MM2H requirements 2026: cost calculator

Short answer

In 2026, the federal Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme has four categories: Silver, Gold, Platinum and SEZ/SFZ (Special Economic Zone / Special Financial Zone, which in practice means Forest City, Johor). Each one needs a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank (USD 150,000 for Silver up to USD 1,000,000 for Platinum, or USD 65,000 / USD 32,000 for SEZ/SFZ depending on age) and the purchase of a home that cannot be sold for 10 years. The main applicant must be at least 25 (21 for SEZ/SFZ). Applications go only through a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent. The official pages publish no income requirement and no processing time for a new application.

Malaysia has no residence-by-investment or citizenship-by-investment programme as such: the long-stay routes for people living on their own means are MM2H (run by MOTAC) and the Premium Visa Programme, PVIP (run by the Immigration Department). See MM2H or PVIP? below.

Source for all core figures: the MOTAC MM2H portal (mm2h.gov.my, page updated 10/02/2026) and the MOTAC sheet “Insights on The Categories”, both read on 28/10/2026. The portal shows its amounts as images; we read those images directly and checked them against the MOTAC sheet, which gives the same numbers.

The four categories compared

	Silver	Gold	Platinum	SEZ/SFZ (Forest City, Johor)
Fixed deposit required	USD 150,000	USD 500,000	USD 1,000,000	USD 65,000 (age 21-49) / USD 32,000 (age 50+)
Pass length	5 years, renewable	15 years, renewable	20 years, renewable	10 years, renewable
Minimum age (main applicant)	25	25	25	21
Compulsory home purchase	RM 600,000 or above	RM 1,000,000 or above	RM 2,000,000 or above	Forest City only, price set by Johor state policy
Deadline to buy	Within 1 year after the pass is endorsed	Within 1 year after endorsement	Within 1 year after endorsement	Before the pass is endorsed, from a Forest City developer only
Resale	Not allowed for 10 years (except to upgrade to a dearer home)	Same	Same	Same
Participation fee (one-off, per principal)	RM 1,000	RM 3,000	RM 200,000	RM 1,000
Processing fee	RM 5,000 principal + RM 2,500 per dependant	Same	Same	Same
Minimum stay	90 days a year if under 50 (can be shared with spouse/dependants); none at 50+	Same	Same	90 days a year, cumulative (SEZ/SFZ page)
Work or business	Not allowed	Not allowed	Permitted	Not allowed
Renewal fee (after the full term)	RM 1,500 per person	RM 3,000 per person	RM 5,000 per person	RM 300 per person

Sources: mm2h.gov.my/apply/guidelines and /category/overview (updated 10/02/2026); MOTAC “Insights on The Categories”; OSC MM2H notice of 28/05/2025 for the purchase deadlines. All read 28/10/2026.

Income. The current guidelines list no minimum income for Silver, Gold or Platinum. MOTAC’s 28/05/2025 notice says some conditional approvals may still ask for extra employment or income details.

Deposit currency. The amounts are set in US dollars. The 28/05/2025 notice says the deposit is “encouraged” to be held in ringgit at the equivalent value. The deposit must sit with a bank licensed under the Financial Services Act 2013 or the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.

Interest or Shariah-compliant: where the deposit sits

At a conventional bank, an MM2H fixed deposit earns interest. MOTAC’s rule does not require that: an Islamic bank licensed under the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013 also qualifies, and these banks offer Shariah-compliant term deposits (often called term deposit-i). Bank Negara Malaysia publishes the list of licensed Islamic banks. Ask the bank which Shariah contract the deposit uses. Many are built on tawarruq (commodity murabahah), on which scholars differ: Bank Negara’s Shariah Advisory Council allows it under strict conditions (SAC ruling, 199th meeting), while the OIC’s International Islamic Fiqh Academy ruled organised tawarruq impermissible in 2009 (Arab News, 22/06/2009). If this matters to you, check the contract with a scholar you trust before you open the account.

