Malaysia stay

In plain termsPick the door that matches where you will live, not the brochure with the lowest fixed deposit. Stay answers "can I remain." Local hire still needs an Employment Pass.

Three stay doors, not one

Federal MM2H — Peninsular-facing programme under MOTAC. Four categories: Platinum / Gold / Silver / SEZ-SFZ.
Sabah MM2H / Sarawak S-MM2H — state programmes, separate from federal MM2H (yes; yes). The pass is tied to that state.
DE Rantau — a Professional Visit Pass for remote work for a foreign employer, not a second-home programme.

Federal MM2H — which money tier

yes. Offshore income is no longer a gate for new participants (yes). You still place a fixed deposit, pay a one-off fee, and buy a residence after approval. Minimum age for Platinum / Gold / Silver is 25 years. Cumulative stay is 90 days a year.

Category	Fixed deposit	Fee / property / pass
Platinum	1000000 USD	Fee 200000 MYR; property from 2000000 MYR; pass 20 years. Career / business stated as permissible (yes).
Gold	500000 USD	Fee 3000 MYR; property from 1000000 MYR; pass 15 years. Career needs a separate pass (yes).
Silver	150000 USD	Fee 1000 MYR; property from 600000 MYR; pass 5 years. Same career rule as Gold.
SEZ / SFZ	Ages 21–49: 65000 USD. Ages 50+: 32000 USD	Fee 1000 MYR; pass 10 years; age from 21 years. Property in Forest City, Johor (yes) — floor price follows Johor policy, not a fixed RM on the Terms PDF (yes). Career not allowed (yes).

After approval you may withdraw up to 50% of the fixed deposit for residence, education, medical or tourism. Stay is still not work authority by itself (yes).

Sabah and Sarawak — separate state programmesDifferent age floors, deposits and geography rules

Sabah MM2H

Administered by the State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment. Minimum age 25 years; minimum stay 30 days a year in Sabah. The pass is Sabah-only — travel to Peninsular Malaysia needs Immigration approval (yes).

Silver — FD 500000 MYR; property from 600000 MYR; monthly income from 10000 MYR (single); pass 5+5 years.
Gold — FD 500000 USD; property from 1000000 MYR; pass 15 years.
Platinum — FD 1000000 USD; property from 2000000 MYR; pass 20 years; career stated as permissible (yes).

Sarawak S-MM2H

Under MTCP Sarawak. Minimum age 30 years. Mandatory FD 500000 MYR in a Sarawak panel bank, then keep at least 250000 MYR in that account. Pension or offshore income from 10000 MYR a month for a single applicant (or a savings track published in the same guide). Minimum stay 30 days a year in Sarawak. Pass 5+5 years. Processing fee 5000 MYR. Full-time work is not allowed (yes).

DE Rantau — remote work, not second home

The federal pass type is a Professional Visit Pass. Validity is 3–12 months with one renewal, maximum 24 months total. A spouse cannot work (no). Federal DE Rantau covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only — Sabah and Sarawak entry is as a tourist (yes).

Sarawak has a separate DE Rantau Sarawak Pass (yes): same 24-month ceiling (24 months), income from 24000 USD a year, covers Sarawak plus Peninsular Malaysia (yes), still not Sabah. Spouse still cannot work (no).

Earn / Employment Pass · Tax · Malaysia hub

Evidence and sources64 dated facts for Malaysia stay — federal MM2H (incl. SEZ/SFZ), Sabah & Sarawak state programmes, DE Rantau (+ Sarawak)

The readable briefing above uses these cells. Open a source only when you need to verify a number, date, or legal gate.

