Malaysia residency by investment 2026: MM2H, PVIP, requirements, costs

Malaysia residency by investment in 2026 operates through two main routes: the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme with four tiers starting from a US$32,000 deposit, and the Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) for those who wish to work. This article summarises the official requirements, fees, process, benefits, limitations, and 2025 figures to help investors choose the right tier before transferring funds.

What is Malaysia residency by investment

Malaysia residency by investment is the general term for programmes that grant long-term residence passes in exchange for bank deposits, property purchases, and participation fees. Legally, participants receive a Long-Term Social Visit Pass with a multiple-entry visa, valid for 5 to 20 years depending on the programme. This is neither permanent residence nor a pathway to citizenship.

This point must be clarified from the outset. In February 2026, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture confirmed that the MM2H programme has never granted citizenship or permanent residence to participants. Passholders may live, study, access healthcare, and purchase property in Malaysia, but remain long-term foreign residents who must renew their passes periodically.

In return, Malaysia is one of the few Asian destinations accepting applications with a deposit starting from a few tens of thousands of US dollars, levying no tax on remitted funds or deposit interest for participants, and offering private hospitals and English-medium international schools just a two-hour flight from Vietnam. The general background on Malaysia is presented in a separate article.

Four long-term residence programmes of Malaysia in 2026

Malaysia currently operates four parallel residency by investment programmes based on financial capacity, managed by three different authorities. Choosing the wrong programme is the most common mistake for new arrivals, as each programme carries different financial thresholds, work rights, and geographical residence areas.

Programme	Managing authority	Geographical area	Minimum deposit	Pass validity	Work permitted
Federal MM2H, 4 tiers	Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), final approval by Immigration Department	Peninsular Malaysia; SEZ tier restricted to Forest City, Johor	US$32,000 to US$1,000,000	5, 10, 15, or 20 years	Platinum tier only
Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)	Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM), Ministry of Home Affairs	All Malaysia	RM1.000.000	20 years	Yes, unrestricted
Sarawak-MM2H (S-MM2H)	Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak	Bang Sarawak	RM500.000	5 years, renewable for 5 years	Yes, part-time in Sarawak
Sabah-MM2H	Sabah State Government	Bang Sabah	RM150,000 for individuals, RM300,000 for families	10 years	No

Most Vietnamese applicants opt for the federal MM2H because the pass is valid across the entire peninsula, home to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor. PVIP is suited for individuals seeking to reside while operating a business. The two programmes in Sarawak and Sabah are less costly, but the pass is restricted to those respective states.

Federal MM2H: four tiers and financial requirements

According to official guidelines from Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), updated 10 February 2026, Malaysia’s MM2H is divided into four tiers. Each tier requires a fixed deposit in US dollars at a licensed bank in Malaysia, a mandatory property purchase threshold, and a specific pass validity period.

Tier	Fixed deposit	One-time participation fee	Mandatory property purchase	Pass validity	Work and business	Pass renewal fee
Silver	$150,000 USD	RM1.000	From RM600,000	5 years	No	RM1.500
Gold	$500,000 USD	RM3.000	From RM1,000,000	15 years	No	RM3.000
Platinum	$1,000,000 USD	RM200.000	From RM2,000,000	20 years	Permitted	RM5.000
SEZ/SFZ, Forest City	US$65,000 for ages 21–49; US$32,000 for ages 50 and above	RM1.000	Property in Forest City, Johor, with minimum price per state policy	10 years	No	RM300

The Malaysia MM2H fixed deposit can be withdrawn up to a maximum of 50% after receiving the approval letter, solely for four purposes: purchasing property, tuition fees, medical treatment, and tourism in Malaysia. The remaining balance must be maintained throughout the duration of holding the card. In addition to the one-off participation fee, there is an annual fixed card fee of RM500 and a visa fee ranging from RM0 to RM50 depending on nationality.

Property purchase is a mandatory requirement, not an option

Since the June 2024 reform, all Malaysia MM2H tiers must purchase and own a property under their name after approval, with no option to rent instead. The property cannot be sold for 10 years, and can only be exchanged for a higher-value property. Failure to purchase a property or selling it prematurely constitutes grounds for card revocation. This is the most significant change compared to pre-2024 MM2H versions, when purchasing a property was merely encouraged.

At the Silver tier, the total capital required for a Malaysia residency by investment application is therefore not US$150,000, but approximately US$150,000 in deposits plus RM600,000 for property purchase, which is an additional US$130,000 based on exchange rates in early September 2026, excluding legal fees, stamp duty, and condominium management fees. Investors should calculate their total capital this way from the outset.

General requirements for MM2H applicants

In addition to financial requirements, Malaysia MM2H residency by investment applications must also meet the six general conditions below, which apply to all four tiers.

