Article 15A citizenship age limit set at 18 from June 1, S’wak expands D6 document access for stateless individuals

Fatimah (right) presents a citizenship certificate to an applicant on May 25, 2026.

By Amanda L

KUCHING, May 25: Citizenship applications under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution will be capped at age 18 from June 1, a move aimed at encouraging earlier submissions by parents and guardians, says Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

“Applicants who are no longer within the eligibility age limit would need to pursue citizenship through other legal provisions, which generally involve longer processing timelines,” she told reporters after chairing the Sarawak State-level Monthly Meeting of the Special Committee on Citizenship Status under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution (JKKSK) No. 3/2026 today.

In a related development, the State is expanding the use of D6 documents to support stateless individuals awaiting citizenship decisions, particularly to facilitate access to essential services such as education.

According to her, the D6 document serves as a temporary form of identification issued while citizenship applications under Article 15A are being processed.

She said the document helps ensure that children are not left without identification during the waiting period, especially in accessing schooling and other basic services.

“The intention is to ensure that children are not left without documentation while their applications are still being processed,” she said.

She added that the D6 document initiative falls under State jurisdiction and can be processed more quickly compared to citizenship applications, which require federal approval.

Meanwhile, the minister clarified that the processing of identity documents follows a structured and sequential procedure after citizenship approval is granted.

She said applicants must first obtain citizenship before proceeding to identity card issuance, after which eligibility for the “K” indicator is assessed based on existing requirements and supporting records.

“The ‘K’ indicator is not applied at the point of citizenship approval, but is only considered during the identity card registration stage in accordance with established procedures,” she said. — DayakDaily