Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): Latest Requirements and Application Process

*This article was updated on 14 October 2020. 

So you may have seen and heard of Malaysia’s year-round warm climate, friendly people and mind-blowing local food and you want in on the action. This article details the latest requirements, terms and conditions for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), a housing programme catered to foreign retirees and working expatriates who are looking for a second home.

Note: Applications for MM2H have been temporarily frozen since August 2020 – According to the Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri the programme is being reviewed, where the Immigration Department is re-looking into the approval process while also conducting a study into MM2H. The review works are expected to be completed in December 2020 and MM2H should resume by 2021.

What is Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme?

MM2H is a program initiated by the Government of Malaysia and introduced by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC)  to welcome people from all over the world to reside in this beautiful country. Upon becoming an MM2H holder, you will obtain an MM2H visit pass which has a validity of up to 10 years, and it is renewable upon fulfilment of the renewal requirements when it expires.

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The duration of your MM2H visa depends on your passport validity, so, it is best to renew your passport to get the maximum years of visa. Nevertheless, you can easily extend your visa provided you have all the required documents and financial capacity. But mind you, this is not a Permanent Residence (PR) Permit nor does it lead towards you getting a PR eventually. You will simply possess a Social Visit Pass with multiple entries and exit under the MM2H program.

Who is eligible to apply for the MM2H programme?

• Citizens of all countries regardless of age, religion, age or gender.
• You are allowed to bring your spouse, unmarried children under the age of 21 and your parents.
• Plus, you can also apply for a helper or maid service to make your stay in Malaysia more comfortable.
• If you are worried about leaving your pet behind in your home country, fret not as there are specific MM2H procedures which allows your furry friend to tag along.

What is the approval rate like for MM2H programme? 

The approval for MM2H applications comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). Since its inception in 2002 up to August 2017, the MM2H programme has granted close to 36,000 MM2H visas. Though it might seem like a small sum, it is worth observing that the approval rate has generally been on an uptrend over the years.

A bulk of the approved applicants come from Asian countries (28,652), followed by Europe (4,291), the Americas (1,334), The Pacific Islands (1,019), Africa (432) and Others (93). In 2017, the top 5 countries which garnered the highest MM2H approvals were China (342), Korea (61), Bangladesh (44), UK & Northern Ireland (43) and Japan (37).

What are the general requirements for MM2H?

Applicants will have to meet the following criteria:

1) First of all, you will need to show proof of liquid assets and meet certain financial requirements as follows:

AGE	Minimum Liquid Assets	Minimum Offshore Monthly Income	Must open a fixed deposit account in a bank in Malaysia
Below 50 years of age	RM500,000	RM10,000	RM300,000
50 or above 50 years of age	RM350,000	RM10,000	RM150,000

2) There are additional costs involved should you obtain a Conditional Approval Letter to enter the country via MM2H. This entails a one-off Personal Bond payment which could cost up to RM2,000. You are also liable to pay RM90 per year for your social pass under MM2H.

3) Most applicants opt to secure the services of an Agent/Agency to assist them with their MM2H application. These agencies may offer various packages and you can select one that best fits your financial and personal capacity. Their fee may range from RM8,000 – RM10,000 depending on your chosen package.

Should you meet the financial requirements mentioned above, you can then move on to the next phase of applying for an Mm2H visa.

FIND OUT: How to be a Permanent Resident (PR) in Malaysia?

How to apply for the MM2H Visa?

You can apply for your MM2H visa either from overseas or while you are present in Malaysia. To walk you through the application process, we have prepared a checklist with a breakdown of the required documents:

Step 1: Pre-submission

First, you need to apply online via the Check N track System. Once you have filled up this form, you can download the relevant forms and necessary documents that need to be attached to complete the application.

Step 2: Submission of documents

There are 2 ways for you to submit your MM2H application. One, you can self-submit if you are familiar with the latest rules and processes concerning MM2H and know your way around various Government offices. The second and most common choice for applicants is to go through an MM2H licensed agent who will assist you with the entire process.

