For a business owner or investor who wants to live in Malaysia long-term — not just fly in on an Employment Pass tied to a job — the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is the main door. It was completely restructured in June 2024 into a three-tier system — Silver, Gold and Platinum — and a separate, much cheaper route was opened through Johor's Forest City Special Financial Zone. This guide sets out exactly what each tier requires in 2026, what it costs, how long the visa lasts, the property and fixed-deposit rules, and how MM2H differs from a work pass — so you can decide which door, if any, is the right one for you and your family.
What MM2H actually is (and is not)
MM2H is a long-stay residence pass for foreigners who want to live in Malaysia without taking up local employment. It is a renewable multiple-entry visa, not permanent residency and not citizenship. Crucially, in its standard form it is not a work permit: an MM2H holder is here to reside, retire, or manage passive/overseas interests — not to be employed by a Malaysian company. If your goal is to work for or run a Malaysian operating business day to day, the correct route is usually an Employment Pass attached to a Sdn. Bhd., not MM2H.
Where MM2H fits best is the investor, entrepreneur or high-net-worth individual who wants a stable, long-horizon base in Malaysia for the whole family — with the flexibility to come and go, a low tax footprint on foreign income, and a warm, low-cost, English-friendly environment.
The three national tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum
The June 2024 overhaul replaced the old single-track programme with three tiers, differentiated mainly by the size of the fixed deposit you place in a Malaysian bank, the property you must buy, and the length of the visa. The offshore-income and liquid-asset tests that dominated the old programme were, in most cases, dropped in favour of these cleaner deposit-based thresholds.
| Feature | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed deposit | USD 150,000 (≈ RM650k–675k) | USD 500,000 (≈ RM2.25m) | USD 1,000,000 (≈ RM4.5m) |
| Visa duration (renewable) | 5 years | 15 years | 20 years |
| Minimum property purchase | RM600,000 | RM1,000,000 | RM2,000,000 |
| One-time participation fee | RM1,000 | RM3,000 | RM200,000 |
| Right to work in Malaysia | No | No | Yes (permitted) |
| Minimum age | 21 / 25* | 25 | 25 |
*Age thresholds were lowered from the old 35 to 25 for the main tiers; Silver and the SEZ/SFZ route allow younger applicants. Confirm the current age rule for your tier at application, as the framework has been refined since launch.
The fixed deposit: locked, then partly flexible
The fixed deposit is the financial anchor of MM2H. It must be placed in a Malaysian bank and locked for the full first year. After that, up to 50% may be withdrawn — but only against approved categories, typically the purchase of property, healthcare, education for children, or approved local investment. The remaining balance stays deposited for as long as you hold the visa.
Two practical points matter here. First, the deposit is a commitment of capital, not a fee — it remains your money, earning Malaysian fixed-deposit interest, but it is illiquid while parked. Second, because withdrawals are tied to property, the deposit and the mandatory property purchase are designed to work together: many participants use the released 50% toward the home they are required to buy.
What each tier is really for
The tiers are not just "more money buys more years" — they target different profiles:
- Silver — the accessible entry tier for younger investors and families who want a genuine Malaysian base without the largest capital commitment. Five-year renewable, lowest deposit and property floor, nominal fee.
- Gold — the mid tier for established investors wanting a long, stable 15-year horizon and a larger footprint, without the top-tier work rights or the six-figure fee.
- Platinum — the premium tier. Its RM200,000 participation fee and USD 1m deposit are steep, but it uniquely permits the holder to work in Malaysia, offers the longest 20-year visa, and comes with lifestyle privileges (for example the ability to bring or hire a domestic helper). It is aimed at high-net-worth individuals who want to both live and be economically active in Malaysia and may see it as a step toward deeper roots.
The cheaper door: SEZ / Forest City Special Financial Zone MM2H
Alongside the three national tiers, a distinct and far more affordable route runs through the Forest City Special Financial Zone (SFZ) in Johor — part of the same Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone push. The SFZ MM2H is designed to pull residents into Forest City specifically, and its thresholds are dramatically lower:
| Feature | SFZ / Forest City MM2H |
|---|---|
| Fixed deposit (age 21–49) | USD 65,000 |
| Fixed deposit (age 50+) | USD 32,000 |
| Mandatory property | Forest City residential unit ≥ RM500,000 |
| Participation fee | RM1,000 |
| Minimum age | 21 |
Who can be included, and offshore income
MM2H is a family programme: the principal applicant can typically include a spouse, dependent children and parents under the same application, subject to the tier's conditions. This is a major reason business owners choose it over a string of individual passes — one approved structure can cover the household.
