MOTAC (One Stop Centre MM2H)
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
MM2H comes in three tiers.
MM2H comes in three tiers. Silver needs a USD 150,000 fixed deposit and a RM600,000 property; Gold needs USD 500,000 and RM1 million; Platinum needs USD 1 million and RM2 million. The minimum age is 25. Holders aged 25 to 49 must spend 90 days a year in Malaysia; from 50 there is no minimum stay.
| MM2H Silver | MM2H Gold | MM2H Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed deposit | USD 150,000 | USD 500,000 | USD 1,000,000 |
| Property purchase | From RM600,000 | From RM1,000,000 | From RM2,000,000 |
| Term | 5 years, renewable | 15 years, renewable | 20 years, renewable |
| Participation fee | RM1,000 | RM3,000 | RM200,000 |
| Processing fee | RM5,000 principal | RM5,000 principal | RM5,000 principal |
| Minimum age | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Minimum stay | 90 days per year for ages 25–49, met between the main applicant and/or spouse and dependants. No minimum stay from age 50. | 90 days per year for ages 25–49, met between the main applicant and/or spouse and dependants. No minimum stay from age 50. | 90 days per year for ages 25–49, met between the main applicant and/or spouse and dependants. No minimum stay from age 50. |
The costs that don't appear in the deposit figure
MM2H is usually described by its fixed deposit, which is the least expensive part of it. The deposit stays yours. Three other numbers do not:
- The compulsory property purchase — RM600,000 to RM2,000,000 depending on tier. This is capital committed to an illiquid Malaysian asset, and it is a condition of the programme, not an option.
- The participation fee — RM1,000 on Silver, RM3,000 on Gold, RM200,000 on Platinum.
- The processing fee — RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 for each dependant, the same across all three tiers.
Renewal is charged separately: RM1,500 on Silver, RM3,000 on Gold and RM5,000 on Platinum.
The age rule, which most guides get wrong
MOTAC's category table sets the minimum age for the main applicant at 25, not 30. The stay requirement is then banded by age:
- Ages 25–49: 90 days per year in Malaysia, and the days may be counted between the main applicant and/or spouse and dependants.
- Age 50 and over: no minimum stay requirement.
For a retiree this makes MM2H effectively obligation-free on the stay side. For a working-age applicant it does not, and that is often the deciding factor between MM2H and PVIP, which exempts stay entirely.
Dependants and family
Children may be included up to age 35 provided they are single — unusually generous by international standards. Parents and parents-in-law are also allowed.
The SEZ and SFZ tiers
MOTAC also publishes two lower-cost tiers for the Special Economic Zone and Special Financial Zone: a USD 65,000 fixed deposit for applicants aged 21 to 49, and USD 32,000 for those aged 50 and over. Both run 10 years renewable, carry a RM1,000 participation fee, and require property purchase at the price set for the relevant SEZ development.
These are materially cheaper than Silver and are the least-discussed part of the programme. They are tied to specific zones, so the right question is not whether you qualify but whether you want to live where they apply.
Honest fit
Who it suits — and who it doesn't
A good fit if
- You are retiring or semi-retiring and want a long horizon at a moderate cost
- You are 50 or over — there is then no minimum stay requirement at all
- You intend to buy Malaysian property anyway, since it is compulsory
- You want the cheapest serious route: Silver's participation fee is RM1,000
Look elsewhere if
- You want to work in Malaysia — MM2H does not carry a work right
- You do not want to own Malaysian property; purchase is compulsory on every tier
- You are under 25 and therefore ineligible
- Your capital is in ringgit — all three deposits are denominated in US dollars
FAQ
Common questions
- What is the minimum age for MM2H in 2026?
- 25 for the main applicant on Silver, Gold and Platinum, per MOTAC's own category table. Much secondary coverage says 30; that is not what the official document says. The SEZ/SFZ tiers go lower, at 21.
- How many days a year must I spend in Malaysia?
- 90 days a year if you are aged 25 to 49 — and it can be met between the main applicant and/or spouse and dependants rather than by the principal alone. From age 50 there is no minimum stay requirement.
- Do I have to buy property?
- Yes. Every tier carries a compulsory residential purchase: RM600,000 on Silver, RM1,000,000 on Gold, RM2,000,000 on Platinum. This is the single biggest real cost of the programme and it is easy to miss when comparing deposit figures alone.
- Can I withdraw the fixed deposit?
- Up to 50% may be withdrawn after one year in the programme, for property purchase, medical costs, education or tourism.
- Do I need a licensed agent to apply for MM2H?
- Not necessarily. MOTAC's own application guidelines booklet states that if you handled your MM2H application independently from the beginning, you may proceed on your own without appointing an agent. If you previously used an agent and want to continue alone, you need a release letter from them.
- Why is Platinum's participation fee RM200,000 when Gold's is RM3,000?
- Because they are structured as different products rather than as a simple ladder. Silver charges RM1,000, Gold RM3,000, Platinum RM200,000. The processing fee is the same across all three: RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 per dependant.
- Is there tax on my foreign income?
- MOTAC states no tax on foreign funds or income, and none on the profit from fixed deposits held in Malaysia. Tax treatment can change and depends on your own residence position — take advice on your specific circumstances.
Written and reviewed by Jason Yap, Chairman of the PVIP Agent Association.
Last reviewed 23 July 2026.
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