Over 40,000 foreigners held for overstaying as of Nov 14, says minister

PETALING JAYA: A total of 41,234 foreigners who overstayed their visa were detained at Malaysian immigration depots between Jan 1 and Nov 14 this year, according to home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

This marks a significant increase from the 27,739 detentions recorded in the whole of last year.

Saifuddin said the immigration department recorded millions of visitors to the country from the beginning of the year up to Oct 15.

He added that several measures were also implemented at entry points to ensure only genuine visitors are allowed to enter the country.

“Visitors must not be on any watchlist or blacklist and are required to have a return ticket to their country of origin. They are also required to fill in the Malaysia digital arrival card to help monitor their presence during their stay,” he said in a written parliamentary reply.

Saifuddin was responding to Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar), who asked about measures taken by the ministry to ensure all foreign visitors leave Malaysia after their visa expires and the total number of foreigners, from 2023 to 2024, who failed to leave the country after their visa expired.

The minister also said some visitors overstay their visa by converting their social visit pass to other permits, such as employment or student passes.

“Others are granted special passes allowing them to remain in the country for up to 30 days to settle personal matters.”

According to Saifuddin, the immigration department conducts regular enforcement operations to identify and detain overstayers.

“From June 1 to Oct 30, the department carried out 17,745 operations across the country. Authorities also focussed on 224 identified hotspots where foreign nationals are known to gather.

“Enforcement efforts include taking action against employers who hire undocumented foreign workers,” he said.