Moving to Malaysia in 2026: Passes, MM2H and Costs
Moving to Malaysia means choosing a pass. Workers come on an Employment Pass that their employer applies for. Students come on a Student Pass handled by Education Malaysia Global Services. For long-stay residence there is Malaysia My Second Home, known as MM2H. Each has its own agency and its own money test, and the work route changed on 1 June 2026. This guide sets them out with the official figures and the cost of living by state, as read on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
For work, an Employment Pass now needs a basic monthly salary of at least RM 5,000, with the top category starting at RM 20,000. For long-stay residence, MM2H needs a fixed deposit from USD 150,000 in the Silver category and a compulsory home purchase from RM600,000. Students pay an EMGS application fee of MYR1,728.00. Visitors can stay for up to three (3) months on a Single Entry Visa. Average household spending in 2024 was RM 8,178 a month in Kuala Lumpur and RM 5,850 in Penang.
Step 1: choose your pass
| Your situation | Pass | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Job with a company in Malaysia | Employment Pass | Basic monthly salary of at least RM 5,000, in three categories |
| Temporary assignment for an overseas company | Professional Visit Pass | No longer than 12 months per issuance |
| Family of an Employment Pass holder | Dependant Pass or Long-Term Social Visit Pass | Spouse and children below 18 on a Dependant Pass |
| Study at a Malaysian institution | Student Pass | Applied for through EMGS with an offer letter |
| Recent graduate of a Malaysian institution | Graduate Pass | 12 months to stay and work, for eligible nationalities |
| Long-stay residence | Malaysia My Second Home | Fixed deposit and compulsory home purchase |
Step 2: the work route
The Revised Expatriate Salary Policy applies to all new and renewal Employment Pass applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026.
| Category | Minimum basic salary | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|
| I | RM 20,000 and above | Up to 10 years |
| II | RM 10,000 to RM 19,999 | Up to 10 years, with a succession plan from 1 January 2027 |
| III | RM 5,000 to RM 9,999 | Up to 5 years, with a succession plan from 1 January 2027 |
- What counts as salary: basic monthly salary, taxable in Malaysia. Allowances, incentives and bonuses are excluded.
- Who applies: the employing company, through its Expatriate Services Division account.
- Each pass: a multiple-entry visa of 1 month to 60 months, subject to the employment contract.
- Work rights: only for the company named in the pass. A change of company means a new application.
- Family: all three categories can bring dependants for applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026.
The full table, including the previous figures and the processing steps, is in our Malaysia work visa guide.
Step 3: the study route
Education Malaysia Global Services handles the Student Pass. You need an offer letter, a passport valid for 18 months and above, academic records, a health declaration and an English certificate. Medical insurance bought in Malaysia is compulsory, and new students attend a medical screening at a panel clinic within 7 working days of arrival. After a bachelor's degree or higher, eligible nationalities can apply for a Graduate Pass, valid for 12 months after graduation. See our Malaysia student visa guide.
Step 4: Malaysia My Second Home
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture describes MM2H as a programme offering eligible participants a renewable social visit pass with a multiple-entry visa. The current version has four categories.
| Platinum | Gold | Silver | SEZ/SFZ, age 50+ | SEZ/SFZ, age 21-49 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed deposit | USD 1,000,000 | USD 500,000 | USD 150,000 | USD 32,000 | USD 65,000 |
| Term | 20 years, renewable | 15 years, renewable | 5 years, renewable | 10 years, renewable | 10 years, renewable |
| Minimum age, main applicant | 25 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 21 |
| Compulsory home purchase, minimum price | RM2,000,000 | RM1,000,000 | RM600,000 | Price as set for SEZ property development | Price as set for SEZ property development |
| Participating fee, minimum | RM200,000 | RM3,000 | RM1,000 | RM1,000 | RM1,000 |
| Renewal fee | RM5,000 | RM3,000 | RM1,500 | RM300 | RM300 |
- Processing fee: RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 for each dependant.
- Days in Malaysia: participants aged below 50 must be present for 90 days, cumulative, in one year. There is no minimum stay requirement for those aged 50 and above.
