Malaysia My Second Home

Last updated

The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) is a programme promoted by the Malaysia Tourism Authority and the Immigration Department of Malaysia, to allow foreigners to stay in Malaysia for a period of ten years. Foreigners who fulfill certain criteria may apply, and a successful applicant is allowed to bring a spouse, an unmarried child under the age of 21, and parents who are over 60 years old.

Contents

Since the programme started in 2002, a total 40,000 applications have been approved. [1] The country's economy is stimulated with a cumulative gross value added income of RM11.89 billion from 2002 to 2019 through visa fees, property purchases, personal vehicle purchases, fixed deposits, and monthly household expenditure. [2]

Malaysian Government support

Currently the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) is responsible for promoting MM2H, with approval of applicants and issuance of visas made directly by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs. A "MM2H One-Stop Centre" has been set up under the MOT and it is anticipated that all visa procedures will be transferred from the Immigration Department to the One-Stop Centre by the end of 2006. The Malaysian State of Sarawak has its own MM2H program under its Sarawak Tourism Board, that has slightly different requirements and incentives. [3]

Eligibility

The program is open to all citizens of countries recognised by Malaysia. [4] [5] Applicants are allowed to bring along their spouse and unmarried children below 21 years old. So far over 42,000 people have been approved for the MM2H visa. [6]

Approval criteria

Financial requirement

Applicants below 50 years of age are required to show proof of liquid assets worth a minimum of RM500,000 and offshore income of RM40,000 per month. [7] Applicants below 50 years old are required to open a fixed deposit account in Malaysia of MYR300,000.00 at any bank with a local branch. This includes local branches of international banks such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, etc.

The State of Sarawak does not allow applicants below 50 years of age, with the exception of individuals over 30 years of age who have children enrolled in schools or undergoing long term medical treatment in Sarawak. [8]

After a period of one year, the participant can withdraw up to MYR150,000.00 for approved expenses relating to house purchase, education for children in Malaysia and medical purposes. However, a minimum balance of MYR150,000.00 must be maintained from the second year onwards and throughout the stay in Malaysia under this program.

Note: Fixed deposits (similar to time deposits), in Malaysia are a conservative form of investment with interest rates ranging from 3% to 4% per annum (p.a.). [9] MM2 program announced that effective from first of year 2017 requirement for cancellation of surety bond withdrawn and amount be refunded through e transfer [10] 'Except for the State of Sarawak Applicants aged 50 and above' are required to show proof of liquid assets of RM350,000 and off shore income of RM10,000 per month. For those who have retired, they are required to show proof of receiving pension from government of at least RM10,000 per month. [7]

Applicants 50 years of age or older can do one of the following: [7]

Note : In addition to the above, all applicants are required to show that they have sufficient funds to maintain themselves for the duration of the 10-year visa. In practice this means showing at least MYR150,000 in the bank, and a monthly income of MYR10,000.

After a period of one year, the participant who fulfills the fixed deposit criteria can withdraw up to MYR50,000.00 for approved expenses relating to house purchase, education for children in Malaysia and medical purposes. However, a minimum balance of MYR100,000.00 must be maintained from the second year onwards and throughout stay in Malaysia under this program.

For Sarawak Applicants must be over 50 years of age, but the financial conditions are less onerous than the Peninsular Malaysian program.

Applicants in the Sarawak program must EITHER 1) show proof of monthly off shore income /government guaranteed pension funds of RM 7,000 for unmarried applicants or RM10,000 for married couples or RM; OR 2) Open a fixed deposit account of RM100, 000 in a bank or financial institution for single individuals or RM150, 000.00 for married couples.

After a period of one year Sarawak MM2H participants who choose to open a fixed deposit account may withdraw up to RM90, 000 (couple) or RM40, 000 (single) for approved expenses relating to the purchase of a house, car, and education of children or for medical purposes. From the second year on participants must maintain a minimum Fixed Deposit balance of RM60,000. [8]

Medical report

All applicants and their dependents (spouse and children) are required to submit a medical report from any private hospital in Malaysia.

Medical insurance

Approved participants and dependants (spouse and children) must possess a valid medical insurance policy covering their stay in Malaysia. For those who are unable to get medical insurance because of age, or a pre-existing medical condition, this requirement can be waived.

Program incentives

Participants of the program may enjoy the following incentives:

Property purchases

Each participant is permitted to purchase residential houses at a minimum price above MYR 1,000,000 each such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang that are pre-approved by the Foreign Investment Committee of Malaysia.

