A Full Guide To MM2H Pass Requirements (Updated For 2026)

The recently revised Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program allows foreigners to live in Malaysia for up to 20 years with their family members and the freedom to pursue work and business opportunities.

If you’d like to join the nearly 60,000 pass holders currently residing in Malaysia, our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about MM2H Passes in 2026.

Here’s how we’ve broken it down:

• a detailed look at all MM2H Pass category requirements
• key similarities and differences between categories
• programme versus state property prices
• popular states for MM2H participants
• programme pros and tradeoffs
• how it compares to alternative long-term visas
• steps in the application process
• an application document checklist, and
• an offer to let us assist you 😃

Note: The MM2H rabbit hole is deep. To avoid overwhelming you with details, this post focuses on the essentials and big picture, with links to supplementary guides if you want to dive deeper.

Let’s begin.

MM2H Pass categories

There are currently four categories of MM2H Passes:

• Silver: Valid for 5 years, lowest requirements and least allowances
• Gold: Valid for 15 years, moderate requirements and allowances
• Platinum: Valid for 20 years, highest requirements and most allowances
• Special Economic Zone: Valid for 10 years, with purchase of specific property

Platinum

Detail	Requirement
Finances	1. Fixed Deposit of USD 1 million in a Malaysian financial institution 2. Maximum withdrawal of 50% from FD after MM2H approval for buying residence, education, medical, or tourism
Participating Fee (One-Off)	1. RM200,000 for principal applicant 2. No fees for dependents.
Residence Purchase	1. Purchase of residence worth RM2 million or more 2. Selling is prohibited for 10 years unless a higher value property is purchased first
Minimum Stay	1. 90 days (cumulative) per year 2. Those aged 25–49 can meet condition via principal or dependents 3. Principals 50 years and above exempted
Dependents	1. Spouse 2. Biological / step / adopted children below 21 3. Children between 21–34 if single and unemployed 3. Medically certified disabled children 4. Parents / in-laws 5. Foreign maid
Validity Period	1. 20 years with Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) 2. Renewable
Education	1. Dependent children can pursue education up to tertiary level in government-recognised institutions. 2. Eligible for Student Pass automatically
Medical Benefits	Long-term medical treatment allowed
Business Activities	Allowed
Work / Employment	Allowed
Medical Check-Up	Mandatory check-up in government approved clinics / hospitals
Change of Principal	In case of principal’s death, MM2H pass can be transferred to next-of-kin among registered dependents
Terms of Renewal of MM2H Pass	1. Renewable every 5 years after program completion 2. Via One Stop Centre, MM2H/Immigration Department 3. RM5,000 for principal and dependents

Gold

Detail	Requirement
Finances	1. Fixed Deposit of USD 500,000 in Malaysian financial institution 2. Maximum withdrawal of 50% from FD after MM2H approval for residence, education, medical, or tourism
Participating Fee	1. RM3,000 for principal applicant 2. No fees for dependents
Residence Purchase	1. Purchase residence worth RM1 million or more 2. Selling is prohibited for 10 years unless a higher value property is purchased first
Minimum Stay	1. 90 days (cumulative) per year 2. Those aged 25–49 can meet condition via principal or dependents 3. Principals 50 years and above exempted
Dependents	1. Spouse 2. Biological / step / adopted children below 21 3. Single / unemployed children 21–34 4. Medically disabled children 5. Parents / in-laws
Validity Period	1. 15 years with Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) 2. Renewable
Education	Dependent children eligible for tertiary education in recognised institutions and Student Pass automatically
Medical Benefits	Long-term medical treatment allowed
Business Activities	Not allowed (requires separate pass)
Work/Employment	Not allowed (requires separate pass)
Medical Check-Up	Mandatory check-up in government-approved clinics/hospitals
Change of Principal	Transferable to next-of-kin among registered dependents in case of principal’s death
Terms of Renewal	1. Renewable every 5 years 2. RM3,000 renewal fee for principal and dependents

Silver

Category	Details
Financial Requirements	1. Fixed Deposit of USD 150,000 in Malaysian financial institution 2. Maximum withdrawal of 50% from FD after MM2H approval for residence, education, medical, or tourism
Participating Fee (One-Off)	1. RM1,000 for principal applicant 2. No fees for dependents
Purchase of Residence	1. Purchase residence worth RM600,000 or more 2. Selling is prohibited for 10 years unless a higher value property is purchased first
Minimum Length of Stay	1. 90 days (cumulative) per year 2. Those aged 25–49 can meet condition via principal or dependents 3. Principals 50 years and above exempted
Dependents	1. Spouse 2. Biological / step / adopted children below 21 3. Single / unemployed children 21–34 4. Medically disabled children 5. Parents / in-laws
MM2H Pass	1. 5 years with Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) 2. Renewable
Education	Dependent children eligible for tertiary education in recognised institutions and Student Pass automatically
Medical	Long-term medical treatment permitted
Business Activities	Not allowed (requires separate pass)
Work Opportunities	Not allowed (requires separate pass)
Medical Check-Up	Mandatory check-up in government-approved clinics/hospitals
Change of Principal	Transferable to next-of-kin among registered dependents in case of principal’s death
Terms of Renewal	1. Renewable every 5 years 2. RM1,500 renewal fee for principal and dependents

Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

Category	Details
Age Requirement	21 and above
Financial Requirements	1. Fixed Deposit of USD65,000 for those aged 21 – 49 / USD32,000 for those > 50 and above in a Malaysian financial institution 2. Maximum withdrawal of 50% from FD after MM2H approval for residence, education, medical, or tourism
Participation Fee (One-Off)	1. RM1,000 for principal applicants 2. No participation fees for dependents
Residence Purchase	1. Must purchase specific property (minimum price subject to state policies) directly from developers and not through real estate agents or existing owners 2. Selling is prohibited for 10 years unless a higher value property is purchased first
Minimum Stay Requirement	1. 90 days (cumulative) per year 2. Those aged 25–49 can meet condition via principal or dependents 3. Principals 50 years and above exempted
Dependents	1. Spouse 2. Biological / step / adopted children below 21 3. Single / unemployed children 21–34 4. Medically disabled children 5. Parents / in-laws
MM2H Pass	1. 10 years with Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) 2. Renewable
Education	Dependent children eligible for tertiary education in recognised institutions and Student Pass automatically
Medical	Mandatory check-up in government-approved clinics/hospitals
Business/Investment Activities	Not allowed (requires separate pass)
Employment Opportunities	Not allowed (requires separate pass)
Change of Principal	Transferable to next-of-kin among registered dependents in case of principal’s death
Renewal Terms	1. Renewable every 5 years 2. RM300 renewal fee for principal and dependents

Key similarities

All four MM2H Passes share the following benefits and features:

1. Dependents: Spouse, children, and parents/in-laws
2. Multiple Entry Visa: Principals and dependents may freely leave and enter
3. Minimum stay: A 90-day cumulative stay per year for principals below 50 years old
4. Minimum property hold: You cannot sell the home purchased to satisfy MM2H requirements for 10 years unless purchasing a more expensive property
5. Medical benefits: Long-term medical treatment is permitted
6. Education benefits: Children eligible for tertiary education / Student Passes
7. Fixed deposit withdrawal: Up to 50% of deposit may be withdrawn
8. Pass transfer: The principal changes to next of kin if the original holder dies
9. Renewal requirements: Every five years
10. Tax exemption: The same overseas funds are not taxed (see our MM2H tax exemption guide for details)

Note: We noticed many online sources repeat the same positive things about MM2H, some of which we don’t really agree on. If you’re interested to an honest review of the program, see our list of key MM2H benefits and tradeoffs expats should know!

Key differences

The table below highlights the major differences between the four categories:

Feature	Platinum	Gold	Silver	SEZ
Minimum Age	25	25	25	21
Fixed Deposit	USD 1 million	USD 500,000	USD 150,000	USD 65,000 for those aged 21 – 49 years old  USD 32,000 for > 50 years old
Participation Fee	RM200,000	RM3,000	RM1,000	RM1,000
Residence Purchase	RM2 million	RM1 million	RM600,000	State-specific property & rates
Validity Period	20 years	15 years	5 years	10 years
Renewal Fee	RM5,000	RM3,000	RM1,500	RM300
Business Activities	Allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed
Employment	Allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed
Foreign Maid	Allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed

MM2H renewals

All MM2H passes must be renewed every 5 years and require the following documents: 

• a copy of a valid passport
• a copy of the latest medical report
• proof of valid health insurance

Applications should be submitted to the One Stop Centre, MM2H / Immigration Department, and there is a government-set fee based on pass category:

• Platinum: RM5,000
• Gold: RM3,000
• Silver: RM1,500
• Special Economic Zone (SEZ): RM300

On top of the government fee, there is an agent fee which each MM2H agent is free to set, and in our case is between RM1,500 – RM2,000 irrespective of category.

MM2H Platinum and renewing vs reapplying

You might think a Platinum pass isn’t worth it if it needs renewal every five years– let us explain!

While renewal is every five years, the validity period determines how long you can renew your pass without reapplying from scratch.

Reapplying is not just much more expensive, but subject to changes in government policies.