- Fixed deposit withdrawal: a maximum of 50% may be withdrawn after approval, for buying a residence, education, or medical and tourism purposes in Malaysia.
- The home: buying and owning a residence is compulsory after approval, and it may not be sold for 10 years unless you upgrade to one of higher value.
- Dependants: spouse, children below 21, children aged 21 to 34 who are unemployed and single, and parents and parents-in-law.
- Tax: the programme lists no tax on foreign funds or income and on profit from fixed deposits in Malaysia.
- How to apply: through an MM2H tour operating business licensed by the Ministry. Final approval sits with the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Immigration Department.
- Medical check-up: compulsory for the principal and dependants at an appointed clinic after approval.
Step 5: entering Malaysia
- Visitors: the MM2H site notes that visitors can stay for up to three (3) months on a Single Entry Visa.
- Students from listed countries need a Single Entry Visa before entering. EMGS's list includes India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, and can change without notice.
- Arrival card: the Immigration Department runs the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online, with registration and status checks on its site.
- Cash: travellers carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments of more than USD 10,000 equivalent must declare them to customs.
- New Employment Pass holders: ePASS endorsement and i-KAD issuance take place on arrival at KLIA Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 for a new entry.
Step 6: budget by state
| State or territory, 2024 | Mean household expenditure (RM a month) | Median household income (RM a month) |
|---|---|---|
| W.P. Kuala Lumpur | 8,178 | 10,802 |
| Selangor | 7,266 | 10,726 |
| Johor | 5,927 | 7,712 |
| Pulau Pinang | 5,850 | 7,386 |
| Sarawak | 4,281 | 5,504 |
| Sabah | 3,547 | 4,890 |
Headline inflation was 1.9% in the year to August 2026, the latest month in the statistics department's published data. All sixteen states and territories are in our cost of living in Malaysia guide, and one-off relocation costs are in cost of moving to Malaysia.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner live in Malaysia long term?
Yes, on a pass. The routes are an Employment Pass for work, a Student Pass for study, or Malaysia My Second Home, which gives a renewable social visit pass for terms of 5 to 20 years depending on the category.
How much money do I need for MM2H?
A fixed deposit of USD 150,000 in the Silver category, USD 500,000 in Gold and USD 1,000,000 in Platinum, plus a compulsory home purchase with minimum prices of RM600,000, RM1,000,000 and RM2,000,000. The special zone category starts at USD 32,000 for those aged 50 and above.
What salary do I need to work in Malaysia?
A basic monthly salary of at least RM 5,000 for an Employment Pass application submitted on or after 1 June 2026. Category I starts at RM 20,000.
Can I work on MM2H?
The programme's guidelines list which categories are allowed to conduct business, investment or career activities, in a table by category. Check the guidelines page for your category before relying on it.
Do I have to buy property under MM2H?
Yes. Purchasing and owning a residence is compulsory after approval, and selling it is not allowed for 10 years unless you buy one of higher value.
How much does it cost to live in Kuala Lumpur?
The average household in W.P. Kuala Lumpur spent RM 8,178 a month in 2024, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
Can my family come with me on an Employment Pass?
Yes. A spouse and children below 18 can get a Dependant Pass, and parents, parents-in-law and children aged 18 to 25 can get a Long-Term Social Visit Pass.
Official sources
- Expatriate Services Division, Immigration Department of Malaysia — Revised Expatriate Salary Booklet, effective 1 June 2026
- Expatriate Services Division — Employment Pass
- Expatriate Services Division — Professional Visit Pass
- Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture — Malaysia My Second Home, category overview
- Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture — MM2H guidelines
- Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture — Malaysia My Second Home
- Education Malaysia Global Services — Required documents
- Education Malaysia Global Services — Countries that require a Single Entry Visa
- Education Malaysia Global Services — Graduate Pass
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Malaysia Digital Arrival Card
- Department of Statistics Malaysia, OpenDOSM — Household Income and Expenditure: States
- Department of Statistics Malaysia, OpenDOSM — Consumer Price Index inflation data
All figures verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. Programme terms and fees change, so confirm them with the agency before you commit money. Income tax is not covered here. Information, not legal or financial advice.