Malaysia

RBI

2025 Guide

Malaysia My Second Home Residency by Investment Program

The Malaysia MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) residency program is a government sponsored investment visa program for individuals wishing to reside in Malaysia. It offers renewable residency rights of varying durations and the ability to sponsor many members of your family including parents and unmarried children.

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Be careful: There have been a lot of changes to the MM2H program over the past years, so a lot of the information you find online is outdated. This here is the latest information.

Why get residency in Malaysia with the MM2H program?

MM2H is a renewable long term visa which is obtained through property investment in Malaysia in addition to an interest-earning fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank account.ย  ย 

The Malaysia MM2H caters to many categories of people, whether you are a retiree, investor or simply an expat looking for a second residence in Asia and wish to take advantage of Malaysia’s unique location, culture and tax system.

 

  • Safe country with conservative social values
  • Malaysia boasts exceptional food, culture and tropical recreation
  • Very low minimum stay requirements for families
  • Only domestic Malaysian income is taxed, and the country has robust double taxation treaties. Foreign pensions are not taxed, making it an appealing retirement destination
  • Foreign-earned income is not taxed in Malaysia and this won’t be changed until at least 2036
  • Broad ability to qualify many dependents on one application
  • English is an official language

What are the requirements and costs for the MM2H program?

There are four tiers of the MM2H program with various initial residency terms:

  1. Special Economic Zone โ€“ 10-years (this visa is for a specific development in Johor Bahru and targets residents of Singapore)
  2. Silver โ€“ 5-years (most popular category)
  3. Gold โ€“ 15-years
  4. Platinum โ€“ 20 years

After the initial residency term, each visa is renewable for a 5-year term.ย 

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Silver

5-year initial residency term, must be at least 25 years old to apply

  • Fixed deposits in a Malaysian bank: $150,000 USD (half of which can be used towards the compulsory property purchase)
  • Compulsory property purchase price: 600,000 MYR (~$140,000)
  • Participation fee: 1,000 MYR
  • Government renewal fee per application: 1,500 MYR
[

Gold

ย 15-year initial residency term, must be at least 25 years old to apply

  • Fixed deposits in a Malaysian bank: $500,000 USD (half of which can be used towards the compulsory property purchase)
  • Compulsory property purchase price: 1,000,000 MYR (~$230,000)
  • Participation fee: 3000 MYR
  • Government renewal fee per application: 3,000 MYR
[

Platinum

20 year initial residency term, must be at least 25 years old to apply

  • Fixed deposits in a Malaysian bank: $1,000,000 USD (half of which can be used towards the compulsory property purchase)
  • Compulsory property purchase price: 2,000,000 MYR (~$460,000)
  • Participation fee: 200,000 MYR
  • Government renewal fee per application: 5,000 MYR
  • Ability to bring maids with you
  • Allows employment, investment and business activity
[

Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

10-year initial residency term, must be at least 21 years old to apply

  • Fixed deposits in a Malaysian bank: $65,000 USD (Age 21-49), $32,000 USD (over age 50)
  • Compulsory property purchase in SEZ. The problem is that the properties immediately drop half in value once bought directly from developer. The cheapest apartments are about $150,000, so this represents an immediate loss of ~$75,000. Rather go for the silver option until these SEZs are more established.
  • Participation fee: 1,000 MYR
  • Government renewal fee per application: 300 MYR

All tiers have the following restrictions and privileges:

  • Dependents: Spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, stepchildren, adopted children are all eligible under 35 years old. Disabled children can be added at any age. Same-sex marriages are not eligible.
  • Property lock-in period: 10 years but can upgrade to a higher priced property. You may sell at any time but your MM2H visa will be canceled.
  • Physical stay requirements: For applicants under the age of 50, the family must cumulatively spend at least 90 days in Malaysia per calendar year, prorated based on the visa issue date. If you are a family of 3 for example, each person can spend 30 days on average to satisfy the 90-day requirement, or one family member can spend 90 days and the others 0. For applicants over the age of 50, there are no minimum requirements.
  • Partial fixed deposit withdrawal: applicants can make up to a 50% withdrawal after one year for purposes of buying domestic tourism, medical treatment, education, real estate or new automobiles.
  • Children can pursue education
  • Ability to seek medical treatment
  • No taxes on money brought into Malaysia
  • Transferable to next-of-kin in the event of death of main applicant

What documents are needed to apply for the MM2H program?

