MM2H Visa Guide 2026
Malaysia My Second Home — the post-2024 Silver, Gold & Platinum tiers, explained for Penang
Last verified: 2026-06-11 — visa rules change, so confirm current requirements on the official portal before you apply.
MM2H was overhauled in July 2024 into three tiers (Silver / Gold / Platinum), with US-dollar fixed deposits, a mandatory property purchase, a lower minimum age, and no blanket monthly-income test. Always check the official Malaysia My Second Home portal (mm2h.gov.my) run by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. This page is general guidance, not immigration advice.
What is the MM2H Programme?
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) is a long-term, multiple-entry residence programme for foreign nationals who want to live in Malaysia for an extended period. Following a major overhaul in July 2024, it is no longer a single retiree-focused scheme — it now runs as three tiers (Silver, Gold and Platinum), each with its own deposit, visa length and property requirement, plus a separate Special Economic Zone category.
Silver, Gold & Platinum
Visa length depends on tier
National tiers (21 for SEZ)
Purchase now mandatory
The Three Tiers (2024 Overhaul)
Fixed deposits are set in US dollars. Ringgit figures shown are indicative conversions only — the binding amount is the USD figure on the official portal.
Silver
5 years (renewable)
- Fixed deposit
- USD 150,000 (≈ RM 660,000, indicative)
- Property purchase
- RM 600,000 minimum
- Government fee
- RM 1,000 participation fee
- No offshore-income requirement for this tier
- Up to 50% of the deposit can be withdrawn after one year for an approved property purchase, healthcare or tourism
Gold
15 years (renewable)
- Fixed deposit
- USD 500,000 (≈ RM 2.2 million, indicative)
- Property purchase
- RM 1,000,000 minimum
- Government fee
- RM 3,000 participation fee
- Proof of foreign/offshore income required
- Longer visa term suits families settling for the medium-to-long term
Platinum
20 years (renewable)
- Fixed deposit
- USD 1,000,000 (≈ RM 4.4 million, indicative)
- Property purchase
- RM 2,000,000 minimum
- Government fee
- RM 200,000 participation fee
- Platinum holders may work and invest in businesses in Malaysia
- Longest visa term and broadest privileges of the three tiers
Separate SEZ / Forest City category: a lower-cost Special Economic Zone route also exists (a smaller USD deposit, minimum age 21, and a ~10-year visa), but it ties you to designated zones such as Forest City in Johor — it is not a Penang route. There is also Sarawak’s own separate S-MM2H programme. Confirm details for both on the official portal.
What Changed in the July 2024 Overhaul
If you read an older MM2H guide, these are the points most likely to be out of date.
Three tiers replaced the old single programme
The previous one-size programme (a flat RM 1,000,000 deposit for over-50s and RM 500,000 for under-50s) is gone. MM2H is now Silver, Gold and Platinum, each with its own deposit, visa length and property requirement.
Monthly-income test abolished
The old offshore monthly-income requirement (most recently around RM 40,000/month) no longer applies as a blanket test. Gold and Platinum still ask for proof of foreign income; Silver does not.
Minimum age lowered
The minimum age for the national tiers is now 25 (down from 50/30 under the old rules), opening the programme to younger remote workers and investors, not just retirees.
Mandatory property purchase added
Every applicant must now buy a Malaysian property above the tier threshold (RM 600K Silver / RM 1M Gold / RM 2M Platinum) and hold it for at least 10 years before selling.
Deposits switched to US dollars
Tier deposits are set in USD (150K / 500K / 1M), not ringgit. Source reporting differs on the exact ringgit equivalent because exchange rates move — always confirm the binding USD figure on the official portal.
Buying Property in Penang on MM2H
MM2H now requires a property purchase — but it does not override Penang’s own state rules for foreign buyers. As of recent guidance, Penang sets a minimum foreigner purchase price of about RM 1,000,000 on Penang Island and about RM 500,000 on the mainland (Seberang Perai).
In practice your qualifying purchase must satisfy whichever number is higher — your MM2H tier threshold or Penang’s state minimum. For example, a Silver applicant whose tier minimum is RM 600,000 would still need to spend at least RM 1,000,000 to buy on Penang Island.
State property minimums are reviewed periodically. Confirm Penang’s current figures with a licensed Penang property lawyer or the State Authority before you commit.
How the Application Works
Exact forms, fees and timelines change between intakes — your licensed agent will give you the current checklist. Treat these as the broad shape of the process.
Choose Your Tier & Confirm Current Figures
Decide between Silver, Gold or Platinum based on your budget and how long you want the visa to run — then confirm the exact, current deposit and property figures on the official MM2H portal before committing.
Key items:
- ✓Decision on tier (Silver / Gold / Platinum)
- ✓Confirmation of current figures from the official MM2H portal
- ✓Valid passport (minimum validity per current requirements)
Engage a Licensed MM2H Agent
Applications are made through agents licensed by MOTAC. A licensed agent guides you through the current forms, fees and document list — which can change between intakes.
