“Malaysia My Second Home” (MM2H) is probably the best-known long-stay programme in the Chinese-speaking world, yet a lot of the guidance still online describes the pre-reform conditions. The current Federal MM2H has been restructured into four tiers, the fixed deposit is now denominated in US dollars, property purchase has gone from “optional” to “mandatory,” and the 25–49 age group carries an annual minimum-stay obligation — the whole logic is different from the old programme. On top of that, Sabah runs its own state-level MM2H tiers, and Sarawak operates an entirely separate state programme (S-MM2H).
This article breaks down the real thresholds for each Federal MM2H tier, Sabah’s own MM2H tiers, and Sarawak’s state programme, the obligations you take on after joining, and who this arrangement suits — and who it does not.
Three Core Questions
- What are the deposit, property-purchase and fee thresholds for the current Federal MM2H tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, SEZ/SFZ), Sabah’s own tiers, and Sarawak’s S-MM2H
- What hard obligations come with joining: mandatory property purchase and a 10-year resale ban, the annual minimum-stay requirement, medical check-ups and renewal costs
- How the state-level programmes differ from the Federal one, and what kind of person this arrangement genuinely does not suit
Who Seriously Considers MM2H for Long-Stay Retirement?
The first group are people planning a retirement or semi-retirement life: having compared long-stay options across various countries, they are drawn to Malaysia’s cost of living and Chinese-speaking environment, and want a status that lets them come and go freely long term.
The second group want a “second base” for the whole family: children’s education, parents living together, and overall asset allocation are all part of the consideration.
The third group are people who already travel back and forth to Malaysia often, and are tired of staying in hotels when what they really want is a home.
For all three groups, it is worth being clear from the outset about what MM2H actually is: a renewable long-stay social visit pass that lets you legally stay long term and enter and exit multiple times. It is not permanent residence, and it is not an automatic route to PR or citizenship. Evaluate it as “long-stay residence purchased with capital,” and your expectations will be correctly calibrated.
The Current Federal MM2H Tiers: Deposits, Duration and Property Thresholds
According to the official website’s current tier summary, Federal MM2H is divided into Platinum, Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ (Special Economic Zone/Special Financial Zone), with SEZ/SFZ further split into two age bands:
| Item | Platinum | Gold | Silver | SEZ/SFZ (50+) | SEZ/SFZ (21–49) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed deposit required | USD 1,000,000 | USD 500,000 | USD 150,000 | USD 32,000 | USD 65,000 |
| Pass duration (renewable) | 20 years | 15 years | 5 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Minimum age of main applicant | 25 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 21 |
| Mandatory property-purchase threshold | RM2,000,000 | RM1,000,000 | RM600,000 | Priced per zone project | Priced per zone project |
| One-off participation fee | RM200,000 | RM3,000 | RM1,000 | RM1,000 | RM1,000 |
| Renewal fee | RM5,000 | RM3,000 | RM1,500 | RM300 | RM300 |
There is also a processing fee of RM5,000 for the main applicant and RM2,500 per dependant. The fixed deposit must be held with a licensed Malaysian financial institution; once approved, up to 50% of the principal can be withdrawn, restricted to property purchase, education, medical and travel-related uses.
Three Words Beyond the Table: Mandatory, No-Resale, Minimum Stay
First, the property purchase is mandatory: the authorities explicitly state that a residential property must be purchased after approval, and it cannot be sold within 10 years (except when upgrading to a higher-value property). “Get the status first and decide later whether to buy” is not an option under the current rules.
Second, the pass duration does not mean “set and forget”: the sticker is reissued every 5 years or on passport renewal, and there are recurring costs including a visa fee (RM0–50, depending on nationality) and a fixed annual pass fee of RM500.
Third, younger age bands carry a minimum-stay obligation: the official listing requires participants aged 25–49 to accumulate at least 90 days of stay in Malaysia per year (which can be combined across the main applicant, spouse and dependants); those aged 50 and above have no minimum-stay requirement (how this is calculated for the SEZ 21–24 age band is not officially specified — follow official announcements).
Applications Can Only Go Through a Licensed Agent
MM2H does not accept applications submitted directly by individuals: applications must be submitted through an MM2H agency licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), processed via the one-stop centre (OSC MM2H), with final immigration approval resting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Immigration Department. The official website maintains a list of licensed agents — the first step with any agent claiming a “special channel” is to check that list. After approval, the main applicant and dependants must also complete a mandatory medical examination at a designated facility.