All MM2H applicants must have a Malaysian sponsor to support their application and pay a Personal Bond (up to RM 2000). If you apply through agents, they will act as your sponsor and pay for your bond.

Should you decide to apply directly yourself, here is the list of required documents. This list is as per the latest requirements announced by the government.

Document	Description	Person Applicable
Letter of Application	This is the Cover Letter where you should state the names of all people who are applying with you. Elaborate on key points like how you plan to support yourself in Malaysia and what financial alternatives you would be using for your daily expenses.	Applicant
A Copy of Resume	The resume should include: Academic qualification Working experiences Skills or expertise acquired	Applicant
MM2H Application Form	This form needs to be completed by the main applicant and his spouse (if any)	Applicant/Spouse
MM2H Application Form for Dependents	This form needs to be completed by all dependants under the age of 21 years old	Dependents (children under 21 years)
IM.12 Form (Social Visit Pass)	3 copies of the form (1 original and 2 photostated copies) need to be submitted. You can download this form from the MM2H website or get it at the Immigration Department	Applicant and their dependants (spouse & children)
Passport size Photo	1 passport size photo with a BLUE background	Applicant and their dependants (spouse & children)
Passport	All pages that contain entry or exit stamp and passport particular pages with certification on the pages with personal particulars *Copy of previous passport is required if applicant/dependent (s) has renewed his/her passport within the last 12 months.	Applicant and their dependants (spouse & children)
Letter of Good Conduct (LOGC)	Letter of good conduct should be obtained from your relevant government agency or police authority in your country of origin.	Applicant
Medical Report	This is an initial self-declaration on your/dependents’ health conditions.	Applicant and their dependants (spouse & children)
Birth Certificate	If you are accompanied by children, adopted or stepchildren or your parents, you will need to show their birth certificates. For applicants with children nearing the age 21, they must submit their MM2H applications at least 6 months before their children reach the age of 21. You should get a Letter of Confirmation from Medical Specialist/General Practitioner if you are accompanied by disabled children above 21 years old. As the principal applicant, you must provide a Statutory Declaration to bear all expenses and financial requirements during the stay in Malaysia for dependents.	Dependents including: Biological, step or adopted children below 21 years old Disabled children above 21 years old Applicant’s parents
Bank Statement	Certified copy(s) of latest 3 months’ bank statement /other related financial documents to indicate the financial capability to support your stay in Malaysia.	Applicant
Source of Income	Show proof of offshore income amounting to RM10,000. Refer to the table below for more details.	Applicant and Spouse (where relevant)
Authorization letter	Applicant should authorize this letter to Malaysia My Second Home Centre to verify the financial documents, job and salary with the relevant financial institutions.	Applicant
Job and salary verification letter	This letter needs to be filled and signed by the applicant.	Applicant

You will also need to provide the following as for Sources of Income:

Source of Income	Proof	The income needs to be supported by Bank Statements to show where the income has been credited. Other source of income is not permissible if the applicant is employed
Employed (working)	Latest 3 months certified copies of payslip. If your income is less than RM 10,000 per month, you can submit income from your spouse to support the application. However, the applicant’s income should exceed the spouse with a ratio of 7:3
Employee (retired)	Pension slip
Rental Income	Tenancy Agreement
Interest of Dividends from Investment	Latest 6 month or 1-year statement mentioning the invested amount or dividends received

Are you feeling a bit lost? Don’t worry! If preparing all these documents are overwhelming you, you can apply for your MM2H visa via an agent but do ensure that he or she is a Licensed Agent, registered under the Malaysian Government to provide MM2H services. Their License should look like this:

An agent will be able to guide you through all the paperwork needed to complete your application. You will get their full assistance in preparing the documents mentioned above and they will advise you based on the most up to date information regarding the application process.

Moreover, an agent can also assist you with the renewal or cancellation of visa if required. For an additional fee, other valuable services include them helping you to settle down in Malaysia once your MM2H visa has been approved.

Step 3: Conditional Approval Letter

Upon successful submission of the above documents, you will be issued a Conditional Approval Letter by the MM2H Centre, Immigration Department. This approval letter may take 4-5 months to be issued.

