Visa-free entry (Social Visit Pass): US citizens need no visa for social, business or academic visits, but not for employment (Immigration Department visa requirement list). Working for a Malaysian employer on this pass is prohibited. All foreign visitors must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before arrival. Sabah and Sarawak run their own entry controls and stamp a separate pass on arrival there.
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Living in Malaysia long term
Malaysia runs three separate MM2H programs (a federal tier system for the peninsula, plus Sarawak and Sabah state programs), a 24 month digital nomad pass, and standard work passes. None of the residence passes lead to permanent residence. Tax residency starts at 182 days.
Numbers on this page apply to holders of a passport. Page last verified: 2026-10-15
Rules change. Confirm the current rules with the official source or the consulate for Malaysia before you apply, pay a fee, or book travel around a date in this table.
Every route, with the math
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| Route | Income required | Investment required | Total cost | Processing time | Days allowed | Renewal rules | Tax residency trigger | Years to permanent residency | Years to citizenship | Last verified | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry (Social Visit Pass) Tourist allowance | Not applicable. No income test at the border. Officers may ask for proof of funds and an onward or return ticket. | Not applicable | Free. No visa fee and no pass fee. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is submitted online before arrival and is free. | Issued on arrival at the border | 90 days per entry | Not renewable. The Immigration Department grants an extension of a Social Visit Pass only on special consideration, for example illness, accident or war in the home country, with evidence and a confirmed onward ticket. There is no extension as of right, and repeated back to back entries to reset the 90 days can be refused. | Tax resident for a basis year if present in Malaysia for periods amounting to 182 days or more in that year (section 7(1)(a), Income Tax Act 1967). Linked shorter periods and a 90 day rule can also create residence. | No path from tourist entry | No path from tourist entry | Official source | |
| MM2H Platinum (federal) Passive income | No monthly income test under the current terms. The financial test is the fixed deposit plus the compulsory property purchase. | Fixed deposit of USD 1,000,000 in a Malaysian bank, plus compulsory purchase of a residential property of at least RM2,000,000 after approval. Up to 50 percent of the deposit may be withdrawn for property purchase, medical care, education and tourism spending in Malaysia. The property cannot be sold for 10 years except to upgrade to a higher value property. | Participating fee RM200,000 (one-off), plus MOTAC processing fee RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 per dependent. Immigration pass fee RM500 per person per year plus a visa fee set by nationality (reported). Applications must go through a MOTAC licensed MM2H company, and the agent fee is additional (reported cap RM70,000). The fixed deposit and property purchase are separate and listed under investment. | (reported) Typically 2 to 6 months from submission to approval. MOTAC publishes no official processing time for the current program. | 20 year term. The pass itself is issued in blocks of up to 5 years at a time. | Renewable at the end of the 20 year term for a fee of RM5,000, subject to meeting the program terms. Minimum stay: none at age 50 and above. Ages 25 to 49 must total 90 days a year in Malaysia, counted across the principal, spouse and dependents together. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). MM2H program terms state that participants pay no tax on foreign funds or income and no tax on profit from the fixed deposit. | No path. The Tourism Minister told Parliament in February 2025 that participants under the current MM2H are not eligible to apply for permanent residence. | No path from MM2H. Naturalization is a separate route that runs through the Entry Permit (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| MM2H Gold (federal) Passive income | No monthly income test under the current terms. The financial test is the fixed deposit plus the compulsory property purchase. | Fixed deposit of USD 500,000 in a Malaysian bank, plus compulsory purchase of a residential property of at least RM1,000,000 after approval. Up to 50 percent of the deposit may be withdrawn for property purchase, medical care, education and tourism spending in Malaysia. The property cannot be sold for 10 years except to upgrade to a higher value property. | Participating fee RM3,000 (one-off), plus MOTAC processing fee RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 per dependent. Immigration pass fee RM500 per person per year plus a visa fee set by nationality (reported). Applications must go through a MOTAC licensed MM2H company, and the agent fee is additional (reported cap RM55,000). The fixed deposit and property purchase are separate and listed under investment. | (reported) Typically 2 to 6 months from submission to approval. MOTAC publishes no official processing time for the current program. | 15 year term. The pass itself is issued in blocks of up to 5 years at a time. | Renewable at the end of the 15 year term for a fee of RM3,000, subject to meeting the program terms. Minimum stay: none at age 50 and above. Ages 25 to 49 must total 90 days a year in Malaysia, counted across the principal, spouse and dependents together. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). MM2H program terms state that participants pay no tax on foreign funds or income and no tax on profit from the fixed deposit. | No path. The Tourism Minister told Parliament in February 2025 that participants under the current MM2H are not eligible to apply for permanent residence. | No path from MM2H. Naturalization is a separate route that runs through the Entry Permit (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| MM2H Silver (federal) Passive income | No monthly income test under the current terms. The financial test is the fixed deposit plus the compulsory property purchase. | Fixed deposit of USD 150,000 in a Malaysian bank, plus compulsory purchase of a residential property of at least RM600,000 after approval. Up to 50 percent of the deposit may be withdrawn for property purchase, medical care, education and tourism spending in Malaysia. The property cannot be sold for 10 years except to upgrade to a higher value property. | Participating fee RM1,000 (one-off), plus MOTAC processing fee RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 per dependent. Immigration pass fee RM500 per person per year plus a visa fee set by nationality (reported). Applications must go through a MOTAC licensed MM2H company, and the agent fee is additional (reported cap RM40,000). The fixed deposit and property purchase are separate and listed under investment. | (reported) Typically 2 to 6 months from submission to approval. MOTAC publishes no official processing time for the current program. | 5 year term. The pass itself is issued in blocks of up to 5 years at a time. | Renewable at the end of the 5 year term for a fee of RM1,500, subject to meeting the program terms. Minimum stay: none at age 50 and above. Ages 25 to 49 must total 90 days a year in Malaysia, counted across the principal, spouse and dependents together. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). MM2H program terms state that participants pay no tax on foreign funds or income and no tax on profit from the fixed deposit. | No path. The Tourism Minister told Parliament in February 2025 that participants under the current MM2H are not eligible to apply for permanent residence. | No path from MM2H. Naturalization is a separate route that runs through the Entry Permit (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| MM2H Special Economic Zone and Special Financial Zone (federal) Passive income | No monthly income test under the current terms. The financial test is the fixed deposit plus the compulsory property purchase inside the zone. | Fixed deposit of USD 65,000 at ages 21 to 49, or USD 32,000 at age 50 and above, in a Malaysian bank. Plus compulsory purchase of a property inside the Special Economic Zone or Special Financial Zone (in practice Forest City, Johor), bought from the developer at the price set for the zone development (reported minimum RM500,000 for Forest City units). Up to 50 percent of the deposit may be withdrawn for property purchase, medical care, education and tourism spending in Malaysia. | Participating fee RM1,000 (one-off), plus MOTAC processing fee RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 per dependent. Immigration pass fee RM500 per person per year plus a visa fee set by nationality (reported). Applications must go through a MOTAC licensed MM2H company, and the agent fee is additional (reported cap RM40,000). The fixed deposit and property purchase are separate and listed under investment. | (reported) Typically 2 to 6 months from submission to approval. MOTAC publishes no official processing time for the current program. | 10 year term. The pass itself is issued in blocks of up to 5 years at a time. | Renewable at the end of the 10 year term for a fee of RM300, subject to meeting the program terms. Minimum stay follows the federal rule: none at age 50 and above, 90 days a year counted across the family at ages 25 to 49. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). MM2H program terms state that participants pay no tax on foreign funds or income and no tax on profit from the fixed deposit. | No path. The Tourism Minister told Parliament in February 2025 that participants under the current MM2H are not eligible to apply for permanent residence. | No path from MM2H. Naturalization is a separate route that runs through the Entry Permit (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H) Passive income | One of three options (MTCP application guide, amended 31 July 2025): pension funds of RM10,000 per month for an individual or RM15,000 per month with dependents; or offshore income of RM10,000 per month (RM15,000 with dependents); or savings funds with a closing balance of RM100,000 for an individual or RM200,000 with dependents across the latest 3 months. The savings option is subject to panel approval. | Fixed deposit of RM500,000 per application, including spouse and dependents, in an S-MM2H panel bank in Sarawak. At least RM250,000 must stay on deposit. Up to 50 percent may be withdrawn after one year for a house purchase in Sarawak, a car purchase in Sarawak, medical costs in