and long-term planning,“ he said, adding that the disconnect has widened the gap between policy design and social reality.
He said one key issue is employment access, adding that although LTSVP holders may apply for work authorisation, many passes still state “prohibited from employment” unless a separate endorsement is approved.
“This creates confusion among employers,“ he said, adding that many remain reluctant to hire foreign spouses even when they are eligible for work approval, pushing some into informal work or unpaid family labour. He also said Malaysia may be underutilising a pool of residents with family ties and valuable skills.
Aizat said beyond employment, visa renewal uncertainty undermines family stability, making it difficult for households to plan long-term decisions on housing, education, business and elder care.
“The uncertainty is not abstract. It is felt in daily anxiety over whether families could remain together and whether the foreign spouse could continue working and contributing to household life.“
He added that current regulations may unintentionally create structural economic dependency within households, as restrictions on work, banking access and legal security often make the Malaysian spouse the primary financial anchor.
“This could place the foreign spouse in a weaker position, particularly in cases involving caregiving responsibilities, financial vulnerability, marital breakdown or domestic abuse.“
While acknowledging the need for immigration controls, Aizat emphasised the importance of balancing national interests with family welfare.
“The issue is not whether Malaysia should abandon immigration control, but how to balance control with dignity, economic agency and family protection.“
He outlined several proposed reforms, including removing or revising the “prohibited from employment” wording for eligible spouses, streamlining work authorisation and introducing clearer, more consistent visa renewal rules, including longer validity periods for stable families with Malaysian children.
He also called for a clearer pathway from LTSVP to permanent residency, better coordination between immigration authorities, employers and financial institutions, and stronger protections for spouses facing divorce, abandonment, domestic violence or bereavement.
Aizat said countries such as Singapore, Australia and New Zealand offer useful examples of spouse-based immigration systems that balance oversight with clarity and support.
Singapore allows certain long-term visit pass holders to work through a letter of consent system, while Australia and New Zealand offer clearer pathways for partners to live, work and eventually transition to permanent residency.
“The lesson for Malaysia is not simply to liberalise everything. It is to make the system clearer, more predictable and more sensitive to family realities.”
He suggested a conditional spouse-residence model with simplified work rights, transparent renewals and stronger safeguards for vulnerable spouses.
“Such a model would reduce hardship, strengthen household resilience and better reflect the realities of cross-border Malaysian families.“
