16 Long-Term Visa Options In Malaysia (2026)
Malaysia has several long-term visas for a wide range of requirements, and below, we’ve prepared a directory of options for expatriates relocating here to:
- work / do business
- retire
- semi-retire, and
- join family members as dependents
Each visa will be accompanied by a brief description and our recommendation on who it’s for.
There will be links to full guides so you can read more on ones that fit your needs.
Let’s begin.
For work / business
These visas require the holder to maintain a job with a Malaysian employer or operate a company incorporated in Malaysia.
Employment Pass
Validity: 5–10 years (renewable)
This is the default long-term pass for expats coming to Malaysia for work.
There are three categories with increasingly longer validity periods and higher requirements.
The highest is known as a Category 1 EP and is how foreign entrepreneurs appoint themselves as directors for their foreign-owned company.
Meanwhile, all three are used for local companies hiring skilled expats as full-time additions to the team:
- Category 1 is for top leadership positions
- Category 2 is for mid-level managers and supervisors
- Category 3 is for junior technicians and specialists
To learn more, read our guide to Employment Passes in Malaysia.
Residence Pass–Talent
Validity: 10 years (renewable)
This is granted only to some expats who have held a conventional EP for at least three years.
If granted an RP-T visa, not only do you enjoy a minimum validity period of ten years, but:
- you are free to switch employers at any time, and
- your spouse has full freedom to work
Neither are privileges given to conventional EP holders, making RP-T a highly-coveted visa that naturally comes with significant salary and education requirements.
If you’re interested, check out our guide to RP-T Malaysia.
Professional Visit Pass
Validity: Up to 12 months (renewable)
Where an Employment Pass is strictly for long-term employment with a Malaysian company, a Professional Visit Pass is used to engage the services of an expatriate working in a foreign company for a task no longer than one year.
A PVP can be applied for a broad set of use cases, including:
- research
- artistic performances
- religious sermons
- trainee programmes with hotels and factories
- internships, and
- skill transfer programmes
Depending on the type of PVP issued, it can be valid for six to twelve months, but none of them allow bringing dependents.
For more information, see our guide to Professional Visit Passes in Malaysia.
MTEP and MD Status
Validity: 1–5 years depending on program
To qualify for an EP application in the first place, a company has to prove it has anywhere from RM250,000 – RM500,000 in paid up capital.
This makes it very foreign startup-unfriendly, which is where the Malaysian Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) and Malaysia Digital (MD) Status programmes come in.
Both cater to tech startups and work as follows:
- MTEP: You can apply for a visa without incorporating a company yet.
- MD Status: You need to incorporate, but visas for MD Status companies known as MDEC Employment Passes are usually faster to obtain
We suggest MTEP for tech startups and MD Status for established business owners.
MIDA Investor Visa
If you’ll be flying in and out of Malaysia to oversee investments, an Investor Visa by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is like the ultimate multiple entry visa (MEV).
Unlike a usual MEV which lasts three months and requires exiting and re-entering for renewal, the Investor Pass grants up to 12 months of uninterrupted access into the country,
MIDA recognises three types of investors:
- new investors
- investors in the pipeline, and
- existing investors
Each has a specific definition and requirements, and full details are in our guide to MIDA Investor Pass applications.
De Rantau Nomad Pass
Validity: 3–12 months, renewable up to 24 months
This is the visa you go for to live in Malaysia while working for an overseas employer.
We don’t have much to say since it’s so situational, so here’s our De Rantau application guide for those interested, and our shortlist of digital nomad specific visas comparing it to suitable alternatives.
We think MDEC (the agency overseeing it) has a fine guide, too🙂
Premium Visa Programme
Validity: 20 years (renewable)
Malaysia’s PVIP is for investors and entrepreneurs who want to operate in Malaysia long-term.
PVIP holders can work or incorporate a foreign-owned company in Malaysia without an Employment Pass, bring family members, and come and go as they please throughout the visa’s 20-year validity period.
As you can guess, it’s not cheap, and you can read more in our PVIP vs MM2H comparison.
For retirement
In contrast to the above section, these visas forbid working and running companies in Malaysia.
They’re meant for people who are ready to settle down and spend their days reminiscing about how things used to be better back in the day 😛
There’s just one visa here.
MM2H Silver, Gold, & SEZ
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is a four-tiered visa with mandatory residential property purchase.
This property can’t be sold for at least ten years, so MM2H is for those truly looking for a second home.
Three of the its four tiers (Silver, Gold, and SEZ) don’t allow work or business, making them retirement visas.
| Feature | Gold | SEZ | Silver |
| Fixed Deposit | USD 500,000 | USD 65,000 if aged 21-49 USD 32,000 if aged 50+ | USD 150,000 |
| Validity Period | 15 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Participation Fee | RM3,000 | RM1,000 | RM1,000 |
| Residence Purchase | RM1 million | Must be at state-approved price and direct from developer in specific areas | RM600,000 |
Check out our dedicated guides to each MM2H tier:
The fourth MM2H tier is special and the subject of our next section.
For semi-retirement
This is for those who want to retire AND keep the freedom to work / do business if they so choose.
MM2H Platinum
Validity: 20 years (renewable)
This is the only MM2H tier that allows holders to work and do business in Malaysia.
Naturally it comes with even higher fixed deposit and property purchase requirements, but offers the longest validity period of them all.
If you’re keen to know more, check out our guide to MM2H Platinum.
Sarawak-MM2H
Validity: 10 years (renewable)
S-MM2H is Sarawak’s version of Malaysia’s retirement visa programme, and the key difference is holders must live in Sarawak, our largest state located in East Malaysia.
S-MM2H offers just one tier with lower requirements than most MM2H tiers, and in addition, allows:
- optional property purchase
- limited part-time work in selected industries
This makes S-MM2H most comparable to Platinum MM2H in a quieter, less urban area – and for more information, see our guide to S-MM2H vs MM2H.
For dependents
Dependent Pass
Validity: Matches the principal visa holder’s validity
This visa is for immediate family members of a principal visa holder, and is basically limited to:
- spouses of a registered marriage (so no common law partners)
- children 18 years old and younger
- disabled children of any age
We cover this topic at length in our FAQs on Dependent Passes in Malaysia.
Long-term Social Visit Pass
Validity: Matches the principal visa holder’s validity
This visa is most commonly used to bring over family members who are not formal spouses and children, including:
- in-laws
- parents
- common law partners
- children above 18 years old
It is also used for those seeking long-term medical treatment in Malaysia, in which case the local clinic or hospital will usually help with the application.
For more information, see our guide to LTVSPs in Malaysia.
Spouse Visa (Long-term Visit Pass for Spouses)
Validity: 1–5 years (renewable)
This is for those not only brave enough to marry Malaysians but stay within driving distance of in-laws 😀
No need to maintain a job or business but keep your partner happy or you might just get deported!
Waiting times vary depending on whether the foreigner is the husband or wife, so check out our guide to Malaysian Spouse Visas for full details.
Let MISHU handle your visa application
Directly and through our partners, MISHU has been helping expatriates secure long-term visas for their stay in Malaysia for many years, and we would be delighted to hear how we can help you.