Malaysia MM2H (2026): tiers, deposits and the new rules

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Malaysia MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) is a long-stay residence pass with four federal tiers: Silver (US$150,000 fixed deposit, 5-year pass), Gold (US$500,000, 15 years), Platinum (US$1 million, 20 years) and a Special Economic Zone/Special Financial Zone tier from US$65,000 tied to Forest City in Johor. Every tier requires buying a home and spending 90 days a year in Malaysia, and only Platinum lets you work or run a business.

Last checked: October 2026

In short:

  • Per the Tourism Ministry, MM2H drew 7,650 applications between 1 October 2024 and 31 August 2026, bringing RM8.85 billion (about US$2.17 billion, per IMI Daily) in property purchases and fixed deposits.
  • The minimum age is 25 for Silver, Gold and Platinum and 21 for the SEZ/SFZ tier, and the home you must buy can’t be sold for 10 years except to upgrade.
  • On 22 September 2026, per IMI Daily, the Tourism Minister told Immigration to step up checks on participants doing business without permission.

The four federal tiers

Silver Gold Platinum SEZ/SFZ
Fixed deposit US$150,000 US$500,000 US$1 million US$65,000 (age 21-49); US$32,000 (50+)
Pass length 5 years 15 years 20 years 10 years
Minimum home price RM600,000 RM1 million RM2 million Any home in Forest City, Johor
Participation fee (one-off, principal) RM1,000 RM3,000 RM200,000 RM1,000
Business/investment Not allowed Not allowed Allowed Not allowed
Employment Not allowed Not allowed Allowed Not allowed
Minimum age 25 25 25 21

Source: the official MM2H tier pages on mm2h.gov.my. Passes are multiple-entry and renewable, in five-year blocks after the first term. Platinum renewal costs RM5,000 for the principal and dependants; the SEZ/SFZ renewal is RM300. After approval you can withdraw up to 50% of the deposit for a home, education, medical costs or tourism. Dependants pay no participation fee.

In 2025, per IMI Daily, approvals split 2,650 Silver, 322 SEZ/SFZ, 154 Gold and 46 Platinum. Silver is the default choice; Platinum’s RM200,000 fee buys the right to work.

Rules you sign up to

  • 90 days a year. You must spend 90 days (cumulative) in Malaysia each year. For participants aged 25 to 49 the days can be covered by the principal and/or dependants. The general guidelines page applies the rule to participants under 50, so check with the One Stop Centre if you’re older.
  • Buy a home. It’s compulsory, at the tier’s minimum, and you can’t sell for 10 years unless you trade up to a dearer one. Sabah limits its scheme to high-rise homes of at least RM600,000, per The Sun.
  • Family. Spouse, children under 21 (or unmarried and unemployed up to 34), disabled children and parents can come as dependants; Platinum participants can also bring foreign domestic helpers.
  • No permanent residence. Per The Sun, the Tourism Minister said in June 2024 that new Platinum, Gold and Silver participants can’t apply for PR. This is a long-stay pass, not a route to citizenship.
  • No work without permission. On Silver, Gold and SEZ/SFZ you need separate work authorisation to take a job or run a local business. Per IMI Daily, a 22 September 2026 meeting between the ministry and Immigration dealt with “participants involved in unlawful activities”, and the minister has asked for action against anyone breaching conditions. Running your overseas company remotely is a different question from trading in Malaysia; get advice before you sign anything locally.

Sarawak and Sabah variants

Sarawak runs its own S-MM2H. Since 1 January 2025, per the Sarawak tourism ministry and InvestSarawak, applicants must be 30 or over and from a country with diplomatic ties with Malaysia, keep an RM500,000 fixed deposit with a local bank in Sarawak, and spend 30 days a year in Sarawak. The pass is five years, renewable for another five. Malay Mail reports the RM500,000 covers the whole application, including spouse and dependants.

Sabah opened its own scheme on 1 July 2024, per The Sun: applicants must be at least 30, property is limited to high-rise homes from RM600,000, subletting is barred and the permit can’t be used to work. Check Sabah’s current deposit figures directly before applying (verify).

How to apply

Federal MM2H applications go through the MM2H One Stop Centre under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, usually via a licensed agent. The ministry says it’s marketing the programme in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. China (3,847) and Taiwan (1,054) were the largest sources of applications in the 23 months to August 2026; the US supplied 284.

MM2H vs DE Rantau

If you want to work for foreign clients or an employer while living in Malaysia, MM2H is the wrong tool unless you can pay for Platinum. The DE Rantau nomad pass is the route built for remote workers, with its own income test and a shorter pass; see Malaysia digital nomad visa: the DE Rantau Nomad Pass (2026). MM2H suits people who want a long-dated base, are happy to park capital and buy property, and don’t need Malaysian earnings.

Tax

Malaysia taxes on a territorial basis. You become tax resident by spending 182 days or more in Malaysia in a calendar year, per PwC; MM2H’s 90-day minimum alone won’t make you resident. For resident individuals, foreign-sourced income received in Malaysia is exempt until 31 December 2036, subject to conditions; income from a partnership business in Malaysia is excluded (per PwC and Budget 2025 reporting; check LHDN’s current guidance). The MM2H guidelines themselves list tax exemption on foreign funds such as your fixed deposit as a benefit.

Related guides: Malaysia digital nomad visa: the DE Rantau Nomad Pass (2026) · Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur for digital nomads (2026): rent, visas, neighbourhoods · Retire abroad (2026): retirement visas, pension tax and healthcare

Quick answers

Q: How much do you need for Malaysia MM2H?
The federal tiers require fixed deposits of US$150,000 (Silver), US$500,000 (Gold) or US$1 million (Platinum), plus a home costing at least RM600,000, RM1 million or RM2 million. The Forest City SEZ/SFZ tier needs US$65,000, or US$32,000 at 50 and over.

Q: Can you work on Malaysia MM2H?
Only on Platinum, which allows employment and business. Silver, Gold and SEZ/SFZ participants need separate work authorisation, and in September 2026 the Tourism Minister told Immigration to step up checks on participants running businesses without permission. Remote workers usually look at DE Rantau instead.

Q: How long must you stay in Malaysia each year on MM2H?
Federal MM2H participants must spend 90 days (cumulative) in Malaysia each year; for those aged 25 to 49 the days can be split across the principal and dependants. Sarawak’s S-MM2H requires 30 days a year in Sarawak.

Sources

This is general information from the Nomad Forums team, not immigration, tax or legal advice. Rules change; check the official source or a qualified adviser before applying.

Over to you: If you’ve been approved for Silver since the 2024 relaunch, how long did the One Stop Centre take and what did your agent charge? Has anyone on Silver or Gold been questioned by Immigration about running a business?