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THE CITIZENSHIP DESK

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

Malaysia MYS

Last verified 2026-04-20Official source

Malaysia's My Second Home (MM2H) program grants a 5-year renewable multiple-entry visa to retirees and high-net-worth individuals, requiring a fixed deposit and offshore income. The program was revamped in 2021 with significantly higher thresholds, making it more exclusive than earlier iterations.

Program Details

Category
Retirement
Processing Time
3 months
Application Fee
$4,300
Minimum Income
$9,100
/mo
Minimum Investment
$150,000
Family Included
Spouse and unmarried children under 34 may be included as dependents; dependent pass fee of ~MYR 500 per person
Path to PR
No
Path to Citizenship
No
Physical Presence
Under revised 2023 rules: minimum 90 days per year in Malaysia
Dual Citizenship
Not allowed
Tax Impact
Foreign-sourced income is not taxed in Malaysia. MM2H holders are not required to pay Malaysian income tax on income earned abroad. Local income is subject to standard Malaysian income tax.
Renewal Cost
$1,100

RM 40,000/month (~$9,100 USD/month) offshore income for standard tier, RM 10,000/month for Silver tier, RM 7,000/month for Platinum tier (Platinum also requires a larger fixed deposit)

Key Requirements

  • ✓Fixed deposit of RM 500,000–RM 1,500,000 depending on tier (Silver/Gold/Platinum)
  • ✓Offshore monthly income of RM 7,000–RM 40,000 depending on tier
  • ✓Minimum liquid assets of RM 500,000–RM 1,500,000
  • ✓Clean criminal record
  • ✓Medical examination and health insurance
  • ✓Must be at least 25 years old for Silver/Gold; no minimum age for Platinum
  • ✓Application through Malaysia Immigration Department

Am I eligible for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)?

Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.

  • Nationality eligibility

    Select your nationality to check.

  • Minimum monthly income

    Programme requires $9,100/month.

  • Minimum investment / capital

    Programme requires $150,000.

Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.

This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.

Nationality Restrictions

This program restricts applications from nationals of: Israeli and certain other nationals may face restrictions; check with Malaysian Immigration

Application Process — Step by Step

  1. 01

    Select MM2H category (Silver / Gold / Platinum)

    home country

    Revised MM2H (2024) has three tiers: Silver (30-yr stay, RM 500,000 fixed deposit, RM 40,000 monthly offshore income); Gold (15-yr stay, RM 2,000,000 FD, RM 40,000 income); Platinum (15-yr stay, RM 5,000,000 FD). Check imi.gov.my for exact current thresholds.

    Typical duration: 1 weeksource ↗

  2. 02

    Appoint MM2H licensed agent (mandatory)

    home country

    Applications MUST be submitted by a licensed MM2H agent approved by Tourism Malaysia. Agent fee typically RM 5,000–10,000.

    Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗

  3. 03

    Agent submits application to MM2H Centre, Putrajaya

    online

    Agent submits full application package. MM2H Centre (Tourism Malaysia) processes and approves in principle. Letter of Approval issued.

    Typical duration: 3-6 monthssource ↗

  4. 04

    Open Malaysian bank account + place fixed deposit

    destination

    Open account at participating Malaysian bank (Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank). Place RM 500,000/2,000,000/5,000,000 fixed deposit per tier. Partial withdrawal allowed (up to 50%) after conditions met.

    Typical duration: 2-4 weeks

  5. 05

    Attend MM2H medical + biometrics, collect visa

    destination

    Undergo medical examination at approved clinic in Malaysia. Collect MM2H multiple-entry visa stamp. Visa valid for duration of tier (5 yr initially, renewable).

    Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗

Documents Required

DocumentIssued ByApostilleTranslate toValidity (days)
Valid passport (12+ months validity)Home countryNoen365
Proof of offshore monthly income (RM 40,000+/mo)Bank / pension / investment authorityYesen90
Malaysian fixed deposit confirmation (per tier)Malaysian bankNo—90
Medical examination report (from MM2H-approved clinic)Approved Malaysian clinicNo—30
Police clearance (last 3 years residences)Home country / countries of residenceYesen90
Health insurance covering MalaysiaInsurerNoen365

Realistic Costs

Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, apostilles, health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.

Government fee
$2,500
Lawyer fee (low–high)
$2,000
–
$5,000
Translations
$400
Apostilles
$300
Health insurance (year 1)
$1,200
Relocation misc.
$3,000
Total first year
$10,000
–
$18,000
Total 5-year
$15,000
–
$25,000

Dominant cost is fixed deposit: Silver tier RM 500,000 (≈USD 110,000), tied up for duration. USD costs are ex-fixed-deposit. Agent fee RM 5,000-10,000 (≈USD 1,100-2,200) is mandatory.

Realistic Timeline

  • Consulate wait0–0 weeks
  • Residence card issuance4 weeks
  • Total to residence card16–30 weeks

MM2H Centre processing 3-6 months typical post-2022 revision. 2021 revision caused mass suspension and processing backlogs. 2024 further revision adds Platinum tier.