Sarawak, or children's education in Sarawak. Property purchase is optional. Foreign buyers face state minimum purchase prices of RM600,000 in Kuching Division and RM500,000 in other divisions. | Processing fee RM5,000 (one-off, non-refundable) to the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts. Security bond for US citizens RM2,000 (Immigration Department bond table). A Sarawakian sponsor or a Sarawak registered licensed agent is required; a personal sponsor must be immediate family and can sponsor only one applicant. The fixed deposit is separate and listed under investment. | About 90 working days (reported, Sarawak Tourism Board). The current MTCP application guide publishes no processing time. | 5 years, then a second 5 year period. After 10 years a completely new application is required, filed 6 months before the pass expires. | The second 5 years is an extension filed with Sarawak Immigration with a fresh medical report, fixed deposit statement, income proof and insurance. A minimum stay of 30 days every year in Sarawak is a condition for extension or renewal. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). Sarawak follows the federal income tax act. | No path. S-MM2H is a social visit pass, and MM2H status does not lead to permanent residence. | No path from S-MM2H. Naturalization is a separate route that runs through the Entry Permit (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| Sabah MM2H Passive income | Offshore income of RM10,000 per month for a single applicant, or RM15,000 per month for an applicant with dependents (official Sabah MM2H terms and conditions, effective 12 December 2024). | Fixed deposit of RM500,000 placed in a trust fund under the State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment. Up to 40 percent may be withdrawn after 2 years for buying a residence, education or medical costs in Malaysia. Plus compulsory purchase of a high-rise property in Sabah of at least RM600,000. The property cannot be sold for 10 years, or after 5 years if it is replaced with another property of at least RM600,000. | Processing fee RM3,000 per application (non-refundable), from the official Sabah MM2H terms page. Renewal fee RM1,500. The fixed deposit and property purchase are separate and listed under investment. | 8 to 10 weeks (reported; the figure given by the Sabah tourism minister at the July 2024 launch). | 5 years, renewable for a further 5 years, issued as a multiple entry pass. | Renewal costs RM1,500 and requires meeting the terms again, including a minimum cumulative stay of 30 days per year in Sabah. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). Sabah follows the federal income tax act. | No path. Sabah MM2H is a social visit pass, and MM2H status does not lead to permanent residence. | No path from Sabah MM2H. Naturalization is a separate route that runs through the Entry Permit (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| DE Rantau Nomad Pass Digital nomad | Remote work income of at least USD 24,000 per year for tech and digital talent, or at least USD 60,000 per year for non-tech talent such as founders, executives and consultants, earned from employers or clients outside Malaysia (MDEC DE Rantau Pass FAQ, version 8). | Not applicable | MDEC processing fee RM1,080 per applicant including 8 percent SST, and RM540 per dependent, non-refundable. Immigration pass fee RM90 per 3 months or RM360 for one year. Multiple entry visa charges vary by country. Where MDEC sponsors the pass, a refundable personal bond applies; the United States sits in the RM2,000 bond group, and the bond is refunded when the pass expires. | 6 to 8 weeks for a complete application. Renewal also takes 6 to 8 weeks. The e-Pass is issued within 1 week of endorsement submission (MDEC FAQ). | 3 to 12 months on a Professional Visit Pass, renewable once for up to 12 more months. Maximum total stay 24 months. | One renewal only, for up to 12 additional months. The pass cannot be converted from a tourist pass: if you are approved while inside Malaysia on a tourist pass, you must exit and re-enter to activate it. Valid for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only. Entry to Sabah and Sarawak is on a tourist pass. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7, Income Tax Act 1967). MDEC's FAQ states that foreign freelancers face 10 percent withholding under section 109B for the first 182 days and are taxed under section 4(a) once resident, and that employment income is not taxable if the stay does not exceed 60 days. | No path. The pass is a temporary professional visit pass with a hard 24 month cap. | No path from this pass | Official source | |
