Malaysia My Second Home Program: A Comprehensive Guide

last updated: Aug 19th, 2025

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Malaysia Second Home Programs: An Overview

The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program is a residence visa project that offers long-term residency in exchange for a local fixed deposit. It is also Malaysia’s most well-known and popular immigration program.

In 2024, there are three types of Second Home programs available for application: the traditional Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, and the separate Second Home programs of the two states in East Malaysia: the Sarawak-MM2H (S-MM2H) and the Sabah-MM2H (SBH-MM2H).

Let’s take a closer look at the specific requirements for each of these three Second Home programs.

MM2H:

Financial Requirements:

MM2H is the most traditional and frequently mentioned Second Home program. In recent years, the policies for this program have been continuously adjusted and updated. Currently, MM2H is divided into four tiers/options: Silver, Golden, Platinum, and a special economic/financial zone option.

We have created an image to present the application requirements, membership benefits, and other special features for the different options of the Malaysia My Second Home program:

Application Process:

The MM2H application process can be broken down into three main steps:

1. Assessment and Preparation:

First, you’ll need to work with an officially licensed visa agency, as the Malaysian government requires all MM2H applications to be submitted through one. After signing an agreement with an agency, you’ll choose your application tier: Silver, Gold, Platinum, or a Special Economic/Financial Zone project. The agency will provide you with a checklist of required documents.

Typically, the necessary application documents include:

Personal Documents: Full copies of all passport pages (including blank ones) for all applicants, passport-sized photos (usually with a blue background), and the main applicant’s resume.

Proof of Relationship: Documents like marriage certificates and birth certificates to prove the relationship between the main applicant and their family members.

Criminal Record Check: The main applicant and all dependents aged 18 and over must provide a police-issued certificate of good conduct from their country of origin or current residence.

Financial Documents: While the new regulations have removed fixed requirements for offshore income and liquid assets, you will still need to provide relevant documents to meet the fixed deposit requirement for your chosen tier.

Health Declaration: All applicants must complete a health declaration form.

2. Submission and Approval:

Once all documents are prepared, your agency will submit your application to the official Malaysian MM2H One-Stop Centre.

The application then enters the review stage, which can take several months depending on the case.

If your application is initially approved, the main applicant will receive a Conditional Approval Letter through their agency. This letter signifies that your application is provisionally accepted. You will then have a specified period (usually six months) to travel to Malaysia to complete the final steps.

3. Finalization in Malaysia:

After receiving the conditional approval, the main applicant and their family must enter Malaysia within the designated time frame to complete the following requirements:

Deposit Funds: You must open an account at a Malaysian bank and deposit the required fixed deposit amount for your chosen tier. You’ll then get a fixed deposit certificate from the bank.

Purchase Medical Insurance: All applicants must purchase medical insurance that is recognized in Malaysia.

Medical Examination: All applicants must undergo a medical examination at a registered Malaysian clinic or hospital and obtain a medical report.

Pay Visa Fees

Purchase Property: (If applicable)

Receive Your Visa: Your agency will submit your passport, fixed deposit certificate, insurance policy, and medical report to the Malaysian Immigration Department. After their review, they will affix the MM2H visa to your passport.

Dependents:

Under the MM2H program, the main applicant’s spouse, unmarried children under 35 who are not employed in Malaysia, disabled children of any age, parents, and parents-in-law can be included in the application. Foreign domestic helpers can also be included, though this is typically only available for the Platinum tier.

Sarawak-MM2H:

Sarawak-MM2H: An Overview

Sarawak and Sabah are two states located in East Malaysia, separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the South China Sea. Due to historical and political reasons, these two states have a degree of autonomy in their immigration policies, which differ from those in West Malaysia. Sarawak, the larger of the two, is Malaysia’s biggest state.

The Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) is a specific visa program for the state of Sarawak. It’s a 10-year, renewable visa with the following main requirements:

Age: The main applicant must be 30 years or older.

Income or Savings: The main applicant must prove they have a stable monthly income or savings from outside Malaysia.