Renewal

First renewal after
60 months
Subsequent cycle
60 months
Renewal fee
$500
Requirements
Renewal every 5 years. Prove continued income compliance, maintain fixed deposit (or explain approved withdrawal), annual report filed. Medical re-examination may be required.

Path to Permanent Residency — Details

Years required
999
Integration test
Not required

Path to Citizenship — Details

Years required
999
Language test
Yes (A2)
Civic test
Required
Oath
Required
Dual citizenship
Not allowed

Tax Residency

Trigger
182 days/year of presence
Taxation scope
Territorial (in-country only)
Exit-tax country
No

Special regimes

  • Malaysia Territorial Taxation0% on foreign-source income

    All Malaysian tax residents. Malaysia operates territorial taxation — only Malaysian-source income is taxed. Foreign pension, dividends, rental income received offshore are tax-exempt.

    source ↗
  • Labuan Offshore Company CaveatLabuan company income taxed at 3% (not 0%)

    MM2H holders who operate Labuan International Business and Financial Centre companies. Note: Labuan is not truly "0%" — 3% corporate tax applies. Director fees taxable at Malaysian personal rate if director is Malaysian tax resident.

    source ↗

Health Insurance

Mandatory
Yes
Minimum coverage
$50,000

Examples: AXA Affin, Great Eastern, AIA Malaysia, Cigna Global

Family Specifics

Spouse work rights
Spouse included in MM2H as dependent; neither holder nor spouse may work without separate work permit
Child school enrolment
Children under 21 included. Malaysia has strong international school network: Kuala Lumpur International School (KLIS), Garden International, Alice Smith.
Parent inclusion
Eligible
Sibling inclusion
Not eligible

Gotchas — Things to Watch For

  • ⚠MM2H does NOT grant work rights — holders cannot be employed in Malaysia or operate a business without separate work authorization
  • ⚠MM2H does NOT lead to PR or citizenship — pure long-stay visa
  • ⚠Fixed deposit is substantial: Silver tier RM 500,000 (≈USD 110,000) locked for visa duration
  • ⚠2021/2022 MM2H revision dramatically raised thresholds from old RM 300,000 deposit and RM 10,000/mo income — many existing holders faced sudden non-compliance
  • ⚠2024 revision added Platinum tier and clarified partial withdrawal rules (up to 50% for approved purposes like property, education, medical)
  • ⚠Mandatory licensed agent — cannot self-apply; agent costs RM 5,000-10,000
  • ⚠Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship — MM2H is not on a path to citizenship and naturalization requires renouncing
  • ⚠Labuan company structure is NOT a tax-free structure for MM2H holders who are Malaysian tax residents — 3% corporate tax applies

Common Rejection Reasons

  • •Income below RM 40,000/month threshold
  • •Fixed deposit evidence insufficient
  • •Medical fails (certain conditions disqualifying)
  • •Criminal record
  • •Nationality on restricted list (some nationalities face additional scrutiny)

Recent Legislative Changes

  • 2024-01-01

    Further MM2H revision clarifies Platinum tier (RM 5M FD), partial FD withdrawal rules (50% for property/education/medical), and annual reporting requirements.source ↗

  • 2022-06-01

    Post-complaints revision: Silver tier introduced at RM 500,000 FD; income kept at RM 40,000/mo. Three-tier structure (Silver/Gold/Platinum) established.source ↗

  • 2021-10-01

    Major MM2H revision raised minimum fixed deposit from RM 150,000-300,000 to RM 1,000,000, and income requirement from RM 10,000/mo to RM 40,000/mo. Caused widespread non-compliance among existing holders. 2022 partially revised downward.source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Can MM2H holders work in Malaysia?+

No. MM2H is a social visit pass — holders explicitly cannot be employed in Malaysia or carry on any trade/business. Separate Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass required for any work. This restriction is strictly enforced.

source ↗
What happened to the old RM 300,000 MM2H?+

The original MM2H (pre-2021) required RM 150,000-300,000 FD and RM 10,000/mo income — far more accessible. In October 2021, the government suspended new applications and revised thresholds dramatically upward. The current programme (Silver tier minimum: RM 500,000 FD + RM 40,000/mo income) targets wealthier applicants.

source ↗
Is Malaysia income tax-free for MM2H holders?+

Malaysia taxes only Malaysian-source income (territorial). Foreign pensions, dividends, and investment income received from outside Malaysia are not subject to Malaysian income tax. This makes MM2H very attractive for retirees with substantial overseas income. Note: if you work in Malaysia or have Malaysian business income, that is taxable.

source ↗

Good Fit For

Retiring Abroad — Comfortable BudgetHNWI Retirement RelocationInvestor Residency & CitizenshipRelocating With KidsLowest-Tax Residency Options

Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.

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