Having a Baby Overseas in Malaysia
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Pregnant in Malaysia
We found out that we were pregnant with our second child just after the coronavirus lockdown (aka “MCO”) started in Malaysia in 2020. At that time we only had a 90-day tourist visa, so we weren't considering Malaysia as the country that we'd choose for having our baby, but that's how it ended up.
We were lucky that one of the primary languages in Malaysia is English - because that makes this country so much easier to navigate and do something as complex as having a baby abroad in a foreign country.
As our first baby was born in South Africa, also an English speaking country, we were already open to the idea of having our second baby overseas as well. However, this time we had been planning to visit Taiwan before heading back to our home country - the USA - a full 5 months before the delivery date. So, with only a 90-day visa in Malaysia and only 41 days of that remaining when we found out, having the baby in Malaysia didn't even seem like a possibility.
RM 100 is roughly $24.77 at the time of writing - so “Normal Delivery” starts at $1,210 at this hospital, and Caesarean Section starts at $2,648.
Looking for a Suitable Birth Country
After our airline ticket to Taiwan was canceled due to their own lockdown, we realized that our trip back into the USA was going to be interrupted. Thus, we attempted to redirect to Cape Town again as we enjoyed the experience that we had giving birth there with our firstborn. However, that ticket got canceled as well when South Africa decided to start their lockdown. Out of frustration, we decided to simply fly into Hawaii because we knew we couldn't get rejected by our own country. However, that didn’t stop our flight from being canceled anyway (read more about that complex situation).
Upon looking for another suitable country that we could enter, we learned that giving birth in South Korea might only cost about $400, while Taiwan, Japan, and Canada actually pay you to have a baby in their country AND give you a monthly allowance for raising the child (after government reimbursements)! Additionally, we learned that public hospitals in Malaysia, South Africa, Kenya, and even Nigeria cost as little as $100. This was very surprising to us as the average cost of a vaginal childbirth in the USA is over $10,000!
Despite all of that research, it was nearly impossible to get anywhere during the lockdowns and, even for the countries - like South Korea - that were allowing us to enter, we would have had to pay a considerable amount to quarantine for 14 days in a government sponsored hotel first - as they charge per person, not per room. It was a very difficult situation as a family that travels on a budget of only $2,000 per month.
Gleneagles Medini, Johor, Malaysia (near Singapore)
Choosing Malaysia
With the coronavirus causing lockdowns around the world, Malaysia eventually decided to extend all tourist visas automatically until the end of their MCO (“Movement Control Order”). As it turns out, it was extended enough times to actually allow us to have the baby in Malaysia!
We started out with our regular prenatal visits at the private Gleneagles hospital in Penang, Malaysia, as that is where we were when we learned of our pregnancy. Gleneagles has a number of locations in Malaysia and is generally considered one of the best private hospitals in Malaysia and Singapore. They certainly meet Western standards.
Although we started out in Penang, in the north, we eventually moved to Johor, in the south, when new cases of Covid-19 in the country dropped to around 4 per day and the full lockdown was relaxed to a “Recovery MCO.” It was safe enough to travel and there is a Gleneagles in Johor as well. Both of those locations were extraordinarily inexpensive in comparison with the prices in the USA, even for being a private hospital.
We also considered giving birth at the Gleneagles in Kota Kinabalu, before Covid-19 cases started spiking out there, as it was even slightly less expensive and at a newer facility. However, the one in Kuala Lumpur was at least twice the price!
As a side note, it’s definitely worth learning a little bit about Malaysia’s culture and customs if you are planning on doing this as well. While you won’t run into any issues without learning about them, it will add a ton of value to your experience and you’ll understand why they do a few of the things they do better - so you aren’t too confused when things are a bit different.
The costs
The total birth package, including the obstetrics doctor fee, ended up being $1,225.49. With all prenatal doctor fees from the beginning of the pregnancy - and immunizations after the birth - included, the entire cost of our pregnancy and childbirth in Malaysia has come to $2,024.72 - BEFORE any type of insurance was applied.
There are added fees for special services or requesting services “after open hours”. Note that RM 100 is about $25.
The prenatal visits averaged $72, and the post-natal visits averaged $37. The highest two prenatal costs were associated with the Gleneagles in Penang ($102 and $122).
The prenatal visit experiences
At the Gleneagles in Penang, we did wait longer than we'd have expected to see the doctor each time - considering that we actually had an appointment time but didn't get to see the doctor until at least an hour or two after that time for each appointment. We expect that she was likely very over-booked with clients. Additionally, our visits didn't seem as personal as we'd have hoped. They felt a little rushed, and she seemed to confuse our situation with other clients from time to time.