Meanwhile, renewals throughout the validity period are the norm, and existing MM2H visas are usually exempt from changes implemented after their approval.

For those who value long-term security, the Platinum MM2H pass with its 20-year validity period offers unmatched peace of mind.

MM2H versus state home purchase prices

Remember how each MM2H tier has a minimum home purchase price?

Independent of that, each state sets its own minimum sale price for foreign home purchases.

Your property purchase must satisfy both the MM2H and state sale prices. Some offer better rates for MM2H applicants; others don’t, and when different, you meet the higher one.

Here’s a look at minimum property prices in the four most popular MM2H states.

State	Minimum	Minimum With MM2H
Kuala Lumpur	RM 1 million	RM 1 million
Selangor	RM 2 million (Zones 1 & 2) RM 1 million (Zone 3)	RM 2 million (Zones 1 & 2) RM 1 million (Zone 3)
Penang Island	RM 1 million – RM 3 million	RM 500,000 (for first two properties)
Johor	RM 2 million (landed property in international zones) RM 1 million (strata title & landed in non-international zones, except Medini)	RM 1 million

The one exception is the SEZ tier, where the state government sets the property purchase price, but only for designated SEZ developments.

As of December 2025, the only such option is Forest City in Johor, where homes can be purchased from RM500,000, making it the most budget-friendly entry point under MM2H.

Clearly this is the government encouraging foreign investment in the area, so make of that what you will!

Speaking of Johor, let’s cover the four states most MM2H applicants eventually end up in.

Popular states for MM2H participants

The four most picked states under MM2H all have established expat communities, international schools, and lifestyle offerings, but come with their own flavour:

• Kuala Lumpur and Selangor – the ‘vanilla ice cream’ options: safe and familiar, but not the best value
• Penang – in our opinion the hidden gem (and less hidden every passing month)
• Johor – confusing with a patchwork of rules, but home to the cheapest MM2H entry point

Each state brings something to the table, but none offers everything, so it depends on your priorities!

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor

As Malaysia’s capital and commercial hub, Kuala Lumpur (and the wider Klang Valley including Selangor) is the most popular spot for MM2H holders.

It comes with some of the highest property thresholds: RM1 million in Kuala Lumpur, and RM2 million in prime Selangor zones, but if you want to live in the most prime expat areas in Malaysia, there’s no other place.

For more information, check out our guide to MM2H in Kuala Lumpur.

Penang

Penang is unique because it combines two advantages:

• it’s already a popular expat destination, and
• offers preferential property prices for MM2H participants!

No other state in Malaysia offers both, and for that reason we believe Penang provides the best value of all states and a standout alternative to Kuala Lumpur.

To learn more, check out our guide to MM2H in Penang.

Johor

Johor has the most complex MM2H property rules, split across four areas:

• international zones
• Medini Iskandar
• Forest City SEZ, and
• non-international zones

Depending on area, minimum property prices range from RM2 million to as low as RM500,000. The cheapest option by far is Forest City, Malaysia’s only SEZ-approved development, while Medini Iskandar is attractive for its proximity to Singapore.

To learn more, check out our guide to MM2H in Johor.

MM2H pros and cons

Keeping in mind this is a retirement visa; here are what we consider the three biggest advantages and disadvantages of MM2H for the average expat:

Pros

1. No income requirement as retirees typically have savings but no regular income stream.
2. Tax exemptions on offshore income is great for expats living on pensions or overseas businesses.
3. Fixed deposit is refundable, partially withdrawable, and the interest is yours!

Cons

1. Property purchase and 10-year lock-in is a major commitment even for retirees.
2. Unless you can afford the Platinum tier, you’re effectively locked out of earning in Malaysia.
3. Reliance on MM2H agents means you’re at the mercy of third parties.

By the way: This section is more our professional opinion than fact, so take it with a grain of salt!

Alternative long-term visas

Within Malaysia and at her neighbouring countries, there are four potential alternatives to MM2H.

Thailand Long-Term Resident (LTR)

Like MM2H, Thailand’s LTR is a multi-tiered visa, but each of its tiers is for a distinct type of expat, namely pensioners, wealthy investors, and professionals in priority sectors.

It can have lower upfront costs than MM2H, imposes no property requirement, and most categories allow work, but the tradeoff is a shorter 10-year validity and stricter income/asset requirements.

For more information, see our guide to MM2H vs Thailand LTR Visa.

Indonesia Second Home Visa

This only requires about USD130k in an Indonesian bank or a USD1m property purchase, and is valid for 5–10 years but the only visa with a direct PR pathway after 3 years.

For more information, see our guide to MM2H vs Indonesia Second Home Visa.