In many other areas the minimum price or purchased property is lower. MM2H Participants in Sarawak may buy residential properties with minimum amount RM600,000 for Kuching Division and RM500,000 for other Division in Sarawak. [11] However the visa issued to Participants of the MM2H Sarawak programme allows the participant to reside anywhere in Malaysia. [8]

Vehicle purchase

The Government has decided to abolish the tax incentive on the purchase of a new locally assembled vehicle or the import of a pre-owned private vehicle into Malaysia under MM2H Programme. Therefore, this tax incentive will be terminated effective from 1 January 2018. However, Ministry of Finance will give special consideration to MM2H participant with first MM2H’s Visa approved beginning 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2017 to submit complete application via Sistem Maklumat Pengurusan Cukai / Sistem Maklumat Pengurusan Cukai Kerajaan Malaysia not later than 31 December 2018. [12]

Domestic helper

Each participant is allowed to apply for one maid subject to the prevailing guidelines of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Identification card

The issuance of national ID cards for MM2H participants was suspended until further notice 1 July 2010. [13]

Education

MM2H participants are allowed to bring their children and step children who are below 21 years old and not married as their dependents. Dependents who intend to continue their schooling in Malaysia are required to apply for a student pass. However, the participants are required to be responsible for all the living costs including study fees for their dependents while living in Malaysia.

Tax

Tax exemption is given to remittance of offshore pension fund into Malaysia. Foreign-source income is not taxable in Malaysia.

Working part-time

Over 50 year olds can work part-time (maximum 20 hours a week) subject to approval. [14]

Other

Restrictions

Application procedure

Application can be made via any of the following channels.

Authorised sponsor companies

Application can be made through a number of private Malaysian companies, known as "sponsors", which offer application and follow-up services to foreigners. While the fees charged and services rendered can vary drastically from one sponsor to another, only authorised companies licensed by the Ministry of Tourism can provide such services to MM2H participants. (All sponsor licenses previously issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia are no longer valid).

The Sarawak MM2H program does not allow the use of commercial "sponsors" or agents. An applicant must be sponsored by a Malaysian originating from Sarawak or a Sarawak Permanent Resident. [3]

Personal application

As of January 2009, the Malaysian government will allow individual applications. Applicants no longer need to use agents, or other third parties.[ citation needed ]

Applications for those wishing to reside in Peninsular Malaysia are accepted at the MM2H One-Stop centre in Kuala Lumpur. If the applicant wishes to reside in the states of Sabah or Sarawak, applications need to be sent to the respective immigration offices or MM2H One-Stop centres in either of these states. Details are available on the www.mm2h.gov.my site.[ citation needed ]

Language of documentation

All documents can be presented in English.[ citation needed ] The required documents are listed on the English-language government site, www.mm2h.gov.my.

Applicants can apply themselves (called direct applications), or (except in Sarawak) appoint an agent. There are many agents charging MYR8,000 – MYR10,000 as well as several low-cost agents charging about MYR1,800 per couple.[ citation needed ]

Programme suspension

On 2 July 2020, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Nancy Shukri announced that the MM2H programme has been temporarily frozen until December 2020 for review and further improvement. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green card</span> Lawful permanent residency in the United States

A green card, known officially as a permanent resident card, is an identity document which shows that a person has permanent residency in the United States. Green card holders are formally known as lawful permanent residents (LPRs). As of 2019, there are an estimated 13.9 million green card holders, of whom 9.1 million are eligible to become United States citizens. Approximately 65,000 of them serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travel visa</span> Authority to enter, stay in, or exit a territory

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a polity to a foreigner that allows them to enter, remain within, or leave its territory. Visas typically include limits on the duration of the foreigner's stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits, or if the individual has the ability to work in the country in question. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country. In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant's passport or other travel document but may also exist electronically. Some countries no longer issue physical visa evidence, instead recording details only in immigration databases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian ringgit</span> Official currency of Malaysia

The Malaysian ringgit is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 sen. The ringgit is issued by the Central Bank of Malaysia.

The Malaysian identity card, is the compulsory identity card for Malaysian citizens aged 12 and above. The current identity card, known as MyKad, was introduced by the National Registration Department of Malaysia on 5 September 2001 as one of four MSC Malaysia flagship applications and a replacement for the High Quality Identity Card, Malaysia became the first country in the world to use an identification card that incorporates both photo identification and fingerprint biometric data on an in-built computer chip embedded in a piece of plastic.

