A Full Guide To S-MM2H Pass Requirements (Updated For 2025)

Since taking effect in January 2025, the revised Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme allows foreigners to live in Sarawak for up to 10 years with family while pursuing work and business opportunities.

If you’d like to join the hundreds soon to call Sarawak home, our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about S-MM2H Passes in 2025.

Here’s how we’ve broken it down:

• programme overview
• minimum requirements
• dependents allowed
• required documents
• application steps, and
• a brief comparison with MM2H

Let’s begin.

S-MM2H overview

The S-MM2H is regulated by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts (MTCP) and offers a single plan with the following features:

1. 10 years long and renewable after five years (subject to passport and medical report).
2. Principal holders can work part-time and do business in Sarawak.
3. Full tax exemption on incoming offshore funds.
4. Up to 50% of the fixed deposit (details below) can be withdrawn after one year to fund.  car / house purchase, medical care, or childrens’ education in Sarawak.
5. Can bring domestic servants (subject to Immigration approval).
6. Property purchase is optional, but prices start at RM500,000 (about USD118,000).

Minimum requirements

For the benefit of an international audience, we’ve converted figures to USD at the current exchange rate, so actual values may vary slightly depending on when you read this.

Requirement	Details
Minimum Age (Principal)	30 years old
Annual Stay	Must stay in Sarawak for at least 30 days / year
Application Fee	– USD2,824 for principal applicant – USD471 / dependent
Processing Fee	USD1,178 (for first five years)
Fixed Deposit	USD118,000 in S-MM2H approved bank
Proof of Financial Stability	Monthly income / pension – USD2,400 / month (individual)  – USD3,500 / month (individual + dependent) OR Personal savings – USD24,000 (individual)  – USD48,000 (individual+dependent)
Sponsor	Sarawak native OR S-MM2H licensed agent
Medical Insurance	For principals / dependents above 60
Security Bond	USD48 – USD472 depending on country

Dependents allowed

• spouse
• parents
• children / stepchildren 21 years old and below
• disabled children / stepchildren of any age

Required documents

Copies must be certified by your embassy, High Commision, or Commissioner of Oaths, and original documents not in English must include an English translation by a qualified translator and their license.

Principal applicant

• Resume
• S-MM2H Application Form
• Visit Pass Application Form (IM.12) Pin. 1/97
• IM.38 Form (for countries with visa requirement)
• Original Letter of Good Conduct with at least 12 months validity
• Copy of passport (all pages) with at least 24 months validity
• Six (6) copies of passport-sized photographs with blue background
• RBII Form and Medical Report from hospital in Sarawak
  • Certified and signed by hospital’s Medical Officer (each page)
  • Endorsed by Government Health Clinic (each page)
• Copy of Local Medical Insurance Purchase

Sponsor

i. From S-MM2H Agent (we’re not elaborating as agents should know what to provide!)

ii. From Personal Sponsor

• Personal Bond Form with RM10 stamp
• Copy of sponsor’s Mykad
• Sponsor Personal Details Form

Financial proof

• Fixed deposit: Copy of FD statement from panel bank in Sarawak
• Pension: Copy of pension letter and last 3 months’ pension fund
• Income: Copy of employment letter, last 3 months’ payslips, and bank statements
• Savings: Copy of last 3 months’ bank statements

Dependents

i. Spouse / Parents

• Same documents as principal applicant
• Spouse: Copy of marriage certificate
• Parents: Copy of birth certificate

ii. Child

• Copy of birth certificate
• Medical report
• Letter from doctor to prove disability (if applicable)

Application steps

We’ve written this assuming you’re engaging an S-MM2H agency as your sponsor, but these steps apply equally to those using a local Sarawakian contact. 

Heads up: They’ll need an account on SarawakID to submit the application.

Applications typically take around three months from start to finish, and follow these steps:

Step 1: Consultation

Meet with a consultant from a licensed S-MM2H agency to discuss your goals and determine your eligibility for the programme.

Step 2: Sign agreement and make downpayment

Sign an agreement with the agency and make a downpayment.

This is usually around 20% of the total fee.

Step 3: Document preparation / medical check-up

Prepare required documents, have them certified, and undergo a medical check-up.

This includes a full blood test using a specific form provided by the agent, and a medical report signed by your doctor.

Step 4: Submit documents to MTCP

Your agent submits the documents to the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, and if all is in order, they will issue a letter of acknowledgement.

Step 5: Submit MTCP letter to Sarawak Immigration

The agent submits the MTCP letter to Sarawak Immigration. If approved, a letter of approval will be issued.

Most agents require the remaining 80% of the fee to be paid at this stage.

Step 6: Travel to Malaysia

Once approved, you’ll need to visit Malaysia. Your agent will assist with opening a Malaysian bank account, a final medical check-up, and medical insurance (if needed).

Step 7: Complete S-MM2H endorsement

Collect your visa sticker from MTCP and you are officially an S-MM2H pass holder!

S-MM2H vs MM2H at a glance

The Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme is a multi-tiered alternative to S-MM2H offered by the Malaysian federal government.

Malaysia is separated into Peninsular (West) and East Malaysia, and S-MM2H holders are limited to staying in Sarawak (one of two states in the east), though they can visit other states and to be fair Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, MM2H holders may reside in any of West Malaysia’s 11 states.

There are four categories of passes under MM2H (Platinum, Gold, Silver, and SEZ) while S-MM2H has one take-it-or-leave -it option.

Put very simply, the lowest MM2H tier is cheaper than S-MM2H but is more restrictive, while the highest MM2H tier offers more freedom than S-MM2H but is significantly more expensive.

We’re working on a dedicated full length comparison but for now we hope this table helps!

Feature	S-MM2H	MM2H
Duration	10 years	5 – 20 years
Financial Requirements	Fixed Deposit + Proof of Income OR Pension OR Offshore Savings	Fixed Deposit + Property Purchase
Fixed Deposit	USD 118,000	USD32,000 – USD1 million
Property Purchase	Optional	Mandatory, USD141,000 – USD470,000
Monthly Income / Pension	Yes	No
Offshore Savings	Yes	No
Work	Part-time in select industries	Only most expensive tier
Do Business	Minority shareholder in joint ventures with locals	Only most expensive tier

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

Let MISHU help with your S-MM2H Pass application

Not all S-MM2H agents are created equal – some leave you more confused! Let us connect you to one who will make the process as straightforward and hassle-free as possible.