Malaysia - MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home)

Key requirements

We use the Silver-tier deposit (~$150k) as a baseline. Higher tiers may need $500k to $1M plus fees. Special zones may be lower. Confirm the tier you will apply under.

• Income we use for estimatesNot set in data
• SavingsOften ~$150,000+
• Accepted income typesSavings only, Passive income, Pension, Remote salary, Freelance income
• Remote work allowedYes
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Months (agent-led; category-dependent)

Medical checks, bank accounts, and property purchase timing often come after conditional approval. Your licensed agent will follow the current MOTAC checklist.

1. 1

   Set your tier and budget

   Add up fixed deposit, property minimum, programme fees, processing per dependent, insurance, and agent costs before you sign anything.

   • •Check whether your target state sets a higher foreign purchase minimum than the MM2H table.
2. 2

   Hire a licensed MM2H agent

   Applications go through MOTAC-licensed agents. They submit your file, track status, and tell you when to transfer the deposit and buy property.

3. 3

   Prepare principal and family documents

   Gather passports with enough validity, marriage and birth certificates for dependants with translations where required, and agent forms.

4. 4

   Get police certificates legalised

   Obtain good-conduct certificates from countries Malaysia requests, then apostille, legalise, and translate to English or Malay as your agent specifies.

   • •Renew certificates if MOTAC limits how old they can be (often a few months).
5. 5

   Submit to MOTAC

   Your agent lodges the dossier. Pay government processing and participation fees per the current fee schedule.

6. 6

   Receive conditional approval

   If approved in principle, you get deadlines, often within months, to place the fixed deposit, complete a medical exam in Malaysia, and buy the qualifying home.

7. 7

   Place the fixed deposit

   Transfer the required USD amount into the approved Malaysian bank account type and keep receipts for endorsement.

   • •Rules may let you withdraw part of the deposit toward the property after endorsement. Confirm the live policy.
8. 8

   Buy qualifying property

   Sign a sale agreement for residential property that meets your tier minimum and any higher state threshold, within your approval timeframe.

9. 9

   Complete medical exam and insurance

   Use a panel clinic for the health check and buy Malaysian medical insurance that meets programme minimum cover.

10. 10

    Get endorsement and stay compliant

    Immigration endorses your long-stay permission. Track renewals, days in Malaysia, and any allowed fixed-deposit withdrawals with your agent.

MM2H rules, fees, and property thresholds change. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Use Malaysia’s official MM2H and MOTAC materials and a licensed agent before you commit funds.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-05-15

Citizenship & nationality

MM2H runs in tiers such as Silver, Gold, and Platinum, with some special-zone options. Planning turns on the fixed deposit, property rules, and how many days you must spend in Malaysia each year.

• •You usually apply through a licensed agent. Rules change, so confirm current government terms before moving money.
• •Each tier requires a fixed deposit. After approval you may withdraw only for approved expenses.
• •Some tiers require buying property with minimum prices and holding periods. Property can be hard to sell quickly.
• •Work and business rights differ by tier. Do not assume every tier allows local employment.

Check Malaysia’s official MM2H announcements and your agent for current tier deposits, property rules, and stay requirements.

Best for

• •People planning to stay several years with a clear residence record
• •Anyone weighing tax context alongside lifestyle and logistics

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Possible, but depends on your case
• Citizenship: Possible, but depends on your case

MM2H is a long-stay programme, not automatic permanent residence or citizenship. Other immigration routes apply for long-term settlement.

Practical difficulty

hard

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Hard means large deposits, working through an agent, and tier rules on property and annual stays.