At the Gleneagles in Johor we had a completely different experience. Our OBGYN was usually on time or only a few minutes behind schedule. She was very personable and understanding of our wishes and natural birth plan. She addressed all of our needs very patiently, even if it went over another clients time. She wasn't pushy on any other items, although she did make a few recommendations that we decided against without her attempting to persuade us otherwise. We highly recommend Dr. Alexandriia!
We also found time to put together a video “Preview of Baby #2 - The 20 Week Check-up & Gender Reveal.”
The delivery room. Not seen are the couch to the right, the full bathroom to the left, and the sink station behind.
The Birth Experience
Our first birth - in Cape Town, South Africa - was fairly successful, however there were a few concerns that we wanted to minimize this time around.
We wanted to do everything we could to allow Jenny to be in a good position to allow a wide opening - meaning we wanted her in a squatting position instead of laying on her back.
We also wanted her to be well hydrated - with electrolytes, and as relaxed as possible, so she wouldn't get as exhausted or dehydrated as she did while giving birth to our son.
Additionally we wanted a fully natural, unassisted, 3rd stage to help the uterus fully close on its own - so that additional bleeding would be minimized.
This time, during Covid-19, we also had to arrive at the hospital earlier than we did in Cape Town. Firstly, we knew the signs and stages of labor - and read our “Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way” book again just to be refreshed. However, this hospital was requiring us both to take covid tests to be allowed in the room with the baby after the birth - and that test would take 2 hours. So, we made sure to be early enough to do that - very uncomfortable - test. Neither of us had covid, so we were safe to be in the same room with our baby after she was born. Everything was good to go.
Jenny's labor took a little while longer to get started this time as well, which gave Bradley plenty of time to attend to all of the check-in and registration requirements. But, once things started progressing, Jenny inclined the head of the bed to about a 45-degree angle and leaned against it in a squatting position. The doctor and midwives were very helpful and calm the entire time. The doctor didn't increase the anxiety level at all by telling Jenny when to push or how to count - instead she instructed her to trust her own instincts, “remember to breathe,” and “push when you feel like it.” She also provided plenty of great encouragement.
It is harder to give birth without an episiotomy, or any medications. But, Jenny was successful and Bradley managed to catch our newborn baby girl when she arrived. Jenny then repositioned to lay down and relax so she could hold, and immediately breastfeed, our newborn baby, Ellie.
Our doctor fully allowed the cord to stop pulsating and turn white before asking daddy if he was ready to cut the cord. Ellie was still feeding at that time and we felt that this would help send the right signals to the placenta to detach on its own. So, we asked to wait until after the placenta was birthed before we cut the cord, and she permitted it.
No pitocin or pulling was used to remove the placenta, which birthed naturally about 15-20 minutes after our baby was born. Daddy then cut the cord and had some time to hold our daughter while the doctor opened up the placenta to investigate it. She vocally explained what each piece inside was, and let us know that nothing was missing or “retained.”
It was a perfectly natural birth. No medicine or assistance at any stage. We both felt great afterwards. No complications. It was an amazing experience and recovery was so much easier.
A few minutes after birthing our daughter, Ellie.
After the Baby's Birth
Immediately afterward
We did have some alone time with our new daughter to get some skin to skin contact and take a few photos. They then weighed Ellie (3.33 kg - 7.34 lbs) and we sent out a few happy messages to our family.
Ellie warming up in the incubator.
About an hour or so afterwards, the nursery staff asked to take our daughter, Ellie, for her first bath. Bradley remained with her the entire time. After her bath, her body temperature was a bit cool, so the nurses were insistent on putting her in an incubator for about half an hour to warm her up and give her the vitamin K shot. Daddy held her hand and helped warm her up to get her back to mommy quicker.
While Ellie was getting bathed, mom was getting cleaned up and fed lunch. They asked if Jenny had any food allergies or dietary preferences. Lunch was fish with rice and steamed vegetables as she requested a pescatarian diet.
Once back to the delivery room, Ellie stayed with mommy while Bradley went to settle the final bill. While he was doing that, the pediatrician came in to check on the baby and noted that Jenny looked really good for just having gave birth - a stark contrast to how pale she looked after giving birth to our son, Waltoshi.