Step 4: Arrival in Malaysia

When you arrive in Malaysia with your Conditional Approval Letter, you must follow through the remaining documents within 6 months’ time. The first thing you must do is to set up your fixed deposit account and submit the Fixed Deposit Certificate to the MM2H Authority. Below is all the information you need to know regarding your Fixed Deposit:

MM2H Applicants	Aged below 50 years old	Aged above 50 years old
Set up a Fixed Deposit Account in any bank in Malaysia	RM 300,000	RM 150,000
Withdrawal Limit applicable from second year onwards	RM 150,000 *Applicants can use their car purchase grant to withdraw part of their Fixed Deposit after two years	RM 50,000 *Applicants can use their car purchase grant to withdraw part of their Fixed Deposit after two years
Purpose of Withdrawal Limit	Purchase of house, medical insurance or children’s education expenses	Purchase of house, medical insurance or children’s education expenses
Documents Required for Fixed Deposit Withdrawal	Letter of intention to withdraw Fixed Deposit account Copy of MM2H visa Copy of front-page passport Copy of Fixed Deposit certificate Copy proof of payment for Residential property purchase (All pages of Sales & Purchase Agreement & receipt) OR Car purchase (car grant title & receipt) OR Children’s education in Malaysia (receipt) OR Medical expenses (receipt) Copy of Conditional Approval Letter
Minimum Balance	You must maintain a minimum balance of RM150,000 from second year onwards till your overall stay in Malaysia under the MM2H programme.	You must maintain a minimum balance of RM100,000 from second year onwards till your overall stay in Malaysia under the MM2H programme.

Next, all MM2H applicants and their dependents must purchase a Medical Insurance to cover their medical expenses. You can buy any insurance policy which is valid in Malaysia and submit the relevant document to the MM2H authority. Although this is a compulsory requirement, it can be waived for older MM2H applicants if their medical coverage is rejected due to their age.

After arriving in Malaysia, the applicant and all his/her dependents will have to go through a medical examination at any private hospital or registered clinic in Malaysia. This Medical Report (RB 11) must be sent to MM2H authority as proof that you and your dependents are in good health

Dependants who have to attend school in Malaysia are required to apply for a Student Pass to continue their education in primary or higher level. The Student Personal Data Form along with the Student Pass must be submitted to the MM2H Authority.

Step 5: Visa Collection

After submitting the remaining documents, you can collect your visa from the MM2H Immigration Centre. As mentioned earlier, The Social Visit Pass has a maximum validity of 10 years and is given depending on your passport’s validity period.

How long does it take to get MM2H?

In the past, upon performing all the above steps, it would have taken 90 days for you to get news on whether your MM2H application was approved or declined. Ninety days used to be the official deadline for the MM2H department to get back to you – there have however been delays in the past few years as the authority to approve new MM2h applicants has been transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been performing stricter security checks on new MM2H applicants, which has resulted in a delay and a backlog. The Ministry has not stated an official timeframe on how soon they will get back to the applicants, however based on educated guesswork, applicants will hear news of their MM2H application approximately 6 months after applying.

Can I work in Malaysia with MM2H visa?

One of the most frequently asked questions is whether MM2H visa holders are allowed to work in Malaysia. The answer is: Yes! There is however a limitation on the number of hours and a limited job scope you are allowed to work on a MM2H visa. MM2H visa holders who are age 50 and above are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week, and only within approved sectors.

MM2H visa holders are also allowed to open businesses – but with the catch of not being allowed to run the day-to-day business themselves. In order to do that, MM2H visa holders will have to convert their visa to a work permit.

What is the benefit of holding a MM2H visa?

There are several benefits to holding a MM2H visa which we cover in another article. The short of it is that you are allowed to buy properties in Malaysia, apply for credit cards, and even enjoy tax exemption on income not acquired from within Malaysia. For a full breakdown on all the benefits, read our article on the expatriates guide to living in Malaysia.

Edited by Reena Kaur Bhatt

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