Dependants, Tax, and Other Treatment
The scope for dependants is fairly wide: a spouse, children under 21 (children aged 21–34 must be unmarried and not employed in Malaysia), and disabled children with no upper age limit may all be included; parents and parents-in-law may also accompany the applicant. The Platinum tier can additionally apply to bring a foreign domestic helper. On education, dependant children can study at Malaysian government-recognised institutions up to higher-education level; on healthcare, long-term medical treatment in Malaysia is available for the duration of the pass.
On tax, the official terms state that participants’ offshore funds/income and interest earned on the fixed deposit are not taxed — but this is a statement of the programme’s treatment, and an individual’s overall tax position still depends on tax law and residency determination; anyone with complex income arrangements should seek separate advice. As for whether you can work or run a business in Malaysia, that is governed separately by official rules according to tier, with the details following current official announcements — anyone whose main goal is paid employment should be looking at an Employment Pass, not MM2H.
Sabah’s Own MM2H Programme: A Separate Tier Structure
Sabah runs its own MM2H tiers, distinct from both the Federal programme and Sarawak’s. Based on Sabah’s current tiered structure:
| Item | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed deposit required | RM500,000 | USD 500,000 | USD 1,000,000 |
| Monthly income requirement | RM10,000 (single) / RM15,000 (with dependants) | — | — |
| Mandatory property-purchase threshold | RM600,000 | RM1,000,000 | RM2,000,000 |
| Minimum annual stay in Sabah | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Pass duration | 5+5 years, renewable | 15 years, renewable | 20 years, renewable |
Sabah’s programme has moved to this tiered structure, replacing an older flat RM150,000 deposit threshold that no longer applies. Its minimum-stay requirement (30 days a year) is notably lighter than the Federal programme’s 90 days for the 25–49 age band, which is one of the main reasons some applicants choose Sabah over the Federal tiers.
State-Level Programme: Sarawak’s S-MM2H Runs on Its Own Rules
Sarawak operates its own S-MM2H, a completely separate system from Federal MM2H.
Under new rules published by the state’s official agency, effective 1 January 2025: minimum age 30; a fixed deposit of RM500,000 with a local Sarawak bank; a minimum stay of at least 30 days per year in Sarawak; and a pass issued for an initial 5 years, renewable for a further 5 years.
Two points are worth flagging: first, lower pre-reform S-MM2H figures still circulate online and have been superseded by the new rules; second, S-MM2H’s minimum-stay obligation is tied specifically to Sarawak (at least 30 days a year in Sarawak), so this route should be planned around Sarawak actually being your real base of life — any restriction on living long-term in Peninsular Malaysia under this pass is governed by state official rules.
Getting In With Clear Eyes: The Most Common Misunderstandings and Risks
Misunderstanding One: MM2H Is a First Step Toward Immigration or Permanent Residence.
It is a renewable long-stay pass; permanent residence (the Entry Permit) has its own separate official application categories, and “having held MM2H for a certain number of years” is not one of them. To seek PR, you need to apply separately under that other system.
Misunderstanding Two: The Threshold Is Just the Fixed Deposit.
The real cost is the whole package: the deposit (an opportunity cost) plus the mandatory property purchase (a liquidity cost from the 10-year resale ban) plus participation and processing fees plus the recurring annual pass and renewal costs. Take Silver as an example: beyond the USD 150,000 deposit, it also ties you to a property worth at least RM600,000 — evaluate the whole package, not just the deposit line.
Misunderstanding Three: Once You Have Bought the Property, You Are Free.
The property cannot be sold within 10 years (except when upgrading), and withdrawal from the fixed deposit is capped at half the principal and restricted to specified uses (the full terms of maintenance follow official rules). This design is, in essence, “residency rights obtained by tying up capital and a property purchase” — anyone with a high need for financial flexibility should think twice.
Misunderstanding Four: Once Approved, There Is Nothing More to Manage.
The 25–49 age group carries a 90-day annual stay obligation, the sticker needs periodic reissuing, and renewal comes with its own fees (documentation and procedure follow official announcements). Treat it as a status requiring annual upkeep, not a one-off purchase.
Misunderstanding Five: Old Guides Are Still Usable.
MM2H has been revised multiple times over the years, and the mid-2024 revision in particular restructured the entire tier and threshold system; information online has a short half-life, and any decision should be checked against the current official website first.
Three Typical Scenarios: Which One Fits You (or None at All)?
Scenario One: A 55-Year-Old, Financially Comfortable Retired Couple.
The couple plan to spend six months a year in Penang. With no minimum-stay obligation for those aged 50 and above, their schedule is flexible; they can choose Silver or Gold based on their asset size, and treat the mandatory property purchase as something they wanted to do anyway. This is the most typical beneficiary the MM2H design has in mind — all that is needed is to factor the deposit’s and the property’s opportunity cost into their retirement cash flow.