This time, Jenny was energetic and alert after giving birth. Her uterus got the cues that it needed to contract completely on its own. And, her recovery was much easier and quicker without the episiotomy. Our extra measures paid off well!
When Bradley returned from settling the bill, he gave Jenny the paperwork and packed up our belongings - giving Jenny the items she would need for her night, and following morning, in the hospital with Ellie. He then took the unnecessary items back to our apartment directly across the street and relieved our nanny of her duties to watch our son - as Waltoshi was not permitted to be in the hospital during the birth (as a precaution during covid times).
Side note: We hired our nanny about a month prior to Ellie's birth, to come over twice a week for 3 hours each time - keeping her mask on the entire time. She would help clean our apartment and also interact with our son to make him feel more comfortable with her before the birth of Ellie - as he'd need to be alone with her on that day. We also invested in a CCTV-type home security camera that connected to wifi and allowed us to view the apartment over an app on our phones to be able to check in on them. Both plans worked out very well together.
Also, on the way out, the hospital did tell Bradley that he could bring Waltoshi to Jenny's recovery room as long as Waltoshi stayed in the room the whole time. So that was excellent news for visiting the following morning!
Jenny with Ellie and her dinner in the recovery room.
That night
After Bradley left, Jenny took a nap for about an hour, and then woke to have dinner. As a note, there are a few restaurants in this hospital as well - and a food truck that is outside just about every evening. Dinner was also fish but in a soup this time, and served with rice and steamed veggies again.
Dr. Alexandriia and a nurse also came by to check on Jenny while she was eating.
Jenny then sent Bradley the following message “The nurse said no children visitors. Dr Alex said softly that it depends who’s working...” Additionally, Jenny was told that she could ring the nurse if she needed a snack in the middle of the night.
We had a video chat for about half an hour to introduce Waltoshi to Ellie. He was very excited to meet her!
One of the nurses said that she would be back around 5 AM to give Ellie a bath and to give her the delivery package’s included vaccinations (Hep B and the BCG). Jenny asked if she could go with, and they said “yes.” They also offered to bring Ellie to the nursery for the night, but Jenny opted to keep Ellie in the recovery room with her.
This food truck is outside of the hospital most nights, plus there are a few decent restaurants inside as well.
Then we all went to sleep, as we had a long day, were all quite tired, and wanted to be up and refreshed for the following morning.
Every two hours throughout the night, the nurses came into the room to change Ellie's nappies and check her “output.”
Jenny did wake up around 3 AM and was fairly hungry, but she didn't ring the nurse for food. Instead, she ate all of the crackers that we had brought for her to snack on in case she got hungry. Good thing we brought them!
Waltoshi meets his sister for the first time - in person.
The following morning
Jenny sent the following message at 6:14 AM: “I don’t know what time we will check out, but she could use another diaper or two. She has one left. They just gave her another bath and gave her the BCG and hep B shots. I went with her. They also checked her jaundice level: 5.7. Regular. Kind of like a temperature check but pressed to chest instead of head.”
They did provide Jenny with a breakfast, but because she stated that she was a pescatarian they brought her fish ball soup. She did eat it, but desired a bit more and was getting a bit tired of fish, rice, and steamed veggies 3 meals in a row so she asked Bradley for a PB&J sandwich.
Bradley grabbed all of the necessary items to check out of the hospital, made and packed a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich for Jenny, saddled up Waltoshi in the Tula baby carrier, and headed over to the hospital around 8:15 AM.
Just after Bradley and Waltoshi arrived in the recovery room, Dr. Alexandriia and a nurse came in to check on Ellie and Jenny. The doctor also told us where to go in Johor Bahru - two different options - to pick up Ellie’s birth certificate, as they only provide them at the hospital for Malaysians and we are not Malaysian.
Next was our Pediatrician, Dr. Terry, who informed us that they weren't able to extract enough blood from the umbilical cord to determine Ellie's blood type, which was surprising to me and signified a potential oversight or mistake on their part. So, he needed to take a blood sample from her little hand - something we were hoping to avoid.
A nurse, or official, then came in to present us with all of the documentation that was necessary to get Ellie's birth certificate, including the “Guide for Reporting of Birth” paper. Although we didn't know it at the time, she forgot to verify our passport numbers on that form… (more about that below in the Birth Certificate section).
While she was telling Bradley everything that he would need to do, a lactation nurse came in to check on Ellie's latch and ask if Jenny had any questions or concerns about breastfeeding. She also provided Jenny with a pamphlet with information about breastfeeding and different ways to hold the baby.