| Employment Pass Work | Salary paid by a Malaysian employer, by category in force from 1 June 2026 (reported from the Home Ministry announcement of 14 January 2026): Category I, RM20,000 per month and above. Category II, RM10,000 to RM19,999 per month. Category III, RM5,000 to RM9,999 per month in general sectors and RM7,000 to RM9,999 per month in manufacturing and manufacturing related services. Only fixed basic salary counts toward the threshold. | Not applicable | Paid by the employer. ESD application fee RM318 including SST. Immigration endorsement: pass fee RM200 per year, processing fee RM125 per application, plus a visa fee of RM6 per year for US nationals (ESD published fee table). | 5 working days for a complete application under the ESD client charter. Passport endorsement follows approval. | Category I and II: up to 10 years. Category III: up to 5 years. | Renewable through the employer on the ESD portal while the employment contract continues, with recent pay slips and tax filings. Category II and III approvals carry a succession plan requirement to train a Malaysian successor, with implementation deferred to 1 January 2027 (reported). | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7(1)(a), Income Tax Act 1967). Malaysia taxes on a territorial basis. Foreign sourced income received in Malaysia by a resident individual is exempt through 31 December 2036 if the income was subject to tax in its country of origin. | Time on an Employment Pass supports an Entry Permit application under the professional category after at least 3 years of work in Malaysia, or under the points system (see the permanent residence route). | Citizenship runs through the Entry Permit and then naturalization: 10 years of residence in the 12 years before applying under Article 19 (see the permanent residence route). | Official source | |
| Long Term Social Visit Pass (spouse of a Malaysian citizen) Other | No fixed income threshold is published for the spouse pass. The Malaysian spouse sponsors the application and Immigration assesses the file, including the sponsor's means. | Not applicable | Immigration charges a pass fee and a processing fee under its published fee schedule. The ESD fee table lists the Long Term Social Visit Pass at RM50 per month with a processing fee of RM50 per application for passes it handles. A stamped security bond form (RM10 revenue stamp) is part of the document set. | No processing time is published by the Immigration Department for this pass. Applications are lodged in person at an Immigration office with the Malaysian spouse present. | Issued for a minimum of 6 months and up to 5 years at a time for a foreign spouse of a Malaysian citizen (Immigration Department). | Renewable on the same basis while the marriage subsists and the conditions are still met. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7(1)(a), Income Tax Act 1967). | After at least 5 years of marriage and 5 continuous years in Malaysia on this pass, the spouse can apply for an Entry Permit (permanent residence) with one Malaysian sponsor (Immigration Department). | A foreign wife of a Malaysian citizen may apply for citizenship by registration under Article 15(1) of the Federal Constitution after living in Malaysia through the 2 years before applying, with good character and intent to reside permanently (National Registration Department). A foreign husband uses the Article 19 naturalization route instead: 10 years of residence in the 12 years before applying. | Official source | |
| Permanent residence (Entry Permit) Other | No single income test for most categories. The points system category scores age, qualifications, period of living in Malaysia, investment value, working experience in Malaysia and Bahasa Malaysia proficiency, and the pass mark is 65 points out of 120 (Immigration Department). | Investor category only: a fixed deposit of USD 2,000,000 in a Malaysian bank, which cannot be withdrawn for 5 years. The expert, professional, spouse and points categories have no deposit requirement. | No application fee is published on the Immigration Department Entry Permit page. Applications are filed on the prescribed form at Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya for the expert category, and at a state Immigration office for the other categories. | Expert category: approval within 24 hours of a complete submission at Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya. Professional category: approval within 1 month of a complete submission (Immigration Department, as published on its Entry Permit page). No time is published for the investor, spouse or points categories. | Permanent. There is no expiry period to manage once the Entry Permit is granted. | Not applicable. Permanent residence does not need renewal. | Resident at 182 days or more in a basis year (section 7(1)(a), Income Tax Act 1967). Permanent residence for immigration does not by itself decide tax residence; the day count does. | This route is the permanent residence grant itself. There is no shorter automatic path: time on MM2H, DE Rantau or tourist passes does not convert into an Entry Permit. | An Entry Permit is a required document for naturalization. Article 19 of the Federal Constitution then requires residence of not less than 10 years in the 12 years before applying, including the 12 months immediately before, plus adequate knowledge of Malay and good character (National Registration Department). Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship, so naturalization means renouncing US citizenship. | Official source |
Route notes
MM2H Platinum (federal): Minimum age 25. Platinum is the only federal tier whose holders may take part in business and investment activities and work in Malaysia, subject to approval (MOTAC tier table). Dependents: spouse, unmarried children up to age 34, parents and parents in law. The program terms state no tax on foreign funds or income remitted into Malaysia and no tax on fixed deposit profit. Malaysia runs three separate MM2H programs: this federal program for Peninsular Malaysia, plus Sarawak and Sabah state programs with their own terms.