Withdrawals. After approval, up to 50% of the deposit can be withdrawn for a home, education, medical costs or tourism in Malaysia. MOTAC’s category sheet says this is allowed “after 1 year”. To use the deposit for a home already bought, the purchase must fall within 2 years before endorsement (6 months for SEZ/SFZ), and the home must meet the category minimum.

Who can come as a dependant

• Spouse.
• Children under 21 (biological, step or adopted). Children aged 21 to 34 qualify if they are single and not working in Malaysia (MM2H guidelines, read 29/10/2026).
• Children with a certified disability, with no age limit.
• Parents and parents-in-law.
• Platinum holders can also apply for foreign domestic helpers.

Each dependant pays the RM 2,500 processing fee, the yearly pass fee and the renewal fee. No participation fee is charged for dependants.

Steps to apply (official MOTAC process)

1. Choose a licensed agent. Applications must be submitted through a MM2H company licensed by MOTAC. You can check a licence at motac.gov.my/en/check/mm2h; the list is at mm2h.gov.my/agencies. Walk-in applications are not accepted.
2. Give your documents to the agent. For the first stage this is mainly Form IMM.12, passport copies for you and each dependant.
3. The agent files the application with the One Stop Centre MM2H (OSC MM2H) through the online system, which has been in use since 01/08/2025.
4. OSC MM2H reviews it. If it is rejected, the agent tells you.
5. Acceptance receipt is issued.
6. The Immigration Department issues a conditional approval letter to the agent. Since May 2025, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) can also hold random interviews with applicants as part of the security check.
7. The agent tells you the result.
8. Prepare the post-approval documents within 90 days: fixed deposit certificate; health insurance (required for applicants aged 60 and below, from a Malaysian or foreign insurer with worldwide coverage); medical check-up report from a MOTAC-appointed clinic or hospital; personal bond form stamped by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN); valid passport.
9. Hand these to the agent.
10. Pay the processing fee, participation fee, pass fee and visa fee.
11. The MM2H pass is endorsed in your passport.

Then, for Silver, Gold and Platinum, buy the qualifying home within one year of endorsement.

How long does it take? MOTAC publishes no processing time for a new application. Its May 2026 booklet gives service times only for later steps: renewal 30 working days, deposit withdrawal 3 working days, permission to study 14 working days. Timelines quoted by agents vary widely; we do not repeat them.

Documents you need

Stage 1, given to your agent:

• Form IMM.12.
• Passport copies for you and each dependant.

Stage 2, within 90 days of the conditional approval letter:

• Fixed deposit certificate.
• Health insurance, required for applicants aged 60 and below (Malaysian or foreign insurer, worldwide coverage).
• Medical check-up report from a MOTAC-appointed clinic or hospital.
• Personal bond form stamped by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
• Valid passport.

Source: MM2H guidelines, read 29/10/2026. MOTAC may ask for more details on some conditional approvals.

What it costs: official fees

Fee	Amount	Who pays
Participation fee (one-off)	RM 1,000 Silver and SEZ/SFZ; RM 3,000 Gold; RM 200,000 Platinum	Per principal
Processing fee	RM 5,000 principal; RM 2,500 each dependant	Per person
Online system processing fee	RM 500 per application, excluding SST (OSC MM2H notice, 2025)	Per application
MM2H pass fee	RM 500 per year (MM2H guidelines)	Per pass
Visa fee	RM 0 to RM 50 depending on nationality	Per person
Renewal after the full term	RM 1,500 Silver; RM 3,000 Gold; RM 5,000 Platinum; RM 300 SEZ/SFZ	Per principal and each dependant
Stamp duty on the personal bond	RM 10 (secondary source)	Per bond

Money that is required but not a fee:

• the fixed deposit, which stays in your name but is locked (apart from the 50% withdrawal);
• the home, at the category minimum or above;
• stamp duty on that home. Since 01/01/2026, foreigners pay a flat 8% on residential property transfers (Budget 2026), plus the usual legal fees;
• the medical check-up and the health insurance, both required (prices are not regulated by MOTAC);
• the agent’s fee, which no official page publishes.

