To start with this procedure,  you must re-register your marriage in Malaysia (if you are married overseas). In our case, we re-registered our marriage in Malaysia after our wedding in the Philippines. The re-registration of our marriage is held in Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara, Putrajaya.

After the re-registration of marriage, you need to go to the state immigration where your spouse is staying. So we went to Johor Bahru Immigration office at Setia Tropika and submitted our documents for the application of my spouse visa.

Before submitting all documents to the first immigration officer, you must let your documents checked by a lawyer (Commissioner On Oath). There is a group of authorized layers outside the Immigration office at Setai Tropika can help you certify all your documents. The fee is about 8-15 Malaysian Ringgit depending on the type of documents you are submitting. 

You have to make sure also that you have obtained the stamp from the Land Revenue from your place (Johor Bahru), and stamp from a Commissioner of Oath testifying that what you have submitted is all true.

So going back to the immigration office, you must be calm during your submission. The Immigration officer is a bit intimidating in the sense that he looks like he’s going to eat you (but not all immigration officers are like that). You must be confident and should be able to answer correctly what is being asked. Remember to bring all the original documents because the Immigration officer is very careful in checking your documents.

In terms of communication, they somehow speak in English but for as long as your spouse can speak and understand Bahasa Melayu, the process would not be an issue.

Once your document is accepted, you as the spouse will be required to have a biometric to be registered to the Immigration office.

Before the Immigration officer closes the transaction, he will make sure that you check every detail of your submitted documents. You must be very careful, especially with your passport number. It should be tallied to the document that has been submitted to the officer who assisted you.

When everything is done, you will be given a form stating a letter of acknowledgment for your visa application, including the name of the officer who assisted you on that day.

Make sure that your passport number is indicated at the last part of the page.

Then, wait for thirty working days for your visa to be released for the first six months. The visa can be renewed for 5 years depending on the expiration date of your passport.

Special note: With this current situation amid to Covid19 Pandemic, please be informed that before heading to Immigration Department (Setia Tropika), you are advised to secure your Appointment thru  HERE.