After that was all done we were all set to check out of the hospital.
the brown and cream colored Afiniti and Somerset residences - Gleneagles Medini is the grey building fully visible on the right.
Checkout of the hospital
You wouldn't think that checking out of the hospital would be a big deal, but it was. After gathering up our belongings we left the room and told the receptionist that we were checking out. She reminded us to go to the nursery to pick up our baby book (an important document) and to have the baby's security tags removed.
So, we did stop by the nursery and the tags were removed. However, the staff brought Jenny into a separate room while they were going through their paperwork and making sure that all of the requirements were met. Additionally, they gave Jenny a Baby Bag - along with diaper samples and a number of other free items. They also removed Ellie from the hospital swaddle and put her in the one that we brought for her.
As Covid-19 is an issue, they then put Ellie back into the wheeled hospital bassinet/crib and covered the upper part with a cellophane wrap - protecting her head similarly to a face shield - but leaving the rest uncovered to allow airflow.
Then, a team of nurses and staff requested for Jenny to sit down in a wheelchair - despite her insistence that it wasn't necessary - so that they could push her to the front of the hospital. Bradley carried all of the bags that we brought to the hospital, all of the free things that they gave us, and the paperwork that we received. The staff pushed Ellie along with us as we navigated through the hospital. In the excitement, we all forgot about the baby book - which was left behind in the nursery.
Upon reaching the front desk, the team had us stop and asked Bradley to pull up the vehicle. We explained that there was no vehicle as we were staying literally just across the street.
As a quick note: The wellness area - at the Somerset and Afiniti residences where we stayed - is an excellent place to go for some peace and tranquility before and after birthing. It also provided a decent amount of sunlight to help our baby get enough vitamin D, which helps keep the jaundice from getting out of hand. Here are a few photos of that area.
They seemed confused and unsure of how to proceed, having us wait while they figured it out. We attempted to tell them that it was no problem and that we could simply just walk. Our comments were happily ignored as that was seemingly illogical to them.
Yes, it was lightly raining. I suppose that was a matter of debate between the staff. Also, they didn't think Jenny should walk as she had just given birth a day ago. Let's not forget that it is customary in many Asian countries, including Malaysia, to keep the mother and baby confined indoors for a full month to help the mother recover and keep the baby safe. We were apparently ignoring that fact and how important it was to some of them.
Upon further insisting, about 10-15 minutes after arriving at the front desk, the team finally agreed to lend Bradley an umbrella so he could keep Jenny and Ellie dry as we crossed the street. They were looking for another one for Bradley to use, but with all of the bags in his hands, he couldn't even carry the first one. The team walked us to the door and still seemed confused as we thanked them and quickly departed. Jenny held Ellie and the umbrella. Bradley got a little wet - but not much as it was only drizzling.
Jenny was very careful while walking with Ellie in her arms. We crossed the street and headed toward our building. Once inside, Bradley put the bags down and walked back to the hospital to return the umbrella. The team was no longer there. The people accepting the umbrella seemed a bit confused. Bradley said thank you, and then hurried back home.
the specialist clinic is the tallest building at gleneagles medini
Postnatal Checkups
With the OBGYN
The postanatal checkup with Dr. Alexandriia was brief. The doctor asked Jenny how she was doing and checked to see how the healing was going. Everything looked good and Jenny was doing well. Dr. Alexandriia advised that the next appointment is usually about a month after birth along with the 1-month checkup with the baby.
At that meeting, she would check to make sure that mom is all healed and discuss birth control/family planning measures going forward. Due to the end of the year holidays, her office was closed during those days, so we ended up not being able to schedule the 1-month mom checkup at the same time as Ellie’s 1-month checkup.
We ended up leaving Johor for Kuala Lumpur a few days later as we needed to go get Ellie’s passport and CRBA, so we never did the 1-month checkup for mom.
With the Pediatrician
Our first appointment for Ellie with the pediatrician, Dr. Terry, was 5 days after her birth.
As a side note: During one of our prenatal visits, the staff stopped allowing our son to join us if he didn't have an appointment himself - due to rising cases of covid in the area at that time - but, Jenny told them that he also had an appointment with the doctor to get them to allow him in that time.
Now, at our post-natal appointment, we were limited on time as our nanny was once again watching Waltoshi, but we only had her scheduled for 3 hours and the appointment didn't start until an hour had already passed.