Worked example, Silver, one person, official items only: RM 1,000 participation + RM 5,000 processing + RM 500 first-year pass + up to RM 50 visa = about RM 6,550 in fees. On top: the USD 150,000 deposit, a home of at least RM 600,000, 8% stamp duty on that home (at least RM 48,000), insurance, medical check-up and the agent’s fee.

What an MM2H pass gives you

• A renewable long-stay pass: 5 years (Silver), 15 (Gold), 20 (Platinum) or 10 (SEZ/SFZ).
• Dependants on the same application: spouse, children and parents.
• Access to up to 50% of the deposit for a home, education, medical costs or tourism in Malaysia, after approval (MOTAC’s category sheet says “after 1 year”).
• Permission to work or run a business, for Platinum only.

The pass does not give permanent residence or citizenship. Source: mm2h.gov.my, updated 10/02/2026.

What has changed since 2024

• June 2024: new framework. The Cabinet approved the Silver / Gold / Platinum tiers with 5, 15 and 20-year passes, a minimum age of 25, no income requirement, a compulsory home purchase (RM 600,000 / RM 1m / RM 2m) and a 10-year resale ban. The Platinum route to permanent residence announced in December 2023 was dropped and replaced by the 20-year pass. Agents had to requalify. (IMI Daily, 19/06/2024)
• Deposits moved to US dollars. The June 2024 announcement quoted deposits in ringgit (RM 500,000 / RM 1m / RM 5m). The official tables now give USD 150,000 / 500,000 / 1,000,000 (OSC MM2H, Insights on the Categories, December 2025).
• Minimum stay went from 60 to 90 days a year for applicants under 50 (60 days in June 2024; 90 days in the current guidelines).
• SEZ/SFZ category added, with a lower deposit and a minimum age of 21. In May 2025 MOTAC confirmed that the only eligible location is Forest City, Johor, buying from the developer only.
• 28 May 2025: one-year deadline to buy the home (Silver, Gold, Platinum); ringgit deposits encouraged; random police interviews; new housing-information form.
• 1 August 2025: new applications go through the online MM2H system (RM 500 processing fee per application). 1 October 2025: online appointment system for agents.
• 1 January 2026: stamp duty for foreigners buying homes doubled from 4% to 8% (Budget 2026). This raises the cost of the compulsory purchase.
• September 2026: the Tourism Minister asked the Immigration Department to step up checks on participants doing business without permission (only Platinum may). Proposals from advisers to bring back a permanent-residence route are proposals, not policy. (IMI Daily, 01/10/2026)

Applications and approvals: the numbers

Figure	Value	Period	Source
Applications to the new programme	7,650: China 3,847 (50.3%), Taiwan 1,054 (13.8%), Hong Kong 324, Singapore 287, United States 284, others 1,854	01/10/2024 to 31/08/2026	Ministry statement of 26/09/2026, via IMI Daily, 01/10/2026
Approvals in 2025	3,172 (9,038 people with dependants): Silver 2,650, SEZ/SFZ 322, Gold 154, Platinum 46	Calendar year 2025	Minister Tiong, via IMI Daily, 26/03/2026
Passes granted, new programme	5,972: China 3,414, Taiwan 611, Hong Kong 292, Singapore 184, United States 174	To 31/08/2025	EdgeProp, 2025
Home purchases completed by participants	744 completed, 2,637 in progress. China 304, Taiwan 91, Singapore 63, US 41, UK 40, Hong Kong 34, Australia 29	December 2023 to 31/12/2025	The Star, 04/02/2026
SEZ/SFZ approvals (Forest City)	593	01/10/2024 to 31/03/2026	Forest City’s developer, quoted by Macau Business, May 2026

In 2025, about 84% of approvals were Silver.

