The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is Malaysia’s long-term residency visa for foreign nationals — specifically designed for retirees, remote workers, and those who want to live in Malaysia on a long-term basis without working for a Malaysian employer.
MM2H has gone through significant changes in recent years. The programme was suspended, revamped with much stricter requirements, and relaunched. It’s now a viable but higher-barrier route to long-term Malaysian residency. This guide covers the current requirements, costs, and whether it’s right for you.
What Is MM2H?
Malaysia My Second Home is a government programme administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. It grants successful applicants a 10-year, renewable, multiple-entry social visit pass — essentially long-term residency rights without the right to work in Malaysia.
MM2H holders can:
- Live in Malaysia for 10 years (renewable)
- Own property in Malaysia (with fewer restrictions than regular foreign buyers)
- Bring a spouse and dependent children
- Bring one domestic helper from their home country
- Import a car duty-free (one car)
- Have no minimum number of days required to be spent in Malaysia
MM2H holders cannot:
- Work for a Malaysian employer (some exceptions for part-time consultancy)
- Participate in Malaysian elections
- Access subsidised Malaysian public services (schools, hospitals) at citizen rates
MM2H Requirements (Current — 2024/2025)
The programme was relaunched in 2023 with significantly stricter requirements than the original pre-2021 version. The new requirements are:
Financial Requirements
Offshore income: Minimum RM 40,000/month (approximately £7,000/month or USD 8,500/month). This must be from a source outside Malaysia — pension, investments, rental income, or remote work income.
Fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank: RM 1,000,000 (approximately £175,000). This must be placed in a fixed deposit at an approved Malaysian bank. After the first year, you may withdraw up to 50% for approved purposes (property purchase, medical fees, children’s education).
Liquid assets: Minimum RM 1,500,000 (approximately £265,000) outside Malaysia. This must be shown as part of the application.
Health Requirements
A medical examination from a Malaysian-recognised medical facility is required. Applicants with certain medical conditions may be refused.
Age
No minimum age. The original programme had a 35+ requirement; the current version does not.
Processing Fee
RM 5,000 per principal applicant (non-refundable). RM 2,500 per dependant.
The MM2H Premium Track
A separate tier called MM2H Premium exists with even higher requirements but faster processing and additional benefits. Financial requirements are substantially higher (RM 10 million+ in assets). This is aimed at ultra-high-net-worth individuals and is out of scope for most applicants.
Is MM2H Right for You?
The current MM2H is a different product from the pre-2021 version. Before 2021, it was accessible to middle-class retirees with modest savings and pensions — many UK retirees successfully applied. The new version targets significantly wealthier applicants.
MM2H is worth pursuing if:
- You have RM 1.5 million+ in liquid assets
- You have income of RM 40,000+/month from outside Malaysia
- You want 10-year residency specifically (rather than year-by-year visa renewal)
- You want to buy property in Malaysia with the access MM2H provides
- You’re a retiree with a substantial pension and portfolio
MM2H is NOT the right route if:
- Your income is below RM 40,000/month — look at the DE Rantau nomad visa instead
- You don’t have significant liquid assets — again, DE Rantau is easier to qualify for
- You’re employed by a Malaysian company — look at employment pass options
- You want to try Malaysia for a year or two without a long commitment — a long-stay social visit pass (90 days x renewals) may be sufficient initially
How to Apply for MM2H
- Prepare documents: Passport copies, proof of income (bank statements, pension statements, investment documents), proof of liquid assets, medical examination, background check / police clearance from your home country
- Choose an agent or apply directly: Most applicants use a licensed MM2H agent (not mandatory but practically helpful given the documentation complexity). Agent fees: RM 5,000–20,000 depending on service level
- Submit application to the MM2H Centre (Ministry of Tourism)
- Conditional Approval Letter issued if basic requirements met. Then proceed to fixed deposit and medical exam
- Final approval and endorsement on your passport
Processing times have varied significantly — 3–6 months has been typical, though the Ministry recommends allowing longer.
Alternatives to MM2H
DE Rantau (Digital Nomad Visa)
Much lower barrier. USD 24,000/year minimum offshore income, no large fixed deposit requirement. 12-month renewable visa. Full guide here.
Employment Pass
If you’re working for a Malaysian company, your employer sponsors your pass. No financial requirements on your end. Most common route for corporate expats.
Long-Stay Social Visit Pass
Not an official programme, but many expats in Malaysia stay on consecutive social visit passes (up to 90 days each), extended at the immigration department. Works for many retirees who don’t need formal long-term status and don’t want to lock up RM 1 million in a fixed deposit.
MM2H and Property Ownership
One of the key benefits of MM2H is expanded property rights. Foreigners can generally only buy Malaysian property above RM 1,000,000 (in most states). MM2H holders may have access to lower purchase thresholds depending on state policy — this varies and should be confirmed with a Malaysian property lawyer at the time of purchase.
Tax Implications
MM2H holders are not automatically Malaysian tax residents. Tax residency in Malaysia is determined by the number of days spent in Malaysia per year (183+ days = tax resident). Foreign-sourced income remitted into Malaysia is currently exempt from Malaysian tax (a significant advantage). Consult a Malaysian tax adviser about your specific situation — and see the expat tax guide for more.
Related Reading
💰 Setting Up Your Finances in Malaysia
Wise
Transfer your MM2H fixed deposit funds from the UK to Malaysia at the real exchange rate.
SafetyWing
Health insurance required for MM2H. SafetyWing from USD 45/month covers Malaysia’s private hospitals.
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