Before we could head to the pediatricians office we needed to stop by the nursery again to pick up the baby book, as we didn't receive it when we checked out of the hospital after Ellie's birth. That didn't take too long and the process was fairly easy.
Upon arriving at the doctors office, we were required to go to the nurses room and get the baby weighed and measured. Then we waited in the waiting room for our turn to see the doctor - perhaps 15-20 minutes.
The doctor tested her jaundice level with a skin test. That test result was a 13, which was lower than the level of concern at 18. Regardless, Dr. Terry asked us to return in two days time to check again, as these things can change quickly on newborns.
After this appointment, we went to Jenny's first post-natal checkup with the OBGYN (which you read about above). However, as time was short and our nanny was due to go home, Bradley had to leave early to make it home in time for the end of her shift. It's a difficult thing not being permitted to bring in your other child and not having family nearby to help watch them.
Due to this difficulty, Bradley decided to stay home with him for Ellie's second appointment. Jenny did have to wait in the waiting room for quite some time before getting into the doctors office this time. Once inside the doctors office, the only thing that Dr. Terry did was check on Ellie's jaundice level, which was still at 13 and still not at the level of concern. However, he requested that Jenny return with Ellie in 2 more days.
We decided not to follow through with that appointment as there were no signs of any issues with Ellie - no symptoms of concern - and her skin color did not appear any more yellow than it had over the last few days.
This is how Ellie looked prior to her 1-month appointment.
We did make an appointment for Ellie a month after her birth because the baby book noted an immunization was due at that time. Additionally, we noticed some bumps around her inner thighs as well as rough skin, so we had concerns of a yeast infection. Again, Jenny was the only one to attend this appointment.
Upon arriving in the doctors office, Jenny requested the immunization and raised the yeast infection concern. Dr. Terry’s immediate concern revolved instead around Ellie's continued slight-yellow color, and as it was a month after her birth he stated that a liver test was absolutely necessary to rule out liver disease.
To be certain, Jenny called Bradley to tell him that Dr. Terry was saying that this liver test was absolutely necessary. Bradley requested that Jenny ask the doctor at what point the jaundice is dangerous. Dr. Terry's response was that there was no level at which jaundice was dangerous, but that the underlying conditions could be very serious and that the test was absolutely necessary as it could be very dangerous if she had liver disease. To this, Bradley told Jenny that he understood and that we were under the impression that it was necessary and very important.
Bradley immediately called on a few of his American doctor friends (3 of them) to check on the signs and symptoms of liver disease in infants after the phone call, and discovered that this test wasn't actually necessary in our case. However, he was unable to reach Jenny as her phone no longer had reception.
Note: Ellie had zero symptoms of liver disease. Mild jaundice isn't even a symptom of liver disease. Yes, serious jaundice is, but her level again was no worse than before and lower than the level of concern. She did, however, have a yeast infection and she is a breastfed baby - both signs of potential breastfeeding jaundice, a harmless condition that eventually goes away on its own.
Regardless, as there was no phone reception to stop the situation, the liver test was happening. It required two tests, the first was to take a vial of blood from Ellie's hand/wrist area, which left a bruise for about a week.
Ellie, and her big brother Waltoshi, in her first month on Earth.
Additionally, Dr. Terry said that we would need to check for a urine infection - as that could also indicate a liver problem. He said that they could either put a tube inside Ellie to collect the urine or put a bag under her to collect it. He said that the tube is more accurate and could be immediately extracted, however Jenny asked if it would be painful and he said yes, but the bag would take longer as they'd have to wait until the baby urinated. Jenny opted to collect the urine in the bag.
Jenny and Ellie were placed on a seat in a curtained off area usually reserved for breastfeeding while they waited. After the urine was collected, the nurses processed the bill.
Jenny asked about the 1-month immunization and the nurse explained that the one that was listed was part of a multi-vaccine that infants receive at month 2. Thus, no vaccine would be given that day.
Jenny left the appointment after that, but needed to return because the doctor never gave her the prescription for the yeast infection - the second reason we had made the appointment in the first place. He then gave her the prescription and she went to pick up the medication at the pharmacy before returning home.
Her slight jaundice is almost not even noticeable, yet the pediatrician felt that it was vital to do blood and urine tests to check for liver disease.
Bradley informed Jenny of the information and they wrote a complaint to the hospital that Dr. Terry had convinced them to do tests for liver disease even though Ellie had no symptoms.
