Four residence routes in Malaysia
1. MM2H. The federal programme has Silver (USD 150,000 deposit, property from RM 600,000, 5 years), Gold (USD 500,000, RM 1,000,000, 15 years), Platinum (USD 1,000,000, RM 2,000,000, 20 years) and SEZ/SFZ categories (10 years; USD 65,000 deposit at ages 21–49 or USD 32,000 from age 50; property under the special zone rules). The minimum age is 25, or 21 for SEZ/SFZ. State and property rules require separate checks. Family inclusion, medical requirements and renewal are not automatic.
A residential property purchase is mandatory. MOTAC restricts sale for 10 years but permits replacement with a more expensive property under programme rules. Up to 50% of the deposit may be withdrawn with approval for property, education, medical care and tourism in Malaysia; confirm timing and evidence before using the funds. Participants under 50 must meet a 90-day annual stay requirement; whether dependants can fulfil it depends on category rules.
2. DE Rantau. A Professional Visit Pass for qualifying digital professionals and other occupations listed by MDEC. New applications are temporarily closed from 1–30 November 2026 and resume on 1 December 2026. From that date, new applications and renewals require annual income of at least USD 36,000 for Tech Talent or USD 60,000 for Non-Tech Talent. The announced framework offers an initial 3–12-month pass and up to three 12-month renewals: up to 48 months overall, subject to continued eligibility and separate approval. Existing passes remain valid until their approved expiry date; November first renewals follow MDEC transitional rules.
Evidence must cover overseas employment or foreign client contracts, income and profession. FAQ v11 allows at most three overseas clients/employers simultaneously, contracts that started at least three months before application and three months of financial evidence. Online submission does not replace entry formalities and endorsement. The programme covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan; Sabah and Sarawak have separate rules.
3. A company and employment within it. Registering a Sdn Bhd does not itself authorise its founder to live or work in Malaysia. Work requires a suitable pass; business activity, employer registration, paid-up capital and sector conditions must be checked.
4. Employment Pass. The employer applies for permission to work in its organisation. For new applications and renewals from 1 June 2026, general monthly salary thresholds are Category I: at least RM 20,000; II: RM 10,000–19,999; III: RM 5000–9999. Category III in manufacturing and related services has a minimum of RM 7000. Categories II/III require local succession plans; salary is only one condition.
MM2H application steps
- Choose the category, state and property; check the deposit and property budget.
- Verify a licensed MM2H operator and apply through it using the MOTAC checklist.
- Prepare passports, family relationship evidence, certificates of good conduct and documents for your family composition. Do not assume one arbitrary statement period applies universally.
- After approval, fulfil the approval letter, deposit and property purchase conditions.
- Complete the mandatory medical examination at a MOTAC-designated institution and arrange the required insurance.
- Complete endorsement and obtain the document with the actual approved duration.
- Maintain stay, property and renewal compliance. A support contract does not guarantee processing times.
Application and living costs
Government fees and mandatory costs
The MM2H deposit and property purchase are separate commitments, not a service fee. MOTAC lists one-off participation fees of RM 1000 for Silver, RM 3000 for Gold, RM 200,000 for Platinum and RM 1000 for SEZ/SFZ. It separately lists processing fees of RM 5000 for the principal applicant and RM 2500 per dependant. Check the category, transaction, current invoice and other immigration charges before payment.
MDEC FAQ v11 lists DE Rantau processing fees of RM 1080 for the principal applicant and RM 540 per dependant, including 8% SST. Immigration fees are RM 90 per three months or RM 360 per year; additional visa fees depend on citizenship. MDEC sponsorship involves a personal/security bond based on the country schedule. Payment does not guarantee approval; processing fees are non-refundable.
Parallax support
MM2H: €3000; DE Rantau: €2400; an additional adult family member under the DE Rantau package: €1200. MM2H support includes consultation, application preparation, submission through a licensed operator and assistance with the deposit, medical examination and pass issuance. DE Rantau support includes online submission and assistance through the decision and issuance if approved. Service scope, government fees and third-party costs are agreed separately. Paying for support does not change programme requirements.
Living budget
For Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Johor Bahru, compare available housing, deposits, utilities, insurance, transport, schooling and a reserve for visits. A reliable family budget uses current supplier quotes; we do not promise universal insurance, medical examination or apartment prices.
What a residence pass provides
Your rights depend on the pass and its conditions. A bank account is not guaranteed: MDEC warns that many banks do not accept a Professional Visit Pass for account opening. Children studying under DE Rantau should apply for a Student Pass through their school; a spouse's dependant pass does not itself authorise work. Switching programmes requires a separate assessment and application.
Naturalisation is a separate process. JPN requires applicants to be at least 21, with at least 10 years of residence in the preceding 12, including the final 12 months, an intention to reside permanently, good character, Malay language knowledge and two suitable citizen referees. Meeting a residence period or renewing MM2H does not guarantee citizenship.
Taxes in Malaysia
Resident income tax
Tax residence is assessed under section 7 of the Income Tax Act: 182 days is one test, with linked periods and other conditions. Residents face progressive rates on taxable income, with deductions and specific rules; non-residents and particular income categories have different treatment. A pass does not replace a tax assessment.
Foreign income
Qualifying foreign income of resident individuals is exempt until 31 December 2036, with an exception for partnership business income. Source-country taxation requirements and applicable exceptions must be checked. A foreign client or payment into an overseas account does not prove foreign source: work physically performed in Malaysia may be taxable there. MDEC separately explains taxation for remote employees and independent professionals.
Corporate income tax
The standard corporate rate is 24%. Reduced rates for qualifying companies depend on capital, turnover, ownership and other conditions; foreign incorporation does not automatically qualify. Labuan has a separate regime that cannot be applied to every Sdn Bhd.
SST (Sales and Service Tax)
SST comprises sales tax and service tax; it is not a universal VAT. Many taxable services attract 8% service tax, while certain categories have 6% or a specific amount. Coverage and some rates changed in 2025–2026; check the transaction classification with Customs/MySST.
Points to watch
- DE Rantau in November 2026: new applications are suspended; first renewals have special transitional conditions.
- Four years under the enhanced framework is a maximum through separate approvals, not an initial four-year visa.
- MM2H deposits cannot be spent freely; withdrawals and property transactions are restricted.
- Avoid non-refundable travel, rental or school commitments based on a guaranteed approval date.
- Check income sourcing and work authorisation separately from having a foreign client.