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Pathway

Malaysia Long-Stay Residence Program

Malaysia Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Malaysia My Second Home offers long stays through categories with different deposits, property costs, and work rules. Choose the national or state program carefully; approval does not give permanent residence or citizenship.

Minimum age
25 for Silver, Gold, and Platinum; 21 for SEZ/SFZ
Required funds
Category-specific bank deposit, property purchase, and fees
Annual stay
Generally 90 days for applicants under 50; program family-counting rules apply

Summary

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) offers renewable long-stay permission to people who meet its financial, property, and other conditions. It is a long-term social visit pass with multiple entry, not permanent residence.

The national program has Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Special Economic Zone/Special Financial Zone (SEZ/SFZ) categories. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, MOTAC, and the MM2H center administer the program. Sabah and Sarawak run separate programs with their own rules.

Could this pathway work for you?

Eligibility

Compare the national categories

The 2024 changes removed the former offshore monthly-income requirement for these national categories. You still need the required bank deposit, property purchase, fees, and any minimum stay.

Category Minimum age Bank deposit Required property purchase Program term
Silver 25 USD $150,000 At least MYR 600,000 5 years, with a further 5-year renewal available
Gold 25 USD $500,000 At least MYR 1 million 15 years, renewable
Platinum 25 USD $1 million At least MYR 2 million 20 years, renewable
SEZ/SFZ 21 USD $65,000 if aged 21–49; USD $32,000 if aged 50 or older A qualifying home in the designated development 10 years

These terms remain subject to approval, renewal, passport validity, and pass endorsement requirements. Longer program terms may still involve five-year endorsement cycles.

Deposit and property rules

Place the required deposit with a Malaysian bank licensed under the Financial Services Act or Islamic Financial Services Act. After approval, you may withdraw up to 50% of the principal for approved Malaysian property, education, medical, or tourism expenses. Keep the required balance for the program.

For Silver, Gold, and Platinum, buy the required home within one year after the pass is endorsed. You must generally keep it for 10 years, although upgrading to a higher-priced property is allowed under the rules. A state’s minimum price for foreign buyers may be higher than the MM2H minimum; both requirements apply. Failure to meet the property conditions can lead to cancellation of the pass.

The SEZ/SFZ category is tied to a designated development, currently Forest City in Johor. Buy an eligible home directly from the developer before endorsement. A resale purchase does not qualify under this category’s stated rules.

Time in Malaysia, health, and family

Applicants under 50 must meet a 90-day total annual stay. MOTAC allows the required days to be met by the main applicant and/or the spouse or dependents under its rules. Applicants aged 50 or older are exempt from that minimum. The same age split applies to the SEZ/SFZ stay requirement.

Complete the medical examination after conditional approval and arrange the required insurance for endorsement and renewal. Applications must go through an officially licensed MM2H agent.

Eligible dependents include:

Government program fees

The one-time participation fee is MYR 1,000 for Silver, MYR 3,000 for Gold, and MYR 200,000 for Platinum. Check the current SEZ/SFZ fee separately.

The stated processing fee is MYR 5,000 for the main applicant and MYR 2,500 per dependent. Dependents do not pay a separate participation fee. Confirm endorsement, renewal, agent, insurance, and other costs in addition to these amounts.

Choosing and maintaining an MM2H category
  1. Choose the program and category Compare required funds, age, work rights, family eligibility, and time in Malaysia.
  2. Apply through a licensed agent Follow the category’s deposit, property, medical, and insurance requirements.
  3. Maintain the approved pass Keep the required funds and property and meet stay and renewal conditions.

National and state programs differ. Long program terms still depend on valid passes and continuing compliance.

What This Route Allows

You and approved family members can live in Malaysia and make multiple entries while your passes remain valid. Children’s study and long-term medical arrangements remain subject to the relevant rules.

Platinum allows business, investment, and career activities subject to the applicable approvals and professional rules. Silver, Gold, and SEZ/SFZ do not provide those permissions under their stated program conditions.

What This Route Is Not

MM2H does not automatically lead to permanent residence or citizenship. Malaysia’s ordinary citizenship application has separate requirements, including JPN’s MyPR and Entry Permit documentation.

The pass also does not determine your tax residence by itself.

Do not apply these national terms to Sabah or Sarawak. For Sabah, check the state tourism, culture, and environment ministry and official Sabah Tourism guidance; check Sarawak’s separate state program directly.

Next Steps

  1. Choose the relevant national or state program and confirm that its age, activity, family, and stay rules fit your plans.
  2. Use the official list to verify your agent. Obtain a written breakdown of government, agent, property, and other costs.
  3. Check both program and state property rules before buying, including the different SEZ/SFZ purchase timing.
  4. Follow the approval, deposit, medical, insurance, property, and pass instructions. Track annual stay requirements and renewal dates.

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