MM2H is Malaysia’s published long-stay programme administered with Immigration endorsement
Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia MM2H English service page — Malaysia My Second Home programme for long-stay social visit pass endorsement / renewal under Immigration
yeschecked Aug 2026
An MM2H stay endorsement is not by itself Malaysian work authority
JIM MM2H page lists a separate part-time work checklist and LHDN relief letter requirements for participants who seek work permission — MM2H endorsement alone is not Employment Pass authority
yeschecked Aug 2026
Published federal MM2H category names
mm2h.gov.my programme home + category overview — four published categories under federal MM2H administered by MOTAC OSC MM2H; final immigration approval sits with Home Affairs / Immigration
Platinum / Gold / Silver / SEZ-SFZchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Platinum fixed deposit
MOTAC Terms and Regulations for New Participants under MM2H (accurate as of 22 Jul 2024) §A Platinum — Fixed Deposit of USD 1 million in a Malaysian FSA/IFSA-licensed institution; offshore-income requirement dropped for every category
1000000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Platinum one-off participating fee
MOTAC MM2H Terms §A Platinum — participating fee RM200,000 one-off for the principal; no participating fee for dependents
200000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Platinum minimum residence purchase
MOTAC MM2H Terms §A Platinum — compulsory residence purchase of RM2 million or above after approval; sale barred for 10 years except upgrade to higher value
2000000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Platinum pass length
MOTAC MM2H Terms §A Platinum — MM2H pass for a period of 20 years with Multiple Entry Visa, renewable
20 yearschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Platinum states career / business as permissible
MOTAC MM2H Terms §A Platinum — Business/Investment Activities: Permissible; Career Opportunities: Permissible
yeschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Gold fixed deposit
MOTAC MM2H Terms §B Gold — Fixed Deposit of USD500,000; offshore-income requirement dropped
500000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Gold one-off participating fee
MOTAC MM2H Terms §B Gold — participating fee RM3,000 one-off for the principal
3000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Gold minimum residence purchase
MOTAC MM2H Terms §B Gold — compulsory residence purchase of RM1 million or above after approval
1000000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Gold pass length
MOTAC MM2H Terms §B Gold — MM2H pass for a period of 15 years with Multiple Entry Visa, renewable
15 yearschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Silver fixed deposit
MOTAC MM2H Terms §C Silver — Fixed Deposit of USD150,000; offshore-income requirement dropped
150000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Silver one-off participating fee
MOTAC MM2H Terms §C Silver — participating fee RM1,000 one-off for the principal
1000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Silver minimum residence purchase
MOTAC MM2H Terms §C Silver — compulsory residence purchase of RM600,000 or above after approval
600000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H Silver pass length
MOTAC MM2H Terms §C Silver — MM2H pass for a period of 5 years with Multiple Entry Visa, renewable
5 yearschecked Aug 2026
Minimum age for federal Platinum / Gold / Silver
MOTAC MM2H Terms General Requirements (ii) — 25 years and above for all categories (Platinum/Gold/Silver). SEZ/SFZ has its own age floor of 21 on the separate SEZ Terms PDF
25 yearschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H minimum cumulative stay per year
MOTAC MM2H Terms Platinum/Gold/Silver — be present / staying in Malaysia for 90 days (cumulative) in one year; for ages 25–49 the days can be fulfilled by the principal or dependents
90 dayschecked Aug 2026
Maximum FD withdrawal after federal MM2H approval
MOTAC MM2H Terms — maximum withdrawal of 50% of principal FD after approval for purchasing a residence, education, medical and tourism activities in Malaysia
50%checked Aug 2026
Gold and Silver federal MM2H require a separate pass before career or business
MOTAC MM2H Terms §B Gold and §C Silver — Business/Investment and Career Opportunities: Not allowed; the relevant pass must be requested
yeschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H dropped the offshore-income gate for new participants
MOTAC MM2H Terms Platinum/Gold/Silver financial requirements — all requirements for offshore income for every category are dropped
yeschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ fixed deposit ages 21–49
MOTAC Terms and Regulations under Special Economic Zone/Special Financial Zone Category — FD USD65,000 for ages 21 to 49
65000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ fixed deposit ages 50+
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — FD USD32,000 for ages 50 and above
32000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ one-off participating fee
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — participating fee RM1,000 one-off for the principal; no fee for dependents
1000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ pass length
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — MM2H pass for a period of 10 years with Multiple Entry Visa, renewable
10 yearschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ minimum age
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — applicants aged 21 and above
21 yearschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ minimum cumulative stay per year
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — 90 days cumulative stay per year; for ages 21–49 the days can be fulfilled by the principal and/or dependents
90 dayschecked Aug 2026
SEZ/SFZ MM2H names Forest City, Johor as the compulsory residence zone
mm2h.gov.my SEZ/SFZ category page — compulsory to purchase and own a property/house in Forest City, Johor after approval; floor price subject to Johor state property acquisition policy. MOTAC SEZ PDF mirrors the Johor floor-price rule and developer-only purchase, 10-year sale bar
yeschecked Aug 2026
SEZ/SFZ has no fixed RM property floor on the MOTAC Terms PDF
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms Purchase of Residence — floor price subject to Johor state property acquisition policy (no fixed RM figure on the SEZ Terms PDF, unlike Platinum/Gold/Silver)
yeschecked Aug 2026
SEZ/SFZ MM2H does not permit career or business on the pass alone
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — Business/Investment Activities: Not Allowed; Career Opportunities: Not Allowed
yeschecked Aug 2026
Federal MM2H SEZ/SFZ renewal fee
MOTAC SEZ/SFZ Terms — renewal pass fee RM300 for principal and dependents
300 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H is a separate state programme from federal MM2H
Sabah Tourism / KePKAS Sabah-MM2H portal — Sabah My Second Home is administered by the State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment; the pass indicates SABAH only and is distinct from federal MOTAC MM2H
yeschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H holders need Immigration approval to travel to Peninsular Malaysia
Sabah-MM2H Silver/Gold/Platinum pages — Sabah MM2H can only reside in Sabah; travelling to Peninsular states needs Immigration approval (simple same-day facilitation stated on the pages)
yeschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H minimum age
Sabah-MM2H Silver/Gold/Platinum — applicants must be at least 25 years of age
25 yearschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H minimum cumulative stay per year
Sabah-MM2H Silver/Gold/Platinum — minimum cumulative stay of 30 days per year in Sabah
30 dayschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Silver fixed deposit
Sabah-MM2H Silver page — RM500,000 Fixed Deposit in any SABAH-MM2H panel bank in Sabah; max 50% withdrawal after 1 year for residence, education, medical
500000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Silver minimum residence purchase
Sabah-MM2H Silver — compulsory high-rise property purchase in Sabah after approval, minimum RM600,000
600000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Silver monthly income floor (single)
Sabah-MM2H Silver — proof of monthly income RM10,000 for a single applicant; RM15,000 with dependents
10000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Silver pass length
Sabah-MM2H Silver — Multiple Entry Visa for principal and dependents for a period of 5+5 years, renewable
5+5 yearschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Gold fixed deposit
Sabah-MM2H Gold — USD500,000 Fixed Deposit in any SABAH-MM2H panel bank in Sabah
500000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Gold minimum residence purchase
Sabah-MM2H Gold — compulsory residence purchase in Sabah after approval, minimum RM1,000,000
1000000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Gold pass length
Sabah-MM2H Gold — Multiple Entry Visa for a period of 15 years, renewable
15 yearschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Platinum fixed deposit
Sabah-MM2H Platinum — USD1 million Fixed Deposit in any SABAH-MM2H panel bank in Sabah
1000000 USDchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Platinum minimum residence purchase
Sabah-MM2H Platinum — compulsory residence purchase in Sabah after approval, minimum RM2,000,000
2000000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Platinum pass length
Sabah-MM2H Platinum — Multiple Entry Visa for a period of 20 years, renewable
20 yearschecked Aug 2026
Sabah MM2H Platinum states career as permissible
Sabah-MM2H Platinum — Career Opportunities: Permissible
yeschecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H is a separate state programme from federal MM2H
MTCP Sarawak SMM2H Application Guide (amended 31 Jul 2025) — Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home is a state programme under the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak; it is not the federal MOTAC MM2H
yeschecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H minimum age
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide 31 Jul 2025 — age 30 years old and above; open to citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with Malaysia except Israel and North Korea
30 yearschecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H mandatory fixed deposit
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide — Fixed Deposit RM500,000 (main applicant) mandatory in any SMM2H panel local bank in Sarawak
500000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H minimum FD balance to keep
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide — successful applicants must maintain a minimum balance of RM250,000 in the SMM2H fixed deposit account in panel banks
250000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H monthly pension/offshore income floor (single)
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide — pension or offshore income RM10,000 monthly for an individual applicant; RM15,000 with dependent (alongside the mandatory FD)
10000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H minimum cumulative stay per year
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide — all main participants must stay at least 30 days every year in Sarawak as a condition for extension and renewal
30 dayschecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H pass length
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide — successful applicants issued 5+5 years social visit pass; second half (years 6–10) subject to renewal conditions
5+5 yearschecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H processing fee
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide — one-time non-refundable processing fee of RM5,000 to MTCP Sarawak
5000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Sarawak S-MM2H does not allow full-time work
MTCP SMM2H Application Guide Requirement on Work/Investment — SMM2H participants are not eligible to work full time; part-time professional work capped at 20 hours/week in ILMU-approved sectors via MTCP
yeschecked Aug 2026
DE Rantau issues a Professional Visit Pass, not an Employment Pass
MDEC DE Rantau Pass FAQ V8 Q4 — the pass offered is the Professional Visit Pass (Pas Lawatan Ikhtisas)
Professional Visit Passchecked Aug 2026
Maximum total DE Rantau stay including renewal
MDEC DE Rantau Pass FAQ V8 Q4 — PVP valid 3–12 months, renewable for an additional 12 months, maximum stay 24 months in total
24 monthschecked Aug 2026
A DE Rantau dependent spouse is not allowed to work in Malaysia on that pass
MDEC DE Rantau Pass FAQ V8 Q10 — spouse cannot work in Malaysia under this pass
nochecked Aug 2026
Federal DE Rantau does not cover stay in Sabah or Sarawak
MDEC DE Rantau Pass FAQ V8 Q16 — DE Rantau Nomad Pass facilitates stay only in Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory of Labuan; travel to Sabah or Sarawak uses a tourist pass
yeschecked Aug 2026
DE Rantau Sarawak is a separate Professional Visit Pass from federal DE Rantau
MDEC / SDEC FAQ Sarawak DE Rantau Pass — DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass is a separate Professional Visit Pass for qualified foreign digital nomads to travel and work in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia
yeschecked Aug 2026
DE Rantau Sarawak maximum total stay
FAQ Sarawak DE Rantau Pass — Professional Visit Pass valid 3–12 months, renewable once for another 12 months, total 24 months
24 monthschecked Aug 2026
DE Rantau Sarawak annual income floor
FAQ Sarawak DE Rantau Pass — annual income > USD24,000 per year for foreign digital freelancers / remote workers in digital domains
24000 USDchecked Aug 2026
DE Rantau Sarawak covers Sarawak plus Peninsular Malaysia
FAQ Sarawak DE Rantau Pass — yes, the pass facilitates stay in Sarawak and any states in Peninsular Malaysia; Sabah entry still uses a tourist pass
yeschecked Aug 2026
DE Rantau Sarawak spouse may not work on the dependent pass
FAQ Sarawak DE Rantau Pass — Can my spouse work in Malaysia under this pass? No
nochecked Aug 2026