Key items:
- ✓Engagement with a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent
- ✓Clean criminal-record / good-conduct certificate
- ✓Medical report from a registered practitioner
Open the Fixed-Deposit Account
Open a fixed-deposit account at a Malaysian bank for your tier amount (in USD-equivalent terms). The deposit is locked, not spent.
Key items:
- ✓Passport & copies
- ✓Tier fixed-deposit amount (USD-denominated)
- ✓Bank documentation per the bank’s MM2H process
Submit & Receive Conditional Approval
Your agent submits the application to the MM2H Centre. On conditional approval you complete the remaining steps — including arranging the mandatory property purchase.
Key items:
- ✓Completed application via your licensed agent
- ✓All supporting documents
- ✓Conditional approval letter
Property Purchase, Final Approval & Visa Issuance
Complete your qualifying property purchase (above the tier threshold, and meeting Penang’s state minimum), satisfy any remaining conditions, then receive final approval and the visa endorsement.
Key items:
- ✓Property purchase above the tier + state minimum
- ✓Final approval letter
- ✓MM2H visa endorsed in passport
Sources & Accuracy Note
This page reflects the MM2H programme as restructured in July 2024 and as reported through 2025–2026. It was last verified on 2026-06-11. Immigration rules and figures change, and some details (such as the exact minimum annual-stay days and the ringgit value of the USD deposits) vary between sources — where that happens we say so rather than state a false-precise number.
- Official programme portal — Malaysia My Second Home, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (mm2h.gov.my)
- Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) — motac.gov.my MM2H programme page
- Corroborating coverage of the 2024 overhaul tiers and figures (ASEAN Briefing, Wise, Free Malaysia Today). For a binding answer, always defer to the official portal above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current MM2H tiers and fixed deposits?
After the July 2024 overhaul there are three national tiers. Silver: USD 150,000 fixed deposit, 5-year renewable visa, RM 600,000 property minimum. Gold: USD 500,000 deposit, 15-year visa, RM 1,000,000 property minimum. Platinum: USD 1,000,000 deposit, 20-year visa, RM 2,000,000 property minimum (and the right to work). Deposits are set in US dollars — confirm the exact current figures on the official MM2H portal before applying.
Is there still a monthly-income requirement?
The old blanket monthly-income test (most recently around RM 40,000/month) was dropped in the 2024 overhaul. Silver has no offshore-income requirement; Gold and Platinum still require proof of foreign income. The binding requirement can change — verify on the official portal.
What is the minimum age now?
The minimum age for the national Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers is now 25 — lowered from the old retiree-focused thresholds. The separate Special Economic Zone (SEZ/SFZ) category sets a lower minimum age of 21.
Do I have to buy property?
Yes. Mandatory property purchase is a defining change of the 2024 overhaul. The minimum is RM 600,000 (Silver), RM 1,000,000 (Gold) or RM 2,000,000 (Platinum), and the property must generally be held for at least 10 years. Note that Penang state sets its own foreigner minimums on top of this (see the Penang note below).
What about buying in Penang specifically?
MM2H does not override Penang’s state property rules. As of recent guidance, foreigners must spend at least RM 1,000,000 on Penang Island and at least RM 500,000 on the mainland (Seberang Perai). Your MM2H property purchase must meet whichever minimum is higher — the tier threshold or the Penang state threshold. Confirm current state minimums before you buy.
How long is the visa and how much time must I spend in Malaysia?
Visa terms are now tier-based: Silver 5 years, Gold 15 years, Platinum 20 years (all renewable). A minimum annual stay applies to younger applicants — widely reported as around 90 days a year for those under 50, with over-50s exempt. Sources differ on the exact day count, so treat this as approximate and verify on the official portal.
Can I work in Malaysia on MM2H?
For Silver and Gold, MM2H is a residence pass, not a work permit — you can work remotely for overseas employers or run an online/international business, but not take local employment. Platinum holders are permitted to work and invest in businesses in Malaysia.
What happens to my fixed deposit?
The fixed deposit is locked, not spent, and is refundable if your application is unsuccessful or when you exit the programme. Under the current rules, up to 50% can be withdrawn after one year for an approved property purchase, healthcare or tourism. The remaining balance stays locked while the visa is active.
Is Sarawak’s programme the same?
No. Sarawak runs its own separate programme, S-MM2H, with different rules (a RM 500,000 fixed deposit from January 2025, an age-50+ main track, and a shorter ~30-day annual-stay requirement). It is administered by Sarawak’s state tourism ministry, not the federal MM2H Centre. Penang applicants use the national (federal) MM2H programme described on this page.
Thinking of Settling in Penang?
MM2H is the long-stay route — but get to know the place first. Explore cost of living, neighbourhoods, healthcare and the everyday side of life on the island.