Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): 2021 Requirements & Guidelines

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): Here’s The Latest Requirements & Guidelines To Apply

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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. Here are 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: In August 2020, the government has decided to temporarily suspend the MM2H programme to allow the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and related agencies to comprehensively review and re-evaluate the MM2H program since its inception in 2002. The suspension was in line with the Government's decision not to allow foreigners to enter Malaysia following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After having been suspended for over a year, the MM2H programme will be activated again in October 2021 with new conditions (for the new applicants & existing MM2H visa holders) as below:

Participants will be divided into two groups of applicants: those aged 35 to 49 and those 50 and over. It's not clear how (or if) the requirements for each group will differ.
Participants need to be in the country for at least a cumulative 90 days a year.
Must have an offshore income of at least RM40,000 per month.
Need to maintain a fixed deposit account of RM1 million, where a maximum withdrawal of 50% from a principal amount is allowed for purposes such as property purchase, healthcare, and education.
Additional RM50,000 per dependant will be required in the fixed deposit account.
Must have proof of liquid assets worth a minimum of RM1.5 million.
Subject to a pass fee of RM500 a year.
Subject to a processing fee of RM5,000 for the main applicant, with an additional RM2,500 per dependant.

We are still awaiting details of the actual documentation required and guidelines for the new programme, but we believe it will be very similar to the previous requirements which are set out in this article.

What's covered in this article?

What is MM2H Programme?

It’s 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 5 years, and it is renewable upon fulfilment of the renewal requirement when it expires.

The duration of the visa depends on your passport validity, so it’s 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.

However, bear in mind that 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.

Want to know the minimum threshold for foreign residential property purchases? READ: Buying Property in Malaysia as a Foreigner

So, who can apply for MM2H?

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 that allow your furry friend to tag along.

Are there any 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 FIXED DEPOSITS ACCOUNT IN A BANK IN MALAYSIA
49 years old & below	RM1.5 million	RM40,000	RM1 million * Additional RM50,000 per dependant will be required in the fixed deposit account.
50 years old and above	RM1.5 million	RM40,000

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 threshold mentioned above, you can then move on to the next phase of applying for an MM2H visa.

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 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 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 Dependants	This form needs to be completed by all dependants under the age of 21 years old.	Dependants (children under 21 years)
IM.12 Form (Social Visit Pass)	3 copies of the form (1 original and 2 photocopies) need to be submitted. You can download this form from the MM2H website or get it from the Immigration Department.	Applicant and all dependants (spouse & children)
Passport size Photo	1 passport size photo with a BLUE background	Applicant and all 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 the previous passport is required if applicant/dependant (s) has renewed his/her passport within the last 12 months.	Applicant and all dependants (spouse & children)
Letter of Good Conduct (LOGC)	LOGC 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/dependants’ health conditions.	Applicant and all 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 of 21, they must submit their applications at least 6 months before their children reach the age of 21. You should get a Letter of Confirmation from a 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 dependants.	Dependants 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 the 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 RM40,000. Refer to the table below for more details.	Applicant and Spouse (where relevant)
Authorisation 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.	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. Another 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 40,000 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
The Interest of Dividends from Investment	Latest 6 month or 1-year statement mentioning the invested amount or dividends received.

If you’re feeling a bit lost, don’t worry!

Preparing all these documents can be overwhelming. Fret not as you can apply for your MM2H visa via an agent. But, make sure that he/she is a Licensed Agent, registered under the Malaysian Government to provide MM2H services. You may check the list of the MM2H Licensed Agents here. 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 your 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 Unit. 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 with 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:

APPLICANTS	BELOW 49 YEARS OLD	ABOVE 50 YEARS OLD
Set up a Fixed Deposit Account in any bank in Malaysia	RM 1 million * Additional RM50,000 per dependant will be required in the fixed deposit account.
Withdrawal Limit Applicable	A maximum withdrawal of 50% from a principal amount
Purpose of Withdrawal Limit	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

Next, all applicants and their dependants must purchase 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 applicants if their medical coverage is rejected due to their age.

After arriving in Malaysia, the applicant and all his/her dependants 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 dependants are in good health.

Dependants who have to attend school in Malaysia are required to apply for a Student Pass to continue their education at a 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 5 years and is given depending on your passport’s validity period.

There you have it. We hope that this piece can assist you in one way or another. And, if you’d like to know about living in Malaysia, as well as the perks MM2H applicants stand to benefit from, you can read about it here. Also, if you want to find a suitable home loan that meets your requirements in Malaysia, click here.

Good luck!

* This article was repurposed from "Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): What are the latest requirements & How to apply?", first published on iProperty.com.my.
** The above article is intended for informational purposes only. Loanstreet accepts no responsibility for loss that may arise from reliance on information contained in the articles.