Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter, or Telegram and WhatsApp channels for the latest stories and updates.

Changing your address on your MyKad is probably one of those errands that gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list after moving house. But according to Malaysian law, it’s not something you can put off indefinitely.

Many Malaysians may not realise that if they’ve moved to a new home and plan to stay there for 90 days or more, they are legally required to update the address on their MyKad. The change must also be made within 14 days of moving into the new residence, in accordance with Regulation 15 of the National Registration Regulations 1990.

According to the National Registration Department (NRD), those who fail to update their MyKad address could face a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both under Regulation 25 of the same regulations. The National Registration Act 1959 also provides broader powers for penalties relating to breaches of the regulations, although the RM20,000 fine and three-year jail term are the penalties specifically tied to failing to comply with the address update requirement.

Will we suffer the consequences if we “give ourselves up”?

What if you moved out 10 years ago and the address on your MyKad is still your mom’s house address?

We wondered what would happen if we just walked into one NRD branch right now and apply for a MyKad with an updated address. Would we be arrested on the spot after they find out we’ve been staying at a different address for more than three months already?

Naturally, we called the NRD and asked them what would happen, and a representative at the Kuala Lumpur branch said they are not enforcing the National Registration Act 1959 yet.

“Many people have actually called us to ask about this, since the matter has been brought up frequently lately. We are not enforcing the rule yet but everyone who has been staying at a different address is encouraged to update their MyKad as soon as they can,” said the NRD customer care representative.

He also said that there is no set date on when exactly the rule will be enforced. However, just to be safe, it’s best to make some time to visit your nearest NRD branch to change the address on your MyKad when you can.

How to apply and what’s required to update your address

The good news is that updating your address is relatively straightforward.

You’ll need to visit any NRD office with your MyKad and documents proving your new residential address. Accepted documents include utility bills, a tenancy agreement, sale and purchase agreement, assessment tax documents, or a letter from your village head, employer, state assemblyperson (ADUN) or Member of Parliament, among others.

Another thing to note is that the address must be a permanent residential address in Malaysia — workplace addresses and P.O. boxes are not accepted.

There is also a fee of RM10 for Malaysian citizens, while non-Malaysian residents will need to pay RM40 for the application. The fee is imposed as a new MyKad with updated address will need to be issued since the address is stamped on the card itself.

For now, the chances of Malaysians being fined RM20,000 or hauled to prison for not updating their address on their MyKads is still relatively low.

However, remember that the regulations and penalties already exist in the legal system, and should you be unlucky enough to be caught at a police checkpoint or at an election with an address you’re not staying at printed on your MyKad, there’s not much you can do if the authorities decided to slap that fine or put you behind bars.

Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Threads.