  • Valid passport with 18 months of validity
  • Bank statements showing financial means
  • Medical report (must be free of infectious diseases such as HIV, TB and hepatitis) and health insurance
  • Letter of intent and supporting documents

ย How do I apply for the Malaysia MM2H investment visa?

  • Find a licensed agent approved by the Ministry of Tourism (such as TG below) to help you submit your application and act as your sponsor.
  • Collect the supporting documents required for your application
  • Submit the documents and wait 2-3 months to receive a Conditional Approval Letter – this letter permits you to travel to Malaysia and gives a six month grace period to submit any missing documentation
  • Upon visiting Malaysia, you can set up your fixed deposit account and add funds, after which you can submit the deposit certificate to the MM2H authorities.
  • While on your trip you can also complete the medical check up requirements, enroll in health insurance and submit confirmation certificates to the MM2H authorities.ย ย 
  • You should also search for a suitable residential property on which you must make a 10% deposit.ย 
  • You will have one year after the visa is approved to complete your property purchase.ย ย 

Video: How to apply for the Malaysia MM2H residency by investment program

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Program

Apply for the MM2H program

Contact TG to get more information on the MM2H program
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FAQ

What are the current eligibility criteria for the MM2H program?

Being at least 25 years old and having enough funds to invest in Malaysia.

Can I withdraw my fixed deposit after applying for MM2H, and if so, under what conditions?

You can withdraw up to half of your MM2H deposit to buy local real estate.

What are the property purchase requirements for MM2H applicants?

600,000 ringgit for Silver, 1 million ringgit for gold, 2 million ringgit for platinum.

Is there a minimum stay requirement for MM2H visa holders, and how does it vary by age group?

If the applicant is below the age of 50, the whole family must spend at least 90 days per year in the country combined for members below 50. So if there are 3 family members, one could stay 60 days, and the two other 15 days each. If the applicant is above the age of 50, then there are no minimum stay requirements in Malaysia.

What are the tax benefits for MM2H participants?

No taxes on overseas income (territorial tax system).

Can MM2H visa holders work or start a business in Malaysia?

Only if he opts for the platinum package.

What are the differences between the Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers of the MM2H program?

The silver and gold tiers are very similar. The platinum package is very different as it allows the applicants to work, operate a business locally, and even import help from overseas.

How long does the MM2H visa last, and is it renewable?

5 years for silver, 10 years for gold and 20 years for platinum. Yes, it is renewable.

What happens to the MM2H visa status if the program rules change after my application is approved?

The precedent is that beneficiaries of the MM2H were grandfathered under the rules they had initially applied.

Can Americans retire in Malaysia?

Yes, using the MM2H visa route.

How much does MM2H cost in Malaysia?

The minimum budget should be about $250,000.

Is the MM2H program a good option for a Plan B with its 5-year residence and 90-day stay requirement?

Absolutely, especially as the 90 days is combined for all family members in an application, and there arenโ€™t any minimum presence requirements for applicants above the age of 50.

What are the details of the Malaysia Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) in comparison to the MM2H?

We can help with this 1 million ringgit deposit option as well (~ $225,000), but the government processing fee is steep (at least 200,000 ringgit or ~$45,000) and one must demonstrate yearly income of at least 480,000 ringgit (~$110,000). But yes, itโ€™s a viable option for a 20 year visa.

How can I get more information or contact TG for MM2H applications?

Fill out the form on this page!

What are the implications of Malaysia's residency by investment programs on local citizenship and integration?

No route to citizenship with MM2H.

If you buy a more expensive property under the MM2H within the 10-year period, does the 10-year selling restriction restart?

No.

What is the current minimum required annual stay for the over 50's category in the MM2H program?

0 days.

Are the conditions for the MM2H program, like depositing 1 million USD, considered overly demanding?

Not for people wanting to save a lot of money on taxes.

Does the MM2H's minimum property purchase requirement override higher state-specific property minimums for non-citizens?

No. 600,000 ringgit minimum applies to Penang, for Kuala Lumpur has a minimum of 1,000,000 ringgit even for the Silver option.

Are there gated exclusive subdivisions, villages, or townhouses available for property investment in Malaysia?

Yes, though condos are what is allowed for foreigners.

What are the perceived drawbacks or complications of the MM2H program compared to similar programs in Southeast Asia?

That MM2H is more expensive upfront than Thailand or the Philippines. But the tax savings, safety, and great infrastructure justify it.

Still have questions? Contact our team

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