• Age: from 25 years old for the Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers; from 21 years old for the SEZ/SFZ tier. There is no maximum age.
• Nationality: all countries with diplomatic relations with Malaysia. Vietnamese citizens are eligible.
• Physical presence: applicants under 50 years old must be present in Malaysia for a total of 90 days per year, which can be accumulated with the days of accompanying dependants. Applicants aged 50 and over have no physical presence requirement.
• A mandatory medical examination at a MOTAC-designated clinic is required after approval, for both the main applicant and dependants. Health insurance is a mandatory document for card renewal.
• Applications must only be submitted through MM2H agents licensed by MOTAC under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 and through the MM2H One-Stop Centre. The Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs retains the right of final approval and handles appeals.
• Source of funds: the deposit must be transferred from an account in the applicant’s name, accompanied by documentation for the Source of Funds – SoF and Source of Wealth – SoW. SoF addresses where the funds used for this transaction originate; SoW addresses how the overall wealth was accumulated.

Accompanying dependants

Participants in Malaysia residency by investment can include their spouse, biological children, stepchildren, and adopted children under 21 years old, children aged 21 to 34 if they are unmarried and not employed in Malaysia, disabled children with medical certification of any age, and parents from both sides. The Platinum tier allows the inclusion of a foreign domestic helper. No participation fees are charged for dependants. Children can study up to university level at accredited institutions; see the article for more details. Malaysian education.

PVIP: 20-year visa for those wishing to work and conduct business

The Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) has been operated by the Malaysian Immigration Department since 1 October 2022, independently of MM2H. According to the official FAQ document of the Malaysian Immigration Department, participants must have a minimum offshore income of RM40,000 per month or RM480,000 per year, maintain a fixed deposit of RM1,000,000 in a Malaysian bank, and pay a participation fee of RM200,000 for the main applicant and RM100,000 for each dependent.

Fixed deposit	A minimum	Endorsements
Fixed deposit	RM1.000.000	Up to 50% can be withdrawn after 1 year for property purchase, medical treatment, or education, subject to a recommendation letter from the Immigration Department
Participation fee for the main applicant	RM200.000	RM2,000 payable upon application, and RM198,000 upon approval
Participation fee for dependents	RM100,000 per person	Spouse, children under 25, disabled children, parents and parents-in-law
Pass fee	RM2,000 per year
Visa fee	RM13 for Vietnamese passports	According to the fee schedule by nationality
Security bond	RM1,500 for Vietnamese passports	Refundable upon completion of the programme

In exchange for significantly higher costs than MM2H, PVIP is a Malaysian residency by investment pathway with no age limit and no physical presence requirements. It allows holders to work, do business and study, purchase residential, commercial or industrial real estate, and bring in foreign domestic helpers. The visa is valid for 20 years, renewable every 20 years. Applications must also be submitted through agents designated by the Immigration Department.

Sarawak’s S-MM2H and Sabah-MM2H

Sarawak has operated its own programme for many years and is revising its requirements from 1 January 2025. According to the Sarawak Investment Promotion Agency, applicants must be aged 30 or over, place a fixed deposit of RM500,000 in a bank in Sarawak, and spend a minimum of 30 days per year in Sarawak. The 5-year visa is renewable for another 5 years, with a one-off processing fee of RM5,000. Visa holders are permitted to work part-time and conduct business within the state. From 16 May 2025, personal sponsors must be immediate family members.

Sabah launched its own programme in 2024 with lower requirements, including being aged 30 or over, placing a fixed deposit of RM150,000 for individuals or RM300,000 for families, having a monthly income of RM10,000 or RM15,000, and purchasing a high-rise apartment from RM600,000 in Sabah for a 10-year visa. Both state programmes only grant residency within their respective states and do not automatically transfer to the peninsula, making them suitable for those who genuinely wish to live in Borneo.

Five-step process for Malaysia residency by investment

1. Select a programme and category, then sign a contract with a licensed agent. The agent will compile the document checklist: passports, police clearance certificates, bank statements, proof of funds, and translated and legalised civil documents.
2. Submit the application through the MM2H One-Stop Centre or the Immigration Department’s PVIP portal, and pay the registration fee. For MM2H, the assessment period typically takes 3 to 6 months, depending on the category and the status of the application.
3. Receive the conditional approval letter, enter Malaysia, open a bank account and place the fixed deposit required for the chosen category, undergo a medical examination at a designated clinic, and purchase medical insurance.
4. Have the MM2H or PVIP visa endorsed in your passport at the Immigration Department in Putrajaya, and pay the visa and security bond fees. The visa becomes effective from this point.
5. Purchase a property at the required price threshold for the category within the specified timeframe after visa endorsement, maintain the fixed deposit and hold the property for a minimum of 10 years, and maintain 90 days of physical presence per year if under 50 years of age. Upon expiry, renew the visa with a passport, a new medical report and insurance.

For Malaysia residency by investment applications from Vietnam, civil and judicial documents must be translated into English and legalised. From 11 September 2026, the Apostille Convention comes into force for Vietnam; however, as Malaysia is not yet a member of the convention, documents used in Malaysia must still undergo consular legalisation. Investors should consult their agent regarding the certificate templates currently accepted by the Immigration Department.

Actual costs and taxes

Government fees for Malaysia residency by investment under the MM2H programme are low: participation fees range from RM1,000 to RM200,000 depending on the tier, the pass fee is RM500 per year, and the visa fee is a maximum of RM50. The major costs lie in four other areas: a fixed deposit with at least 50% locked in, a compulsory property purchase that must be held for 10 years, agency fees typically ranging from RM15,000 to RM40,000 per family application, and travel expenses to meet the 90-day annual residency requirement.