MM2H or PVIP?

	MM2H (federal)	PVIP
Run by	Ministry of Tourism (MOTAC)	Immigration Department
Money required	Fixed deposit of USD 32,000 to USD 1,000,000 by category, plus a home purchase	RM1 million deposit and offshore income of RM40,000 a month
Participation fee, main applicant	RM 1,000 (Silver, SEZ/SFZ), RM 3,000 (Gold), RM 200,000 (Platinum)	RM200,000
Length of pass	5, 10, 15 or 20 years by category	Up to 20 years
Work	Platinum only	Work, study and investment allowed

PVIP figures are those announced by the Home Ministry at launch (Malay Mail, 01/09/2022); 16 agencies were approved at the start (The Star, 12/10/2022). The Immigration Department has published no PVIP page and no update since then; our guide to Malaysia’s long-stay passes and our retirement guide give the details.

Sarawak and Sabah run their own programmes

Sarawak (S-MM2H) and Sabah (Sabah MM2H) run separate state programmes with their own rules. These are not the federal categories above. According to the Borneo Post (31/10/2024), Sarawak’s rules from 01/01/2025 set a minimum age of 30, a RM 500,000 deposit in a Sarawak bank and a 30-day yearly stay. The Sabah programme’s official site lists a RM 500,000 deposit for its Silver tier and a 30-day stay in Sabah. Ages and deposits differ between sources. We will cover them in a separate guide.

FAQ

What are the MM2H requirements in 2026? You must be at least 25 (21 for SEZ/SFZ). You must place a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank (a conventional bank or an Islamic bank, see above): USD 150,000 (Silver), USD 500,000 (Gold), USD 1,000,000 (Platinum), or USD 65,000 / USD 32,000 (SEZ/SFZ). You must also buy a home of at least RM 600,000, RM 1m or RM 2m (in Forest City for SEZ/SFZ), stay 90 days a year if under 50, and provide a medical check-up and, up to age 60, health insurance. Source: mm2h.gov.my, updated 10/02/2026.

What is MM2H Silver? The entry category: a USD 150,000 fixed deposit, a home of at least RM 600,000, a 5-year renewable pass, a RM 1,000 participation fee and no right to work. It accounted for 2,650 of the 3,172 approvals in 2025.

How long does an MM2H application take? No official processing time is published for a new application. After the conditional approval letter, you have 90 days to provide the post-approval documents, and then one year to buy the home (Silver, Gold, Platinum).

Can I apply for MM2H without an agent? No. New applications must go through a MOTAC-licensed MM2H company. MOTAC’s booklet allows some later services (such as renewals) to be handled directly only by participants who applied without an agent under earlier rules.

Is there an income requirement for MM2H? The current official guidelines publish none for Silver, Gold or Platinum. Some conditional approvals may still ask for employment or income details (MOTAC notice, 28/05/2025).

Can I work on an MM2H pass? Only in the Platinum category. For Silver, Gold and SEZ/SFZ, the guidelines say business, investment and career activities are not allowed.

Does MM2H lead to permanent residence or citizenship? No. The Tourism Minister told Parliament that the programme has never been about permanent residence or citizenship applications: it is a long-stay pass (Malay Mail, 04/02/2026).

Does an MM2H or PVIP pass make me tax resident in Malaysia? Not by itself: the pass does not decide tax residence. The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) treats you as non-resident if you stay in Malaysia for less than 182 days in a year, “regardless of your citizenship or nationality” (LHDN, Non-resident). A further rule links periods of 182 consecutive days that straddle two years (LHDN, tax treatment of residents and non-residents). This is not tax advice.

How much does MM2H cost in Malaysia? Official fees for one Silver applicant come to about RM 6,550 in the first year: RM 1,000 participation, RM 5,000 processing, RM 500 pass fee and up to RM 50 visa fee. Gold participation is RM 3,000 and Platinum RM 200,000. Add the fixed deposit (USD 150,000 to USD 1,000,000), the qualifying home, 8% stamp duty for foreigners and the agent’s fee, which no official page publishes.

