Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

Eligibility & suitability

Compare the tiers

MOTAC’s overview lists fixed deposits of US$150,000 for Silver, US$500,000 for Gold and US$1 million for Platinum, alongside compulsory property purchases starting at RM600,000, RM1 million and RM2 million respectively. Special economic or financial zone categories use different requirements. These are distinct capital commitments; they should not be added to an agent fee and described as one government charge.

Restrictions and who it suits

Silver is a long-stay option rather than a route to general employment or business activity: its official detail page states that career and business/investment activities are not allowed under that category. Family eligibility includes specified children, parents and parents-in-law, with age, marital and employment conditions. The pass does not itself grant permanent residence or citizenship.

A source conflict that needs resolution

The official overview says participants aged 50 or over have no minimum stay, while the Silver detail page still states 90 cumulative days per year and specifically discusses sharing that requirement for ages 25–49. Obtain written confirmation of the current rule for your category, age and approval cohort. This draft deliberately does not resolve the discrepancy by selecting the easier version.

Process and documents

Use the official guidelines and a properly authorised application channel. Prepare passports, family documents, financial evidence and route-specific supporting records; then complete approval conditions, the qualifying deposit, the prescribed medical check and the property purchase obligations. For Silver, the detail page describes a ten-year property sale restriction, subject to its stated upgrade exception. Confirm deadlines before signing a purchase.

Fees, maintenance and tax

The overview lists government processing, participation and renewal fees separately. Additional costs can include insurance, medical examinations, certifications, professional services and property transaction expenses. A permitted withdrawal of part of the deposit has specified purposes and approval conditions. Visa duration is not processing time. Broad MM2H tax descriptions must be reconciled with HASiL rules; locally performed work and company income are not automatically exempt.

Capital, government charges and ongoing costs

The published tier comparison separates the fixed deposit, compulsory home purchase, participation charge and processing charge. For the three principal tiers, minimum participation charges are RM1,000 for Silver, RM3,000 for Gold and RM200,000 for Platinum; the overview separately lists RM5,000 principal processing and RM2,500 per dependant. These are not the same as the annual pass fee, agent services or property taxes and conveyancing costs.

A fixed deposit remains an asset, but tying it up has an opportunity cost. MOTAC allows withdrawal of up to half for specified Malaysian expenditure after approval and subject to the programme’s controls. It is not permission to remove half for any purpose. A property purchase also has its own currency, title, maintenance and resale risks. The ten-year restriction described in the guidelines can outlast a five-year Silver term.

Presence, working and renewals

MOTAC’s general guidelines expressly apply the 90-day annual stay requirement to participants below age fifty, and its overview states no minimum for those fifty and older. The Silver detail page still contains less precise wording; obtain the applicable approval conditions where age or a family member’s days are central to the plan. Do not confuse this programme presence test with the separate Malaysian income-tax residence rules.

Gold and Silver should not be sold as general work permissions. The category comparison and detailed conditions govern permitted activities. Programme longevity also differs from the immigration sticker: the guidelines say the sticker is renewed every five years or by passport validity before the programme maximum is reached. Subsequent renewals require current passport, medical and insurance evidence and the relevant fee.

How Offshore Capitalist can help

Share your current residence, nationality, business activities and intended changes through the inquiry form or WhatsApp. We can assess the cross-border issues, explain the work required and coordinate the agreed implementation. For this jurisdiction, local regulated work and government decisions remain with the relevant qualified providers and authorities. We confirm scope and fees before starting.