As there were no signs or symptoms of liver disease, it is no surprise that when Dr. Terry called with the results the following day that both of them - the urine test and the blood test - came back negative. There was no liver issues. So, Dr. Terry then suggested that it was “probably just breastfeeding jaundice.”
That was the last time that we considered Dr. Terry to be the pediatrician for either of our children. It was clear to us at that point that Dr. Terry had absolutely no desire to avoid doing unnecessary poking and prodding of infants. He had done these two unnecessary tests and also took her blood the day after her birth because they didn’t care enough to collect blood at the time the placenta was ready for them. This made us feel very violated by the carelessness of this doctor.
However, the hospital followed up by stating that the SOP / guidelines for the hospital require the test, so they claim that it was a simple misunderstanding.
Point in fact, Dr. Terry convinced us that the tests were absolutely necessary and that it could be very dangerous for Ellie if we didn't do the tests. He did not inform us that the tests were SOP, or that she had no symptoms to suggest that the tests were necessary. Nor did he inform us that we could decline the tests. In our opinion, Dr. Terry breached his fiduciary duty.
We are upset that he would so casually “require” two tests - a blood draw and a tube inserted into her - which would hurt our newborn when they weren't, in fact, vital tests. The other blood draw also could have been avoided, but he didn’t care enough to do what it took to avoid it.
The Maternity and Baby Books are Vital Documents in Malaysia.
Official Documents
The Malaysian Birth Certificate
We were given two different government facilities that we could go to in order to attain Ellie's Birth Certificate. We chose to go to Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara Negeri (JPN) around 11 AM just 13 days after her birth. Our form gave us 60 days to do this - possibly because we are foreigners - but local laws generally only give Malaysians 14 days.
We had all of the paperwork that we were told to bring, including copies; However, there was something that wasn't listed on the “Guide for Reporting of Birth”. When we tried to check in, they informed us that we also required copies of the Entry Stamp into Malaysia in our passports and of the mothers prenatal card… so we went to find the copy machine.
The “Kelab Kerspenj” shop just outside (in the same building of the government complex) on the ground level does copies for 30 cents (ringgit) or 60 cents for double sided or color copies. That is not very expensive and it was a fairly easy process. Once we made it back upstairs, we checked in again with the required documents.
Those included:
the Malaysia Registration of Birth form (JPN.LM01),
the original passports of the parents AND photocopies of the identification page,
photocopies of the passport pages with the entry visa stamps we obtained upon entry into Malaysia,
another identification card - such as drivers license - of the “informer” (in our case, the father),
the original marriage certificate of the parents AND a photocopy,
the mothers prenatal card (including appointment dates),
a photocopy of the mothers prenatal card,
the maternity diary, and
the baby book with appointment card.
Do note that the person at the hospital who helped us fill out that JPN.LM01 form forgot to verify our passport numbers and list them on that form with her signature. The official at the JPN government building told us that we'd have to go back to Gleneagles Medini to have it verified…
But, because it wasn't crowded - due to covid - and because we were the last ones in there prior to their lunch break, they kindly decided to call the hospital themselves and ask our OBGYN to verify the passport numbers by providing images and the doctors signature to them via email - for official records - which saved us a whole day of extra work. We were lucky that our doctor and hospital had images of our passports on file. Please make sure that the passport number section is filled out on your JPN.LM01 form before you go to get your baby’s birth certificate!
Once that was complete, we received Ellie's official Malaysian birth certificate, which was the pinkish-red foreigner type instead of the green Malaysian type - and headed off to enjoy the rest of our day at the Toppen Shopping Centre as most things were closed at the Eco Spring Labs and Little Paris.
The Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and U.S. Passport
“Most children born to U.S. citizens abroad acquire U.S. citizenship at birth.” - U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur
To attain U.S. citizenship for your baby - if it’s your home country - you'll need to apply for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (“CRBA”), which is fairly equivalent to getting a U.S. Birth Certificate. Additionally, to leave Malaysia with your newborn child you'll need to get them a passport as well.
We went to the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur website to determine the requirements, and we recommend to every foreigner who has had a baby in Malaysia to go to the website of their country’s embassy for information. For us, it was fairly easy because ours provides a checklist of documents required for a CRBA as well as a step-by-step guide with links to all of the required forms.
The forms and guide are designed in a way to encourage you to apply for both the CRBA and passport at the same time. We recommend doing them both at the same time - the process was easy for us.