How long can I stay in Malaysia with MM2H? Under 50, you must spend 90 days a year in Malaysia, and this can be shared with your spouse and dependants. At 50 or older, the guidelines set no minimum stay for Silver, Gold or Platinum. The pass lasts 5 years (Silver), 15 (Gold), 20 (Platinum) or 10 (SEZ/SFZ), and each is renewable. Source: mm2h.gov.my, updated 10/02/2026.

How easy is it to get MM2H? MOTAC publishes no approval rate for the current programme (an earlier figure of 88% covered November 2021 to September 2023). Its figures show 7,650 applications from 01/10/2024 to 31/08/2026 and 3,172 approvals in 2025, but they cover different periods, so they cannot be compared. Every applicant must meet the deposit, home purchase, age, medical and security-check conditions, and approval is never guaranteed. Sources: ministry statement of 26/09/2026 and Minister Tiong, both via IMI Daily.

How do I apply for MM2H? Applications go through a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent, who files them with the One Stop Centre MM2H online. After the conditional approval letter, you give the post-approval documents within 90 days, pay the fees and have the pass endorsed. Silver, Gold and Platinum applicants then buy the qualifying home within one year. Walk-in applications are not accepted. Source: mm2h.gov.my/apply/guidelines.

What are the benefits of an MM2H visa? An MM2H pass lets you live in Malaysia long term: 5 to 20 years, renewable by category. Your spouse, children and parents can be included as dependants. After approval, up to 50% of the deposit can be withdrawn for a home, education, medical costs or tourism in Malaysia (MOTAC’s category sheet says “after 1 year”). Platinum holders may also work. The pass does not give permanent residence or citizenship.

Can I open a business in Malaysia with MM2H? Only Platinum holders may work or run a business. For Silver, Gold and SEZ/SFZ, the guidelines say business, investment and career activities are not allowed. In September 2026 the Tourism Minister asked the Immigration Department to step up checks on participants doing business without permission (IMI Daily, 01/10/2026). Confirm your category’s conditions with a licensed agent before you act.

What are the new MM2H requirements in 2026? Budget 2027 (9 October 2026) did not change the MM2H rules. Since 01/01/2026, foreigners pay 8% stamp duty on residential property transfers, which raises the cost of the compulsory home purchase. A one-year deadline to buy the home (since 28/05/2025) and the online application system (since 01/08/2025) also apply. The Cabinet approved the current tiers in June 2024.

How we checked this page

We read the MOTAC MM2H portal and MOTAC documents on 28/10/2026 and re-read the dependants rules on 29/10/2026. Each figure here carries its source and date. The Smart Invest Malaysia editorial team reviews the page after every rule change and updates the date at the top. Where sources disagree or nothing is published, we say so.

What we do not cover

• Which category suits you, or whether MM2H is a good idea for you. We publish requirements, not advice.
• Agents’ fees and agent choice. No official fee scale exists; check any licence on MOTAC’s site.
• Tax residence and your home country’s tax rules. Spending 90 days a year in Malaysia can affect your tax position in Malaysia and at home; see the tax authorities of both countries.
• Exchange-rate effects on a USD-denominated deposit held in ringgit.
• Sarawak and Sabah programmes in detail (separate guide).
• Permanent residence, the DE Rantau nomad pass and employment passes; the Premium Visa Programme only in the comparison above. (For DE Rantau, Budget 2027 announced two extra years for holders at the current two-year limit; this is announced in Budget 2027 (9 October 2026), not yet in force, with conditions not published: Budget Speech 2027, pp. 72-73.)
• Rules for participants approved under the pre-2024 programme.

Figures checked on 28/10/2026 against mm2h.gov.my (page updated 10/02/2026) and MOTAC documents. Rules change often: check the official portal before you commit money.