Malaysia’s long-stay residence program is busier than it has been in years. Between October 1, 2024 and August 31, 2026, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program received 7,650 new applications, according to a September 26 statement from Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man. The ministry put the economic value of that activity at RM8.85 billion, or a little over US$2 billion.
Four days earlier, Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing asked the Immigration Department and other agencies to step up checks on MM2H holders. His focus: participants who run businesses that their category does not allow.
Together, the two announcements show a program that is growing fast after its 2024 overhaul, and a government that wants its conditions enforced.
Key takeaways
- MM2H received 7,650 new applications across its Platinum, Gold, Silver and Special Economic Zone categories in the 23 months to August 31, 2026.
- The ministry credits the program with more than RM5 billion in property purchases and RM3.82 billion in fixed deposits over the same period.
- Mainland China supplied about half of all applications, followed by Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.
- Only the Platinum tier allows business, investment and work. The official guidelines list these activities as not allowed in the other tiers, and the minister has asked for tighter checks.
- No new rules or penalties were announced. The focus is enforcement of the conditions already in place.
What the new MM2H numbers show
The 7,650 figure counts new applications, not approvals. The ministry did not say how many were approved or how many applicants have completed a property purchase, so the number is best read as a measure of demand rather than of new residents.
| Source market | Applications (Oct 2024 to Aug 2026) | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China | 3,847 | about 50% |
| Taiwan | 1,054 | about 14% |
| Hong Kong | 324 | about 4% |
| Singapore | 287 | about 4% |
| United States | 284 | about 4% |
| All other countries | 1,854 | about 24% |
Shares are our own calculation from the ministry’s figures, as reported by Bernama and The Star.
Demand is overwhelmingly Asian. The ministry said the MM2H One Stop Centre will run sales missions to Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea to widen that base.
Property overtakes fixed deposits
The new figures show a shift in where the money goes. For the 23-month window, property purchases (more than RM5 billion) were larger than fixed deposits (RM3.82 billion).
The full-year 2025 figures, released in March 2026, showed the opposite. That year, 3,172 approved applications brought in RM2.35 billion in fixed deposits against RM1.51 billion in residential property, according to Dayak Daily. Those approvals covered 9,038 people including dependants, and the tier split was heavily weighted to the entry level: 2,650 Silver, 322 Special Economic and Financial Zone, 154 Gold and 46 Platinum.
The shift is expected. Every holder must buy a home in Malaysia after approval, and purchases take time to complete, so property catches up with deposits over time.
MM2H tiers at a glance
The four categories set different deposits, home prices and pass terms. The figures below come from MOTAC’s MM2H guidelines and the official category pages, such as the one for Silver.
| Tier | Fixed deposit | Minimum home price | Pass validity | Business and work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum | US$1,000,000 | RM2,000,000 | 20 years | Allowed |
| Gold | US$500,000 | RM1,000,000 | 15 years | Not allowed |
| Silver | US$150,000 | RM600,000 | 5 years | Not allowed |
| SEZ/SFZ | US$65,000 (ages 21 to 49) or US$32,000 (50 and over) | Home in Forest City, Johor, at the state floor price | 10 years | Not allowed |
A few rules apply across the board. Applicants for Platinum, Gold and Silver must be at least 25 (21 for SEZ/SFZ). Holders can withdraw up to half of the fixed deposit after approval for a home purchase, education, medical care or tourism in Malaysia. The home cannot be sold for 10 years unless the owner upgrades to a more expensive property. Participants under 50 must spend at least 90 days a year in Malaysia.
Why the ministry is checking MM2H holders who do business
On September 22, Tiong used a Facebook post to call for action against participants who abuse the program, as reported by Free Malaysia Today. He asked the Immigration Department and other agencies to step up checks on MM2H holders and their activities. He gave particular attention to holders who are barred from running a business under their category but still trade.
The rule itself is not new. Only Platinum holders may work, invest or run a business on the strength of the pass. The official category pages list business, investment and career activities as not allowed for Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ holders. With 46 Platinum approvals out of 3,172 in 2025, most holders fall in the restricted group.
The same day, Tiong chaired a meeting on the program that also covered long security checks on applications and differences in review times. Every application already goes through police security screening, and applicants aged 18 and over must provide a certificate of good conduct.
What this means for applicants and holders
For current holders, the message is about compliance, not new conditions. A Silver or Gold holder who trades or runs a company in Malaysia without the right pass fits the profile the ministry described.
For applicants, the choice of tier matters more than the price tag alone. MM2H is a residence pass, not a work permit and not a route to citizenship. People who want to work remotely for foreign clients while living in Malaysia often compare it with the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, which is built for that purpose. The broader trade-offs are covered in our guide to golden visas versus digital nomad visas.
The official guidelines also describe a tax exemption on foreign funds and income for participants. How that applies to a given person depends on Malaysian tax law and on the rules of the country they leave. Our overview of low-tax countries in Asia explains the wider context, and banks will still apply source of funds checks to the deposit.
Frequently asked questions
How many people applied for MM2H in 2026?
The ministry has not published a calendar-year figure for 2026. It reported 7,650 new applications from October 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026. For calendar 2025, it reported 3,172 approvals covering 9,038 people including dependants.
Can MM2H holders run a business in Malaysia?
Only Platinum holders can work, invest or run a business on the pass. The official guidelines list these activities as not allowed for Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ holders, and the government has asked for tighter checks on this point.
Does MM2H lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
No. The 2024 rules give a renewable long-term social visit pass. New participants are not eligible to apply for permanent residence through the program.
What is the minimum investment for MM2H Silver?
Silver requires a fixed deposit of US$150,000 and a home purchase of at least RM600,000, based on the 2024 rules. The government updates the terms, so the official guidelines are the reference.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.