· NextMigrate Team
Retire in Malaysia: MM2H Requirements for Silver, Gold and Platinum
The fact that you searched for MM2H requirements suggests Malaysia is already on your shortlist. This page is for retirees who want the deposit, property and fee rules in one place, not a sales brochure.
Here is the part many people miss. MM2H Silver does not only ask for money in the bank. It asks you to buy a home worth at least RM600,000, and you may not sell it for 10 years (MM2H Silver, MOTAC, November 2026). That is a big decision to make about a country you may not know well yet.
The short answer: As of November 2026, Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) has three national tiers. Silver asks for a US$150,000 fixed deposit and a home of RM600,000 or more. Gold asks for US$500,000 and a home of RM1 million. Platinum asks for US$1 million and a home of RM2 million. The minimum age is 25 for all three. If you are 50 or older, there is no minimum number of days you must spend in Malaysia (MM2H overview, MOTAC, November 2026). A cheaper zone option exists, but only for homes in Forest City, Johor.
MM2H requirements at a glance
MM2H is run by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC). The Immigration Department makes the final decision (MM2H guidelines, November 2026).
| Rule | Figure (checked November 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 25 (Silver, Gold, Platinum); 21 (special zone) | MM2H guidelines, Nov 2026 |
| Fixed deposit | Silver US$150,000; Gold US$500,000; Platinum US$1,000,000 | MM2H overview, Nov 2026 |
| Compulsory home | Silver RM600,000; Gold RM1,000,000; Platinum RM2,000,000 | MM2H overview, Nov 2026 |
| Must keep the home | 10 years (you may upgrade to a dearer home) | MM2H Silver, Nov 2026 |
| Pass length | Silver 5 years; Gold 15 years; Platinum 20 years; all renewable | MM2H overview, Nov 2026 |
| Days in Malaysia | 90 days a year if under 50; no minimum at 50 and over | MM2H overview, Nov 2026 |
| Processing fee | RM5,000 for you, RM2,500 per dependant | MM2H overview, Nov 2026 |
| Participating fee (one-off) | Silver RM1,000; Gold RM3,000; Platinum RM200,000 | MM2H overview, Nov 2026 |
| Health insurance | Required if you are under 60; exempt from age 60 | MOTAC MM2H booklet (PDF), May 2026 |
| Work | Not allowed on Silver or Gold; allowed on Platinum | MM2H Platinum, Nov 2026 |
In US dollars, RM600,000 is about US$147,000, RM1 million is about US$245,000 and RM2 million is about US$489,000. We used about RM4.09 per US dollar, from European Central Bank reference rates on 13 November 2026.
To compare these numbers with other countries, try our retirement visa finder.
Silver, Gold or Platinum: which tier fits?
| Tier | Deposit | Home from | Pass | Renewal fee | Can you work? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | US$150,000 | RM600,000 | 5 years | RM1,500 | No |
| Gold | US$500,000 | RM1,000,000 | 15 years | RM3,000 | No |
| Platinum | US$1,000,000 | RM2,000,000 | 20 years | RM5,000 | Yes |
Source: MM2H overview, MOTAC, November 2026.
For most retirees, Silver is the realistic tier. Gold mainly buys you a longer pass. Platinum also lets you work or run a business, and bring a foreign maid (MM2H Platinum, November 2026).
Silver has a catch. Its pass lasts five years, so you renew more often. Would you rather pay less now, or lock in a longer stay?
The fixed deposit: what you can take out
The deposit must sit in a bank licensed in Malaysia. After approval, you may withdraw up to 50% of it. The money can only go to a home, education, medical care or tourism in Malaysia (MM2H guidelines, November 2026). A ministry summary sheet says this withdrawal is allowed after one year (MOTAC category summary (PDF), November 2026).
The ministry also encourages you to hold the deposit in ringgit, at the value of the US dollar amount for your tier (MOTAC announcement (PDF), November 2026). That means your money is exposed to the ringgit. If the ringgit falls, your deposit is worth less in dollars.
The compulsory home, and the Penang rules
You must buy and own a home after approval. Under Silver, Gold and Platinum, you get one year from the date your pass is endorsed to finish the purchase. A home you bought in the two years before endorsement can count, if it meets your tier's minimum price (MOTAC announcement (PDF), November 2026). If you break the home rules, your pass can be revoked (MM2H Silver, November 2026).
States also set their own rules for foreign buyers. The MM2H site does not list them. Penang's Land and Mines Office does. Its guideline sets a floor of RM500,000 for MM2H participants, on the island and the mainland. MM2H buyers may buy homes only, up to two units (Penang Land and Mines Office (PDF), updated August 2024).
The higher number wins, so a Silver buyer in Penang still needs RM600,000 or more. The same Penang guideline lists:
- an application fee of RM10,000 per title for a foreign individual buying a home
- an approval levy of 3% of the price for most purchases, or 1.5% for island apartments priced from RM1 million to RM1.5 million
Ask a Penang lawyer whether any of these change for MM2H buyers. Only lawyers can file foreign purchase applications in Penang (same source).
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What MM2H costs in fees
| Fee | Amount (checked November 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | RM5,000 for you, RM2,500 per dependant | MM2H overview |
| Participating fee | Silver RM1,000; Gold RM3,000; Platinum RM200,000 (none for dependants) | MM2H Silver |
| Online system fee | RM500 per application, before SST | MOTAC notice (PDF) |
| Pass fee while the pass runs | RM500 a year, plus a visa fee of RM0 to RM50 by nationality | MM2H guidelines |
| Renewal after the full term | Silver RM1,500; Gold RM3,000; Platinum RM5,000 per person | MM2H guide (PDF) |
For a single Silver applicant, the one-off government fees add up to about RM6,500 (about US$1,590). Agent fees, legal fees and stamp duty come on top. Ask for every cost in writing.