Malaysia Premium Visa Programme

Think of this as MM2H’s for those with commitment issues!

It imposes no property requirement and more flexibility (including work / business rights), but the entry price is a RM1 million fixed deposit plus RM40k monthly offshore income.

For more information, see our guide to MM2H vs PVIP.

Thai Elite Visa

This is essentially a glorified membership program with multiple tiers that requires no property purchase or fixed deposits, just a one-off membership fee.

Validity ranges from 5 to 20 years depending on the package.

For more information, see our guide to MM2H vs Thai Elite Visa.

Application steps and wait time

MM2H is tightly regulated by the Malaysian Ministry Of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC), and applications must be submitted via MOTAC approved MM2H agents.

This is what the typical application process looks like:

• Step 1: Meet a consultant from an MM2H agent to discuss your requirements.
• Step 2: Confirm your package selection, sign an agreement, and make a downpayment (usually around 20%).
• Step 3 (1-2 months): You now need to prepare the necessary documents and have them notarised and certified–see our document checklist for full details.
• Step 4 (2-3 months): The agent will submit the documents to MOTAC, who will issue a conditional letter of approval if everything is in order.
• Step 5 (2-3 months): Get conditional approval letter and pay outstanding balance within 7 days.
• Step 6: Enter Malaysia for visa endorsement within 3 months of the approval letter.
• Step 7 (3-4 working days): Visit Malaysia to open a bank account in Malaysia for FD purposes, complete a medical check-up, and purchase medical insurance.
• Step 8: Visa endorsement is successfully done.

In total, expect your application to take around 3 months from beginning to end,

If you haven’t purchased your property yet, Immigration will issue a temporary MM2H visa giving you three to 12 months to find and purchase a home, depending on pass category.

MM2H Tier	Time to Purchase Property Post-Application
Platinum	12 months
Gold	12 months
Silver	12 months
SEZ	3 months

Once you submit the Sale and Purchase agreement, Immigration will issue a full MM2H Pass.

MM2H document checklist

These are documents to submit to your MM2H agent:

1. Copy of principal applicant’s passport
2. Copy of principal dependent’s passport
3. 4 copies of recent passport-size photos with blue background
4. Resume of principal and principal dependent
5. Proof of kinship:
   • Spouse: Marriage certificate.
   • Children: Birth certificate.
   • Parents: Proof of relationship between the main applicant and parents, along with the parents’ marriage certificate.
   • Parents-in-law: Proof of relationship between the spouse and parents, along with the parents-in-law’s marriage certificate.
6. Certificate of proof of unmarried and unemployed status for dependents aged 21 to 34 years old.
7. Certificate of Good Conduct (CGC) / Police Certificate / Certificate of Clearance for participants aged 18 years and above (principal & dependent)
8. Any other relevant documents

NOTE: All copies must be certified true copies of original documents by the embassy, high commission, notary public, and commissioner of oaths registered in Malaysia. Where original documents are not in English, translation must be done by a qualified translator and certified.

Ok, no way you just read all that for fun–let’s get your MM2H application started!

MM2H vs S-MM2H at a glance

The Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme is a single-tiered alternative to MM2H offered by the Sarawak state government.

Without making this a geography lesson, our country is separated into Peninsular and East Malaysia by a puddle of water known as the South China Sea.

MM2H holders may reside in any of Peninsular Malaysia’s 11 states, while S-MM2H holders are limited to Sarawak, though they can visit other states and to be fair Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia.

We’re working on a guide comparing the two, but for now we hope this table can address key differences.

For the benefit of an international audience, prices are in USD based on the current exchange rate and rounded up to the nearest thousand.

Feature	MM2H	S-MM2H
Duration	5 – 20 years	10 years
Financial Requirements	Fixed Deposit + Property Purchase	Fixed Deposit + Proof of Income OR Pension OR Offshore Savings
Fixed Deposit	USD32,000 – USD1 million	USD 118,000
Property Purchase	USD141,000 – USD470,000	Optional, with minimum value of USD 141,000
Monthly Income / Pension	None	USD2,400 / month (Individual)  USD3,500 / month (Individual + Dependent)
Offshore Savings	None	USD24,000 (Individual)  USD48,000 (Individual + Dependent)
Work	Only Platinum Pass	Part-time in select industries
Do Business	Only Platinum Pass	Can be minority shareholder in joint ventures with locals

Let MISHU help with your MM2H Pass application

If you’re an expatriate looking to reside in Malaysia long-term, consider engaging our professional MM2H application services. We have assisted multiple applicants navigate their application process so they can begin their new life in Malaysia as smoothly as possible, and we’d love to help you too.