Income Option: A minimum monthly income of RM10,000 (approximately $1,400 USD). For a joint application with a spouse, the minimum is RM15,000 (approximately $2,100 USD).

Savings Option: A minimum of RM100,000 (approximately $14,000 USD) in a Malaysian bank. For a joint application, the minimum is RM200,000 (approximately $28,000 USD).

Fixed Deposit: The main applicant must deposit RM500,000 (approximately $70,000 USD) into a government-designated bank within Sarawak.

Participants in the S-MM2H program can withdraw up to 50% of their fixed deposit after the second year of receiving their visa. This can be used for purchasing property or a car, medical expenses, or their children’s education, as long as the educational institution is within the state of Sarawak.

Application Process:

The application process for the Sarawak My Second Home (S-MM2H) program is straightforward, but it generally requires the assistance of a locally registered agent.

While you can apply on your own, you must be sponsored by a person born and living in Sarawak.

Dependents:

Under the S-MM2H program, the main applicant’s spouse, parents, and children under the age of 21 can also be included in the visa application.

Visa Validity:

The S-MM2H visa is valid for 10 years and is renewable. To maintain the visa, you must meet the following two conditions:

1. Residency: You must spend a minimum of 30 days per year in Sarawak.

2. Financials & Employment: You cannot be employed or engage in business activities in Sarawak, and you must always maintain the required fixed deposit in the bank.

Sabah-MM2H:

Sabah-MM2H: An Overview

Starting in April 2024, the Sabah State Cabinet officially approved the Sabah My Second Home (SBH-MM2H) program, making it the third officially operating My Second Home program in Malaysia.

The core requirements for this program are as follows:

1. Age and Health: Applicants must be at least 30 years old, in good health, and have no criminal record.

2. Tiered System: The S-MM2H program is divided into three tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Silver: Requires a RM500,000 fixed deposit in the Sabah Ministry of Tourism’s trust fund, a minimum monthly income of RM10,000 (or RM15,000 for applicants with dependents), and the purchase of a property in Sabah valued at RM600,000 or more. This grants a 5+5 year S-MM2H Silver card.

Gold: Requires a $500,000 USD fixed deposit in the Sabah Ministry of Tourism’s trust fund and the purchase of a property valued at RM1,000,000 or more. This grants a 15-year S-MM2H Gold card.

Platinum: Requires a $1,000,000 USD fixed deposit in the Sabah Ministry of Tourism’s trust fund and the purchase of a property valued at RM2,000,000 or more. This grants a 20-year S-MM2H Platinum card.

Note: All fixed deposits can have up to 40% withdrawn after the third year for living expenses in Sabah.

3. Income: Your monthly income must be at least RM10,000 (approximately $1,550 USD). If you have dependents, this requirement increases to at least RM15,000 (approximately $2,320 USD).

4. Property: You must purchase a property in Sabah valued at RM600,000 (approximately $93,000 USD) or more.

5. Residency: You are required to reside in Sabah for a minimum of 30 days each year.

6. Sponsor: You need to have a local Sabah resident sponsor your application. This requirement is typically handled by your agent.

Meeting these conditions allows you to apply for a ten-year S-MM2H membership.

Application Process:

The application process for the S-MM2H program is a straightforward, multi-step journey.

1. Application Submission: To start, you’ll gather all necessary documents, including your income statements from the past three months, fill out the application form, and submit everything to the Sabah Immigration Department.

2. Deposit and Medical Check: While waiting for your visa to be approved, you should plan a trip to Malaysia to complete a few key steps. This includes making your required deposit at a local bank and undergoing a medical examination. These actions demonstrate that you are seriously committed to the application.

3. Conditional Pass: After an eight to ten-week review period, if the Sabah Immigration Department gives preliminary approval, you will receive a Conditional Pass. At this point, you have six months to purchase property and finalize all other investment requirements.

4. Final Approval: Once you’ve completed all the investment requirements, you’ll need to schedule a formal interview with the Sabah Immigration Department to receive your final Sabah MM2H status.

The visa fee for the entire process is RM500 per person.