Malaysia mandates $1 million deposits and property buys for MM2H Platinum status

Malaysia replaced MM2H’s former single-deposit model with a tiered system in June 2024, adding mandatory property purchases and substantially higher capital requirements.

Deposits reach $1 million

The federal Malaysia My Second Home program has three tiers, while a fourth Special Economic Zone route covers Forest City in Johor:

• Silver: $150,000 fixed deposit and a five-year renewable pass.

• Gold: $500,000 deposit and a 15-year pass, with renewal every five years.

• Platinum: $1 million deposit and a 20-year pass, with renewal every five years.

• Special Economic Zone: $65,000 for applicants ages 21 to 49 or $32,000 for those 50 and older, with a 10-year renewable pass.

Only Platinum includes general work and business rights. Silver, Gold and the Forest City route don’t authorize employment.

Property is no longer optional

Federal applicants must buy property worth at least 600,000 Malaysian ringgit, about $140,000, under Silver; 1 million ringgit, about $233,000, under Gold; or 2 million ringgit, about $465,000, under Platinum.

The property generally must be held for 10 years. An earlier sale requires approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and may affect the residence pass.

The Special Economic Zone tier requires a Forest City property costing at least 500,000 ringgit, about $116,000, purchased from the designated developer. Secondary-market purchases don’t qualify.

Current applicants must budget before endorsement

Applicants filing under the current system must select a tier, obtain conditional approval and place the deposit with a licensed Malaysian bank before visa endorsement. After 12 months, as much as 50% can be withdrawn for qualifying property, medical or education costs.

That combination makes MM2H a capital-based residence program rather than a practical route for most digital nomads. Details on the program sit alongside other options for moving to Malaysia, including routes designed for remote work.

Existing MM2H holders may face transition rules at renewal depending on when their original passes were issued. Tourist entry, student passes and standard work permits remain separate from MM2H.