Scenario Two: A 38-Year-Old Professional Who Wants to “Get the Status First and Use It Later.”
He is young, his career is based elsewhere, and he may not actually visit Malaysia many times a year. The reality is: the 25–49 age group carries a 90-day annual stay obligation (which can be combined across dependants), plus the mandatory property purchase and locked deposit — for a “standby status” use case, the ongoing cost of this arrangement is relatively high. If his real need is a remote-work base or paid employment, a digital nomad or employment-pass route may fit better.
Scenario Three: A Budget-Limited Semi-Retiree Targeting East Malaysian Life.
She is 52, loves the pace of life in Kuching, and her budget does not stretch to Federal MM2H’s deposit plus property combination. S-MM2H’s deposit threshold (RM500,000, at a Sarawak bank) and 30-day annual stay requirement are more workable for her — provided her actual base of life really is in Sarawak, rather than trying to use a state-level pass to live in Peninsular Malaysia.
FAQ: Foreigners Applying for MM2H Retirement Long-Stay
Q1: How many MM2H tiers are there now, exactly?
Federal MM2H currently has four tiers: Platinum (USD 1,000,000 deposit, 20 years), Gold (USD 500,000, 15 years), Silver (USD 150,000, 5 years), and the Special Economic/Financial Zone tier SEZ/SFZ (USD 32,000 for age 50+, USD 65,000 for ages 21–49, each 10 years), all renewable. Each tier also carries mandatory property-purchase and fee requirements — follow the current official website. Separately, Sabah runs its own Silver/Gold/Platinum tiers, and Sarawak runs its own S-MM2H programme.
Q2: Do I have to buy property? Can I just make the deposit?
Under current official rules, purchasing a residential property after approval is mandatory: the minimum threshold is RM2,000,000 for Platinum, RM1,000,000 for Gold, RM600,000 for Silver, and priced per project for the SEZ tiers, and it cannot be sold within 10 years (except when upgrading). “Deposit only, no property” is not an option under the current system.
Q3: How many days a year do I have to stay?
Participants aged 25–49 must accumulate at least 90 days of stay in Malaysia per year (which can be combined across the main applicant, spouse and dependants); those 50 and above have no minimum-stay requirement. Sarawak’s S-MM2H requires at least 30 days a year in Sarawak specifically, and Sabah’s own tiers require at least 30 days a year in Sabah.
Q4: Which family members can I bring?
A spouse, children under 21 (those aged 21–34 must be unmarried and not employed in Malaysia), disabled children with no upper age limit, and parents and parents-in-law. The Platinum tier can additionally include a foreign domestic helper. Dependants must also complete the medical examination, and the processing fee is charged per head (RM2,500 per dependant).
Q5: Can I apply for MM2H myself? How do I avoid an unreliable agent?
No — applications cannot be submitted directly by individuals; they must go through an MM2H agency licensed by MOTAC. The official website maintains a list of licensed agents, so check any agent against that list first; any claim of “you don’t need to meet the official conditions” or “there’s an internal channel” contradicts how the system is designed and should be avoided outright.
Q6: Can I work after getting MM2H? Will I become a tax resident?
Whether you can work or run a business is governed separately by official rules according to tier — follow current official announcements; anyone whose goal is paid employment should evaluate an Employment Pass rather than MM2H. On tax, the programme’s stated terms exempt offshore funds/income and fixed-deposit interest, but whether you personally become a tax resident depends on actual days of residence under tax law, which is a separate question from which pass you hold — anyone with a complex situation should consult a qualified professional.
Disclaimer
This article is a general information summary, prepared based on the current conditions published by the MM2H official website (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture), the Sarawak state authority, and a secondary source on Sabah’s own MM2H tiers (see notes on sourcing below), current as of 2026. It does not constitute immigration, legal, tax or investment advice, and does not guarantee the outcome of any individual application. MM2H has been revised many times, and thresholds, obligations and fees may change at any time; readers should confirm the current position against the official website before making a financial or application decision, proceed only through a licensed agent, and consult a qualified professional where necessary.
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Sources
- Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture — MM2H official website: Guidelines (mm2h.gov.my)
- MOTAC — MM2H Category Overview (four-tier comparison)
- MOTAC — Licensed MM2H agencies list
- InvestSarawak — New requirements for Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) in 2025
- Sarawak Tourism — S-MM2H FAQ
- Melbourne Capital Group & malaysia4u — analysis of the New MM2H Rules, June 2024
- Malay Mail — MM2H visa holders assets, parliamentary reply (February 2025)
- Schiff Sovereign — Trends in Sabah’s MM2H Visa Programme (Sabah tier detail).