Common questions

Which long-stay door should I look at first?

If you want Peninsular Malaysia under the federal programme, start with MM2H (Platinum, Gold, Silver, or SEZ/SFZ). If you want to live in Sabah or Sarawak, those states run separate programmes — federal MM2H is not the same pass. If you only need remote work for a foreign employer for up to two years, look at DE Rantau (Peninsular + Labuan) or DE Rantau Sarawak (Sarawak + Peninsular).

What is the SEZ/SFZ MM2H category?

A fourth federal MM2H tier aimed at Special Economic / Financial Zones. Fixed deposit is USD65,000 at ages 21–49 or USD32,000 at 50+, participating fee RM1,000, and a 10-year pass. You must buy property in Forest City, Johor after approval; the floor price follows Johor state policy, not a fixed RM figure on the MOTAC Terms PDF. Career and business are not allowed on this pass alone.

Can I work on MM2H or DE Rantau?

Not as a substitute for an Employment Pass. Federal Gold and Silver require a separate relevant pass before career or business; SEZ/SFZ forbids both. Platinum states career and business as permissible — still read the MOTAC row before you treat it as a free work pass. DE Rantau and DE Rantau Sarawak let you work remotely for a foreign employer; a spouse on either pass cannot work in Malaysia.

Does federal DE Rantau let me live in Sabah or Sarawak?

No. The MDEC FAQ says federal DE Rantau covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only. Entry into Sabah or Sarawak on that pass is as a tourist. Sarawak has its own DE Rantau Sarawak Pass that covers Sarawak plus Peninsular Malaysia — still not Sabah.