As we were applying during a Movement Control Order during covid, our embassy was only accepting “emergency appointments.” Luckily, CRBAs and passports are considered “emergency” and they allowed us to request an appointment AFTER we sent them all of our documents via email first. However, they basically selected the time and date for us - requesting us to show up at the time that was convenient for them. The baby must attend the appointment. We took a Grab (Uber / Taxi) as we were unsure about parking.
When we arrived, we were dropped off on the outskirts of the building, next to the Menara See Hoy Chan, as a fence blocks the entire front to prevent parking and drop-off at that spot. After walking to the front, we were required to wait at security until our appointment time. Then, all electronics and metal items were to be left with security for us to enter. Apparently, Magneto from X-Men is a real threat. We were given a token to retrieve our items on the way out, and then told to walk up the stairs and into the building through the courtyard.
Upon entry, another security scan and then directed to the left to attain a ticket similar to those you receive at the DMV. We waited our turn, but were told that our ~23-month old son, Waltoshi, wasn't required for the appointment and only one parent was required for submitting the paperwork - they asked Bradley and Waltoshi to go into the other waiting room where there were no other people, potentially to keep social distancing in check. We complied.
Bradley and Waltoshi watched a DVD of some of the great National Parks in the USA while in the waiting room. Jenny and Ellie went up to the desk, submitted all the forms and supporting documents, and paid the application fees. The clerk said it would take about 15 minutes to input everything and then we would have an interview.
After that was complete, Bradley was required to come in as well, to duly confirm the passport and application details. We were required to raise our right hand and swear an oath. Then, Ellie was awarded a small American flag and we were told that we could come back in about 2 weeks to pick up both documents. Perhaps it was because of Malaysian MCO or delayed services in the USA, but it actually ended up taking 31 days for the documents to arrive - and the CRBA had an error. The corrected CRBA arrived 19 days later (a total of 50 days).
Note: The process with our son in Cape Town was similar, however we needed to leave the country sooner than 2 weeks as he came late. So, the U.S. Consulate there gave us an emergency passport (good for only 1 year and with just a couple of pages) and sent the CRBA to our U.S. address instead.
Social Security Numbers / Cards
We weren’t originally planning to get their Social Security Numbers in Malaysia, but as we ended up extending our stay, we decided to do it. The process isn’t as difficult as we expected.
First, go to a print shop - perhaps at the Wisma Center next to Suria KLCC - and print out a copy of the applying parent’s passport front page (with your photo and information). Only one parent will be signing the application, so make sure it is that parent’s passport that you photocopy. You need one copy of yours PER child (so we needed 2).
Second, get one copy of each child’s passport front page - MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD'S PASSPORT IS SIGNED, OTHERWISE THE MANILA OFFICE WILL DECLINE IT (we printed our child’s name on the left side of the signature line and then dad signed his name to the right of it and put “(Father)” to the right of that. However, we we forgot to do this on the older child's passport and that application was declined in Manila because “no signature” even though the US Embassy notarized it!).
Third, print out the Social Security Card applications - but do NOT sign these forms.
Schedule an appointment at the Embassy for Notary Services, signifying “for services that you could otherwise do in the USA”, and bring the following documents with you for that appointment:
Application For A Social Security Card for each child (Form SS-5-FS) - unsigned
Your Actual Passport
Copy of your Passport Front Page (1 for each child)
Your Child’s Actual Passport SIGNED
Copy of your Child’s Passport Front Page
Your Child’s Original CRBA
Copy of your Child’s CRBA
The U.S. Embassy will Notarize all of the copies after verifying them with the originals. They will then ask you to sign the application form in front of them, after swearing an oath. The cost for this service at the U.S. Embassy is FREE. They will not charge you any notary fees for SSN applications.
You will then be required to send the copies to the U.S. Embassy’s Social Security office in Manila, Philippines - using a service where you can track the package. We used DHL, located on the concourse level of Suria KLCC. That cost was RM 110 (approx. $27.50).
The Special Pass at immigration
A valid visa is required to enter and leave the country. As Ellie is a foreign national who never received a visa to enter Malaysia when she arrived, because she was born in Malaysia, immigration requires her to obtain a “Special Pass” to leave the country. This is essentially an “all clear” stamp that means immigration checked her status and made sure she had entered Malaysia legally and/or paid any overstay fines prior to exiting the county.
To get a Special Pass, you'll need to schedule an appointment at the Immigration department in Putrajaya, near Kuala Lumpur, and bring all of the required documents (original and copies) along with you.
From what we understand, a 30-day Special Pass will cost RM 100 (~$25) and allow your newborn to leave Malaysia. This short term pass usually takes about 3 days to process.