Notably, the 2024 framework waived the offshore monthly income requirement that the old programme imposed (previously RM40,000/month for some applicants). The financial test is now the fixed deposit and property, not a proven income stream — which makes the programme cleaner for entrepreneurs whose wealth is in assets and business equity rather than a fixed salary.
Tax: why MM2H is attractive for foreign income
Malaysia broadly taxes on a territorial basis: income sourced in Malaysia is taxable, while foreign-sourced income received by individuals is, under current rules, generally not taxed in the same way — a significant draw for MM2H holders whose income comes from overseas businesses, investments or pensions. This is one of the programme's quiet advantages for globally-mobile investors. That said, tax residency, remittance rules and any home-country tax obligations need proper planning — the headline "territorial" position is a starting point, not a complete answer, and the treatment of foreign income has been subject to policy attention in recent years. Anyone structuring a move should take current, personalised advice.
How the application works
The MM2H process is document- and approval-driven, and the sequence matters:
- Choose the tier or the SFZ route that matches your budget, age, family and where you want to live.
- Prepare and submit the application with the required personal, financial and medical documentation for the principal and each dependent.
- Receive conditional approval from the authorities.
- Place the fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank and complete the mandatory property purchase at the required minimum value.
- Complete medical insurance and health screening as required.
- Have the visa endorsed and collect the passes for the family.
- Maintain the conditions — keep the deposit and property in place, and renew before expiry.
Because the deposit and property are placed after conditional approval, applicants should have the capital ready but not committed until the approval is in hand.
MM2H vs. Employment Pass vs. company setup
MM2H is often confused with work-based routes. The distinction is simple: MM2H lets you live in Malaysia based on your own capital; an Employment Pass lets you work for a Malaysian company. Many entrepreneurs actually want both dimensions — to run a business and reside with family — and the right answer is frequently a combination: incorporate a Sdn. Bhd., obtain Employment Passes for the working directors and staff, and use MM2H (or Platinum, which permits work) for long-term family residence. The structures are complementary, not competing.
The bottom line
The restructured MM2H is more transparent than the programme it replaced: pick a tier, place a defined deposit, buy a qualifying property, and you have a long, renewable, family-wide residence visa — with a genuinely low tax footprint on foreign income and, in the Platinum tier or via a paired Employment Pass, the right to work. The cheaper Forest City SFZ route has opened the door to a much wider pool of applicants who want a Johor base near Singapore. The main decisions are which tier fits your capital and family, where you actually want to live, and whether MM2H alone, or MM2H combined with a company and Employment Pass, matches what you are really trying to do in Malaysia.
ONEKEY BIZ helps foreign investors and their families choose the right MM2H tier, prepare the application, and pair it with company incorporation and Employment Passes where needed. Talk to our team or explore our visa and residency services.
Frequently asked questions
What are the MM2H tiers and their fixed-deposit requirements in 2026?
MM2H has three national tiers. Silver requires a USD 150,000 fixed deposit (about RM650k–675k) and a 5-year renewable visa; Gold requires USD 500,000 and a 15-year visa; Platinum requires USD 1,000,000 and a 20-year visa. Each tier also requires a minimum property purchase (RM600k / RM1m / RM2m) after approval and a one-time participation fee (RM1,000 / RM3,000 / RM200,000). Only Platinum permits the holder to work in Malaysia.
Is there a cheaper MM2H route?
Yes — the Forest City Special Financial Zone (SFZ) route in Johor has much lower thresholds: a fixed deposit of USD 65,000 for applicants aged 21–49 or USD 32,000 for those aged 50 and above, a mandatory Forest City residential property of at least RM500,000, and a RM1,000 participation fee. The trade-off is that the property must be in Forest City, so the route suits those who genuinely want a base in the Johor / Forest City corridor near Singapore.
Can MM2H holders work in Malaysia?
In standard form MM2H is a residence visa, not a work permit — Silver and Gold holders may not take up local employment. The Platinum tier is the exception: it permits the holder to work. If your goal is to actively run or work for a Malaysian company, the usual route is to incorporate a Sdn. Bhd. and obtain an Employment Pass, which can be paired with MM2H for long-term family residence.
Is foreign income taxed for MM2H holders?
Malaysia broadly taxes on a territorial basis: Malaysian-sourced income is taxable, while foreign-sourced income received by individuals is, under current rules, generally not taxed the same way — a key attraction for MM2H holders whose income comes from overseas. However, tax residency, remittance rules and home-country obligations need proper planning, and the treatment of foreign income has drawn policy attention in recent years, so take current personalised advice before relocating.
Sources & references
This article is general information only, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Policies, thresholds and official fees are set by the relevant Malaysian authorities and may change. Talk to our consultants about your specific situation.