An L-1 visa is a visa document used to enter the United States for the purpose of work in L-1 status. It is a non-immigrant visa, and is valid for a relatively short amount of time, from three months to five years, based on a reciprocity schedule. With extensions, the maximum stay is seven years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian nationality law</span> History and regulations of Malaysian citizenship


Malaysian nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Malaysia. The primary law governing nationality requirements is the Constitution of Malaysia, which came into force on 27 August 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of the United States</span> Policy on permits required to enter the United States and its unincorporated territories

Visitors to the United States must obtain a visa from one of the U.S. diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa-exempt or Visa Waiver Program countries. The same rules apply for travel to all U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands with additional waivers, while similar but separate rules apply to American Samoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian passport</span> Passport of Malaysia issued to Malaysian citizens

The Malaysian passport is the passport issued to citizens of Malaysia by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

The Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007 or STRIVE Act of 2007 is proposed United States legislation designed to address the problem of illegal immigration, introduced into the United States House of Representatives. Its supporters claim it would toughen border security, increase enforcement of and criminal penalties for illegal immigration, and establish an employment verification system to identify illegal aliens working in the United States. It would also establish new programs for both illegal aliens and new immigrant workers to achieve legal citizenship. Critics allege that the bill would turn law enforcement agencies into social welfare agencies as it would not allow CBP to detain illegal immigrants that are eligible for Z-visas and would grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens with very few restrictions.

A work permit or work visa is the permission to take a job within a foreign country. The foreign country where someone seeks to obtain a work permit for is also known as the "country of work", as opposed to the "country of origin" where someone holds citizenship or nationality.

The M-1 visa is a type of student visa in the U.S. reserved for international students attending vocational schools and technical schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldivian passport</span> Passports issued in the Republic of Maldives

Maldivian passport is a proof of citizenship, issued by Maldives Immigration, to all the nationals of the Maldives for international travel. The current passport, the 2nd generation e-passport, was launched on 24 January 2016. This passport consists of a highly secured poly-carbonate data page with laser engraved photo and data. Each visa page of the passport has a different design, represented with numerous illustrations by the Maldivian local artist, Hussain Ali Manik. A Maldivian Passport can be issued to any Maldivian citizen who applies for a passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Entry</span> U.S. Customs and Border Protection program

Global Entry is a program of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service that allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival into the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports and via the SENTRI and NEXUS lanes by land and sea. As of May 4, 2018, Global Entry was available at 53 U.S. airports and 15 preclearance locations. By April 2018 more than five million people were enrolled in Global Entry and approximately 50,000 new applications for the program were being filed each month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">APEC Business Travel Card</span> Travel document

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a travel document issued to business travellers who are citizens of APEC participating economies. Valid for five years, the card eliminates the need for its holder to possess a visa when visiting other APEC participating economies as long as pre-clearance has been obtained during the application process.

Immigrant investor programs are programs that allow individuals to more quickly obtain residence or citizenship of a country in return for making qualifying investments.


The visa policy of Malaysia consists of the requirements for foreign nationals to travel to, enter, and remain in Malaysia. Most visitors to Malaysia are granted visa-free entry for a period of 90, 30, or 14 days respectively. However, nationals from some countries must first obtain a visa from one of the Malaysian Diplomatic Missions before being allowed into the country. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Singapore</span> Policy on permits required to enter Singapore

The visa policy of Singapore deals with the requirements to enter Singapore. A foreign national, depending on their country of origin, must meet certain requirements to obtain a visa, which is a permit to travel, to enter and remain in the country. A visa may also entitle the visa holder to other privileges, such as a right to work, study, etc. and may be subject to conditions.

The Malaysian federal budget for 2015 fiscal year was presented to the Dewan Rakyat by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Najib Razak on Friday, 10 October 2014.

The Malaysian federal budget for 2014 fiscal year was presented to the Dewan Rakyat by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Najib Razak on Friday, 25 October 2013.

Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status is one of the forms issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. It is used by people currently in the United States in a non-immigrant status to change the classification for their status and/or extend their stay with their current status. Both the current status and the status to which the transition is being sought must be non-immigrant visa statuses.

References

  1. "More than 90% of MM2H applications from Sept-Nov 2019 rejected". www.thestar.com.my. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. "MM2H programme to be reactivated in October". The Edge. 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. 1 2 "The Official Portal of the Sarawak Government". www.sarawak.gov.my. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 Immigration Department of Malaysia – Malaysia My Second Home Programme [ permanent dead link ]
  5. 1 2 "Malaysia My Second Home Archived 31 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine ", KLCCcondominiums.com.my. Retrieved 6 Mar 2014.
  6. "Programme Statistics - MM2H Official Portal". Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "MM2H Terms and Conditions". MM2H. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 "MM2H Terms and Conditions" (PDF). Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  9. "Rates of Fixed Deposits in Malaysia". iMoney.my . Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  10. official portal site notification
  11. "Enhancement of S-MM2H" (PDF). Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  12. "Official Portal Malaysia My Second Home Program" . Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  13. "Announcements - Year 2010 - Issuance of ID cards for MM2H participants suspended". www.mm2h.gov.my. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  14. "Apply For Part Time Job - MM2H Official Portal". www.mm2h.gov.my. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  15. "Applications for MM2H temporarily frozen due to programme being reviewed". www.thestar.com.my. 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.