We also received this information from the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur:
The U.S. Embassy has been advised by Malaysian Immigration that children born in Malaysia must obtain a Special Pass in their U.S. passports in order to be permitted to depart Malaysia.
Malaysian Immigration has informed the U.S. Embassy that you must book an Immigration appointment for your child through the online STO appointment system. For appointment type, you may select either Visa, Pass and Permit Division OR Enforcement Division. Both parents and child must attend, and you should bring your child's birth certificate, passport, and parents' passports. It may take Immigration up to seven business days to process the Special Pass, so we encourage you not to book your onward travel until you have received your child's Special Pass, to ensure that your travel is not disrupted.
For additional questions about this process, please contact Malaysian Immigration directly. You may refer to the Malaysian Department of Immigration website or contact the Malaysian Government call center (MyCGG) at 03-8000-8000.”
Experiences of other Families
“I made an appointment for Immigration under Special Pass category. At the appointment, they were going to give my baby a […] 6 months social visit pass. If your child gets the social visit pass, it will take about 1-2 weeks to be processed. So do get the pass before buying tickets to leave.”
“Hi. I was in a similar situation. I ended up giving birth here in Malaysia rather than in my home country, Belize. We understood that our baby could not get Malaysian nationality because we, the parents, aren't Malaysian. So, all we got was a birth certificate. With that birth certificate we applied for my baby's citizenship and passport from my home country, Belize. We recently received her documents. As for my understanding, we need to now submit the baby's passport to immigration 3 days before our flight so her passport can receive a (stamp) or pass that will allow her to leave... I am a little confused but my husband's workplace will assist us with the process.”
Normal Special Pass requirements
While we aren't sure that the normal process applies to baby's born in Malaysia, we are providing the information anyway, until we find out for sure. For the short-term Special Pass, the required documents include:
passports (both parents and child),
the application form (Form IMM.55)
Supporting documents: (specifically the baby's birth certificate, and potentially the hospital's letter / maternity book / maternity appointment card / baby book / etc.), and
a confirmed ticket to your home country - or a ticket to a third country plus in possession of a visa to enter that country.
Recent Message from the U.S. Embassy KL
“Your child will not be permitted to depart Malaysia without a special pass in his/her new passport. We have been advised that special passes may be obtained at the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Office (69, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Your child will need to appear in person. Bring your child’s new passport, Malaysian birth certificate, CRBA and proof of your child’s departure date from Malaysia. Please note that we have not confirmed the office's operating status during the MCO--please confirm in advance whether the office is accepting appointments.
The government of Malaysia has opened immigration services by appointment only. U.S. citizens with specific questions or concerns may contact Malaysian Immigration through the Malaysian Government call center (MyCGG) at 03-8000-8000.”
We'll update this section as soon as we have all of the best details.
Ellie's First Flight
Not too long from now we plan to fly back into the USA as we haven’t been back now in 3 years! Actually, we had planned to do a 6-month trip across the USA starting in July of 2020, but that was curbed by Covid-19. Either way, our credit card, debit cards, drivers licenses, etc. need to be updated and renewed. Additionally, we now have 2 children - which is 2 more than we left with - and they both need Social Security Numbers. Plus, we are hoping to get the Coronavirus Vaccine when we enter the USA - as we believe this may be vital for us to continue our travels.
Read here for what ended up happening:
Planning to have your Baby in Malaysia?
If you are considering having your baby in Malaysia, feel free to reach out to us with any other questions you might have. Additionally, we would like to recommend that you get a little adventure experience while you’re doing it. The “Bangkok to Singapore: Markets & Pad Thai” trip is 14 days long and a perfect start to this trip as it ends in Singapore, which is only a few minutes over the border from Gleneagles Medini! Plus, you’ll get to explore Bangkok and Khao Sok National Park - two of the biggest highlights in Thailand - as well as the best places in Malaysia (which will be your baby’s birth country after all, so you should at least know a little bit about it), and the amazing futuristic country of Singapore!
We’ve written about most of these spots if you need more information about how amazing the tour is:
We’d recommend planning your childbirth based on the expected delivery date - and planning to arrive in Bangkok about 2 months prior to that date. However, you should receive a fresh 90-day visa once you return to Malaysia after your 2-week trip ends in Singapore. That will give you plenty of time to relax and settle down in Johor, Malaysia!
Learn more about Malaysia’s culture and customs by grabbing the Culture Smart book before you go:
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