If you are looking for short term visa (10 years or less), please scroll past this MM2H section to the following section titled "Short-term visas".
For foreigners who have no relatives in Malaysia, there is only one long-term visa and that is, the new MM2H visa. MM2H should be known as MMOH or Malaysia My Only Home as the benefits listed below are geared towards making it your only home :
Peninsula Malaysia MM2H (new MM2H visa)
This visa requires you to come up with a minimum of USD250,000
Deposit USD150,000 in a bank account (Fixed deposit)
Look for a residential property. Sign the sales and purchase agreement after putting in a 10% deposit. The state with the "lowest minimum property purchase price" is Penang (RM600,000 or approx USD140,000)
You can withdraw half (USD75,000) as you have purchased a property.
So, the USD250,000 is made up of USD140,000 (property) and USD75,000 in the bank, MM2H fees, legal fees, etc.
Note that these are approximate charges only; just to give you a ball park that needs to be set aside.
MM2H is a very long-term visa that is renewable EVERY 5 years. At renewal, you just need to show valid passports, a medical checkup showing no infectious diseases like TB, AIDS, hepatitis, etc., and medical insurance (for those who are less than 60 years old). In the event of the passing of the main applicant, the next-of-kin can take over. The benefits above are meant for those who intend to make Malaysia their primary home and not a second home. Parents, parents-in-law, and children are allowed as dependents.
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Property purchase is a requirement, and you are given a one-year grace period after the visa is issued on the passport to complete the property purchase. Existing properties can be used to meet the requirement, and no additional purchase is required.
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The successful applicant has a 3-month grace period from the date of the approval letter to get the visa issued on the passport. To get the visa issued on the passport, the applicant must deposit funds as a fixed deposit (investment accounts are not acceptable) in a bank operating legally in Malaysia. Medical checkups showing no infectious diseases like TB, AIDS, hepatitis, etc., and medical insurance (for those who are less than 60 years old) are required as well.
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Applications with spouses, children, parents, and parents-in-law can be made together in the first application, or they can be added later after the visa is issued. Charges apply if additions of dependents are done later.
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It may take 2-3 months for the MM2H approval to be issued.
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Click here for the summary of the various MM2H programs on one page: https://www.penangmyhome.com/MM2H.pdf
If the main applicant is above 50 years old, everyone (including dependents less than 50 years old) are not required to meet the minimum 90-day stay in Malaysia requirement.
If the main applicant is less than 50 years old, then every member of the MM2H application can contribute to the minimum 90-day stay. That means husband + wife + children + parents + in-laws = 90 days, It is based on a calendar year and it is pro-rated based on your visa issuance date. Example : if your passport endorsement date is September, then you just need to stay 3/12 x 90 = 23 days.
We can help you with all versions of MM2H, but you need to know the details:
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SILVER:This is the most popular category, and you can stay or buy properties anywhere in Peninsula Malaysia. Visa is renewed every 5 years. You can buy the property from anyone - owner or developer
GOLD:15-year visa. The first renewal is on the 15th year. Subsequently, the visa duration is 5 years. You can buy the property from anyone - owner or developerÂ
PLATINUM:20-year visa. The first renewal is on the 20th year. Subsequently, the visa duration is 5 years. This visa is meant for those who want to invest in private companies, work in Malaysia, or run a business here in Malaysia. You can buy the property from anyone - owner or developer
SEZ (Special Economic Zone):If you are not familiar with Malaysia, please visit Johor Bahru. SEZ targets residents of Singapore. Visit Johor and see if you like it and want to buy a property there. People are more familiar with KL or Penang. You need to buy the property directly from the property developer. This option is not available as the list of qualified properties is not published yet. If you are financially strong, just go for Silver.
Property Purchase
Although at first glance, the requirements may seem onerous, but if you are planning to stay here long-term, it is best to buy rather than rent. We have had people who rented long-term and only realized that they had spent a huge sum of money on rent. You are only required to lodge ONE property for MM2H purposes. You can buy as many properties as you like. There are no property taxes in Malaysia. Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, you own the property, be it a condo or landed property, be it leasehold or freehold outright under your own name. Put it in your will and hand it down to anyone you wish, and the process is easy and straightforward. Buying a property at the right location and price ensures that you don’t lose money. Please work closely with us and let us advise you.
As you have plans to make Malaysia your primary residence, then there should be no issue on buying a property here. If you were to rent RM5,000 per month, at the end of 10 years, you have already paid RM600,000 and have nothing to show. As this expense is monthly, any fluctuating in the exchange is painful and unnecessary.
You can use existing properties to meet the new MM2H requirement for property purchase but you cannot withdraw 50% out. If you want to withdraw 50% out, the sales and purchase agreement date of the property purchase must be AFTER the visa issuance on your passport.
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Medical Insurance
Malaysia has an excellent healthcare system, and medical insurance from locally incorporated companies has very reasonable premiums with good coverage. We will work with you to get the best coverage for your family.
SHORT-TERM VISAS:
The visas below are short term visa. If you are planning to make Malaysia your only home, the visas below are not suitable, please scroll all the way down and click on "NEXT : If you want to start"
Student visa/Guardian visa
Short-term visa. If the child is no longer studying in Malaysia, the visa lapses.
De Rantau Digital Nomad visa
Short term (1 – 2 years). You are required to pay taxes. The application may take 2 – 3 months to be approved, and it is not easy to get this visa. Children may not be allowed to study in some international schools, and banks may not allow the opening of bank accounts.
Sabah MM2H (SBH-MM2H) or Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H)
If you plan to stay in Sabah or Sarawak, please apply for the respective MM2H. We strongly recommend you don't stay in Peninsula Malaysia with either the Sabah or Sarawak MM2H. Sarawak MM2H is short-term. At the end of the 10-year period, the applicant must reapply as a new applicant and meet the prevailing requirements (at that point time). There is no automatic renewal. Sabah MM2H does not specify its renew-ability. The visa given is for 5+5 years. At the fifth year, the state Immigration will check if the participants have fulfilled the requirements of the respective MM2H. As these visas are new, during the midpoint 5-year extension, we don't know if the State Immigration will ask you to fulfill any new requirements that might be implemented after your visa issuance. Here is a sample approval letter for S-MM2H. Take note of page two, the item marked in yellow.
10 years is very short if you planning to stay here long term. When you are getting comfortable staying here, it is up for checks (every 5 years) and renewal (which is not automatic).
Let us say the applicant is 65 years old and he passes through the first 5 years without any issues. In 2035, he is due to re-apply as new as there is no automatic renewal. What if both the S-MM2H and Peninsula Malaysia MM2H changes and the conditions in 2035 is very difficult for him to meet? What is he going to do next? He has to remember that he has drawn down his savings while the requirement goes up. Nothing is static, requirements are dynamic.
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