Days in Malaysia, health insurance and medical checks
If you are under 50, someone in your family must be in Malaysia for 90 days a year in total. You, your spouse or your dependants can share those days. If you are 50 or over, there is no minimum stay (MM2H overview, November 2026).
Health insurance is required if you are under 60, and you are exempt from age 60 (MOTAC MM2H booklet (PDF), May 2026). An older MOTAC guide says "60 and below", so ask MOTAC which applies on your birthday. The policy must come from a Malaysian or foreign insurer with worldwide cover (MM2H guide (PDF), November 2026). When you renew after the full term, you must show health insurance again (same source).
So if you are 60 or over, insurance may not be required to apply. You still need it. Without cover, you pay any private hospital bill yourself. Our guide to health insurance for retirees over 75 abroad explains what is still possible at older ages.
Everyone must also have a medical check at a clinic or hospital on the ministry's panel, after approval (MM2H guidelines, November 2026).
Bringing your family
You may bring:
- your spouse
- children under 21
- children aged 21 to 34, if they are single and not working in Malaysia
- children with a medically certified disability, at any age
- your parents and your parents-in-law
Source: MM2H guidelines, November 2026. One ministry summary sheet says the child age limit is 35, not 34 (MOTAC category summary (PDF)). If your child is that age, ask your agent which rule the ministry applies.
If the main holder dies, the pass can move to the next of kin among the registered dependants (MM2H guidelines, November 2026). That matters for couples.
Work, permanent residence and the long view
On Silver and Gold, you may not work or run a business in Malaysia. On Platinum, you may (MM2H overview, November 2026).
The MM2H pages describe a long-stay pass, renewable every five years once the full term ends. They do not describe a path to permanent residence or citizenship.
The special zone, Sarawak and Sabah
The Special Economic Zone and Special Financial Zone (SEZ/SFZ) option is much cheaper:
- a deposit of US$65,000 if you are 21 to 49, or US$32,000 if you are 50 or older
- a 10-year pass, with a renewal fee of RM300
- a home in Forest City, Johor, bought from a Forest City developer, not from a private seller
Sources: MM2H SEZ/SFZ and MOTAC announcement (PDF), November 2026. The price floor follows Johor state policy. Visit Forest City before you commit. You must keep the home for 10 years.
Sarawak runs its own S-MM2H. Its guide asks for an age of 30 or over, a RM500,000 fixed deposit in a Sarawak panel bank, and proof of pension, income or savings (Sarawak tourism ministry guide (PDF), 2025). Sabah has its own state version too. We could not load its official page in November 2026, so ask the Sabah tourism ministry directly.
Tax: foreign income and the 2036 date
Malaysia exempts foreign income received in Malaysia by resident individuals from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2036, except income from a partnership business in Malaysia (LHDN guide (PDF), 2026). The end date was moved from 2026 to 2036 by P.U. (A) 451/2024. Conditions apply, so read the LHDN guideline on income received from abroad. Your home country may still tax your pension. See our list of countries that do not tax foreign pensions, and speak to a regulated tax adviser.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose a licensed MM2H agent. You must apply through a tour business licensed by MOTAC (MM2H guidelines, November 2026).
- Send your first documents. These include the visit pass form, passport copies and a police certificate for everyone over 18 (MM2H guide (PDF)).
- Wait for conditional approval. The One Stop Centre reviews your file. Police may interview some applicants at random (MOTAC announcement (PDF)).
- Finish the post-approval steps within 90 days. Open the fixed deposit, buy health insurance if you are under 60, do the panel medical check and get a personal bond stamped by LHDN (MM2H guide (PDF)).
- Pay the fees and get your pass endorsed.
- Buy your home within one year of endorsement, and keep it for 10 years.
Who MM2H is not for
MM2H is not for you if you want a cheap, flexible way to test the country. The home rule ties up money for a decade. If your savings are under the Silver level, look at Thailand's retirement visas, the Philippines SRRV or Indonesia's retirement and second home visas. Our pillar guide to the best countries to retire abroad compares them all.
Frequently asked questions
What are the MM2H requirements for Silver?
You must be 25 or older, hold a US$150,000 fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank and buy a home worth RM600,000 or more. You may not sell the home for 10 years, but you may upgrade. The pass lasts five years and can be renewed.
Do I have to live in Malaysia for part of the year?
Only if you are under 50. Then your family must spend 90 days a year in Malaysia, shared between you, your spouse and dependants. From age 50, MOTAC sets no minimum stay.
Do I need health insurance for MM2H?
MOTAC requires health insurance with worldwide cover if you are under 60. You also need health insurance to renew after the full term. Even if you are 60 or over, private cover is wise, because without it you pay hospital bills yourself.
Can I buy an MM2H home in Penang?
Yes. Penang's land office sets a RM500,000 floor for MM2H buyers, for homes only and up to two units. Your MM2H tier minimum still applies, so a Silver buyer needs at least RM600,000. A lawyer must file the purchase, and a state fee and levy apply.
Can I work on MM2H?
Not on Silver, Gold or the special zone option. Platinum participants may work and do business.
Does MM2H lead to permanent residence?
The MM2H pages do not describe any path to permanent residence or citizenship. The pass is renewable every five years after the full term ends. Treat it as a long-stay visa.
Your next step
MM2H can give you a long, stable stay in a warm country. It also ties your money into a deposit and a home you cannot sell for years. Do you know Malaysia well enough for that?
If you are still deciding where to go, take our free migration assessment to see which countries fit your money and plans.
This article is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules and figures change. Always confirm with the official source and a regulated adviser before you act.