Regarding taxation, participants are exempt from tax on funds remitted to Malaysia and interest earned on fixed deposits, in accordance with MOTAC guidelines. Income generated within Malaysia, such as rental income from the purchased property, is subject to Malaysian income tax at progressive rates. Individuals staying in Malaysia for 182 days or more in a calendar year are classified as tax residents. Overview the Malaysian economy and investment environment are presented in a separate article.

Benefits and limitations of the Malaysia residence pass

• Live in Malaysia continuously for the duration of the pass, with multiple-entry privileges and no need for individual trip visas.
• Purchase residential property under personal ownership subject to the minimum price thresholds for foreigners in each state, with access to Malaysian bank loans.
• Children can study at international schools, public schools, and accredited universities, with student passes automatically issued when required.
• Receive long-term medical treatment at Malaysian hospitals, which is one of the most common reasons for older participants to join.
• Employment and business activities are prohibited, except for Platinum, PVIP, and part-time S-MM2H holders.
• Does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship. Once the pass expires, holders must renew it or leave Malaysia; the fixed deposit and property can only be liquidated after the lock-in period ends.
• No right to visa-free travel to other countries. The MM2H pass does not replace a visa for Singapore or other ASEAN countries, unlike a Schengen residence permit in Europe.

2025 figures: who is participating

According to an announcement by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture on 25 March 2026, in 2025 Malaysia approved 3,172 Malaysia residency by investment applications under the MM2H scheme, representing 9,038 individuals including dependents, generating approximately RM3.875 billion, comprising RM2.35 billion in fixed deposits and RM1.51 billion in property purchases. The Silver tier accounted for 2,650 applications, or 83.5%; the SEZ tier 322, Gold 154, and Platinum 46.

According to the Ministry, as at 31 December 2025, 744 participants had completed property purchases and 2,637 were in the process of purchasing. China led with 304 buyers, followed by Taiwan, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Vietnam is not yet among the top ten countries, meaning Vietnamese applications remain few and face no quota competition.

Risks to consider before signing

1. Legal risk: Malaysia residency by investment requirements underwent major changes in 2021, 2024, and 2025. Today’s requirements may not be those at the time of renewal, and transitional provisions apply only when explicitly stated in amended regulations.
2. Liquidity risk: at least 50% of the deposit is locked throughout the visa validity period, and the property cannot be sold for 10 years. Early withdrawal or property sale results in the loss of the entire family’s visa.
3. Housing market risk: high-rise apartments in Kuala Lumpur and Johor face large supply, and resale or rental prices may not keep pace with purchase prices. The SEZ tier is tied to a single project, Forest City.
4. Exchange rate risk: deposits are denominated in US dollars or ringgit and fixed upon placement, while property prices and living expenses are calculated in ringgit.
5. Agent risk: applications must be submitted through licensed agents, with significant variation in quality and fees among providers. The list of licensed agents is published by MOTAC and the Immigration Department, and should be cross-checked before signing.
6. Expectation risk: Malaysia MM2H is not permanent residency, does not offer a second passport, and does not provide a route to Singapore or Australia. Investors requiring legally secured long-term residence rights should compare this with European programmes.

Malaysia residency by investment compared to Hungary and Bulgaria

Criteria	Malaysia MM2H Silver	Hungary	Bulgaria
Minimum capital	US$150,000 deposit plus property from RM600,000	€250,000 fund units	Approximately €511,292 fund units
Status	5-year renewable long-term visit pass	10-year residence permit, renewable once	Indefinite permanent residency
Minimum presence	90 days per year if under 50 years old	No	None, currently a 183-day bill proposed
Right to work	No	Yes	Yes
Regional travel	Malaysia only	Schengen 90 days in 180 days	Schengen 90 days in 180 days
Citizenship pathway	None	Standard naturalisation, usually 8 years	Naturalisation after 5 years of permanent residency, language exam

Malaysia offers advantages in cost of living, proximity to Vietnam, and widespread use of English. Europe excels in legal status and mobility rights. Investors needing a second home close to home for elderly parents or schooling children choose Malaysia; those requiring legally secured residence and employment rights should compare further with Hungary residency by investment and Bulgaria residency by investment. The Malaysian institutional context is presented in the article on Malaysian politics.

Summary and next steps

Malaysia residency by investment in 2026 is the lowest-cost long-term residency scheme among destinations typically considered by Vietnamese investors, ranging from a US$32,000 deposit in the SEZ tier to US$1,000,000 in the Platinum tier, plus mandatory property purchase held for 10 years. In return, the pass does not lead to permanent residency, does not grant employment rights except under Platinum and PVIP, and requirements have changed three times in five years.

Before signing with an agent, investors should have three things on the table: a total capital breakdown including deposit, property, and agent fees; preliminary source of funds verification results; and a plan for the 90 days per year physical presence requirement if under 50 years old. Evaluating application suitability can begin at Malaysia residency by investment services page.