MM2H Gold (federal): Minimum age 25. No employment in Malaysia on this tier. Dependents: spouse, unmarried children up to age 34, parents and parents in law. The program terms state no tax on foreign funds or income remitted into Malaysia and no tax on fixed deposit profit.
MM2H Silver (federal): Minimum age 25. No employment in Malaysia on this tier. Dependents: spouse, unmarried children up to age 34, parents and parents in law. Silver is the entry tier of the federal program and the cheapest route to a long term pass in Peninsular Malaysia. The program terms state no tax on foreign funds or income remitted into Malaysia and no tax on fixed deposit profit.
MM2H Special Economic Zone and Special Financial Zone (federal): Minimum age 21, the lowest of any MM2H category. This category exists to sell property in the Johor special zones, so the property purchase is tied to the zone and cannot be substituted with a home elsewhere in Malaysia. Dependents: spouse, unmarried children up to age 34, parents and parents in law.
Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H): Minimum age 30. Open to citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with Malaysia, except Israel and North Korea. Sarawak runs its own immigration, so this pass is for living in Sarawak, not a substitute for the federal program in Peninsular Malaysia. No full-time work. Part-time professional work up to 20 hours a week is possible in approved sectors (education, banking and securities, manufacturing, medical) with approval from the state committee. Medical insurance covering the pass period is required. A minority stake of up to 49 percent in a Sarawak company with paid-up capital of at least RM250,000 is allowed.
Sabah MM2H: Minimum age 30. Open to nationals of countries with diplomatic relations with Malaysia. Dependents: spouse, parents, parents in law and children below 21. No employment in Sabah on this pass. Medical insurance is required and a medical checkup follows the conditional pass. Sabah runs its own program under authority delegated by the federal government, and the pass is for residence in Sabah. Launch coverage in July 2024 quoted lower deposit figures of RM150,000 for a single applicant and RM300,000 for a family; the program terms published later that year set the deposit at RM500,000, and those published terms are the figures used here.
DE Rantau Nomad Pass: Open to all nationalities except Israel. The main holder must be over 18 and hold a passport valid for more than 14 months at submission. Dependents allowed: spouse or common law partner, children under 18, disabled children with no age limit, and parents of the main holder. A spouse may not work in Malaysia. Children who study need a Student Pass through the school unless they are home schooled. The approval letter is valid 6 months and cannot be extended.
Employment Pass: Summary level. The employer must be registered with the Expatriate Services Division before it can apply, and an expatriate cannot apply for their own pass (ESD). Sector approvals may be needed before the pass application. Since October 2025, Employees Provident Fund contributions are mandatory for foreign employees at 2 percent of wages from the employee and 2 percent from the employer (reported).
Long Term Social Visit Pass (spouse of a Malaysian citizen): The Malaysian spouse attends the Immigration office with the applicant. A spouse on this pass is one of the few social pass holders who may work: paid employment, business or a professional occupation is allowed if the permission is endorsed in the passport by Immigration. The same pass family also covers other long term visitors, such as expatriate family members and medical visitors, on different terms.
Permanent residence (Entry Permit): Five categories: investor; expert (world class talent recognized by an international organization, with a Malaysian agency recommendation); professional (outstanding skills, agency recommendation, and at least 3 years working in Malaysia certified by the relevant agency); spouse of a Malaysian citizen (married at least 5 years and 5 continuous years on a Long Term Social Visit Pass); and the points system, open to foreign nationals who do not fall in the first four categories. A certificate of good conduct from the home country and one Malaysian sponsor are required for most categories, and the applicant and sponsor attend an Immigration interview. Holders receive a red identity card (MyPR). Approvals are discretionary and grant rates are low in practice.