Malaysia offers several options for foreigners to obtain long-term residence through investment. The main programs include the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program, the Residence Pass Talent (RP-T) program, and the newly proposed Residence by Investment (RBI) program. These allow investors, entrepreneurs, and retirees to live in Malaysia long-term or permanently. Key benefits are the ability to easily travel in and out of Malaysia, own businesses, avoid income taxes for a period, and bring dependents.
MM2H program targets retirees but has high financial requirements
The MM2H program allows retirees over 50 to stay in Malaysia by having fixed deposits and offshore income. However, recent changes have made the requirements more difficult to meet, including needing liquid assets of RM1.5 million. As such, the program now mainly targets the very wealthy.
RP-T program wants applicants with specialized skills
The RP-T program issues 10-year residence passes to foreign talent who can contribute to key economic sectors in Malaysia. Applicants need to show exceptional ability and achievement in fields like oil and gas, finance, and technology. Having rare or in-demand skills gives a higher chance of approval.
New RBI program still in planning stages
The RBI is a proposed residence scheme similar to programs in other countries that trade citizenship or permanent residence for investment. While details are pending, the RBI may have lower requirements than MM2H. But it may also offer fewer benefits than the established MM2H program.
Malaysia provides several long-term residence options for investors, though some changes have increased hurdles lately. The MM2H targets retirees but now has high financial requirements, while the RP-T wants specialized talent. The upcoming RBI offers a new route but final terms are still undecided.