Malaysia My Second Home
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The Malaysia My Second Home program (commonly abbreviated "MM2H") is an international residency scheme enacted by the Government of Malaysia to allow foreigners to live in the country on a long-stay visa of up to 10 years. To qualify for the program, applicants must meet certain financial and medical criteria. Successful applicants are then entitled to enter and leave the country on a largely unrestricted basis, and also benefit from other incentives aimed at making their stay in Malaysia more convenient.
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[edit] Malaysian Government support
Currently the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) 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 setup 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.
[edit] Eligibility
The program is open to all citizens of countries recognized by Malaysia regardless of race, religion, gender or age. Applicants are allowed to bring along their spouse and unmarried children below 18 years old. So far over 8,000 people have been approved for the MM2H visa.
[edit] Approval criteria
[edit] Financial requirement
Applicants below 50 years old are required to open a fixed deposit account in Malaysia of RM300,000.00 at any international bank with a local branch.
After a period of one year, the participant can withdraw up to RM240,000.00 for approved expenses relating to house purchase, education for children in Malaysia and medical purposes. However, a minimum balance of RM60,000.00 must be maintained from the second year onwards and throughout stay in Malaysia under this program.
Applicants 50 years old and above can either choose to:
- Open a fixed deposit account in Malaysia of RM150,000.00 at any international bank with a local branch; OR
- Show proof of monthly off-shore income of at least RM10,000.00.
After a period of one year, the participant who fulfills the fixed deposit criteria can withdraw up to RM90,000.00 for approved expenses relating to house purchase, education for children in Malaysia and medical purposes. However, a minimum balance of RM60,000.00 must be maintained from the second year onwards and throughout stay in Malaysia under this program.
[edit] Medical report
All applicants and their dependents (spouse and children) are required to submit a medical report from any private hospital in Malaysia.
[edit] Medical insurance
Approved participants and dependents (spouse and children) must possess a valid medical insurance policy covering their stay in Malaysia.
[edit] Program incentives
Participants of the program may enjoy the following incentives:
[edit] Property purchases
Each participant is permitted to purchase up to two units of residential houses at a minimum price above RM350,000 each in certain areas of Sarawak and RM250,000 each in all other states that are pre-approved by the Foreign Investment Committee of Malaysia.
[edit] Vehicle purchase
Each participant is allowed to bring in a personal car OR to purchase a locally-assembled car without the need to pay import duty, excise duty and sales tax.
[edit] Domestic helper
Each participant is allowed to apply for one maid subject to the prevailing guidelines of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
[edit] Identification card
Participants may apply for state ID cards from the Immigration Department headquarters allowing them to pass immigration checkpoints into Malaysia as residents rather than foreign nationals.
[edit] Restrictions
- Participants are not allowed to work or be employed while staying in Malaysia. Persons wishing to obtain employment visas should apply directly to Immigration Department of Malaysia.
- Participants should not participate in activities that can be considered sensitive to the local people and/or a threat to the security of the country.
[edit] Application procedure
Application can be made via any of the following channels.
[edit] Authorized 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 authorized 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.)
In the past, many sponsor companies were actually property developers or agents who tied their services for MM2H with the purchase of a property in Malaysia. However, there is currently no requirement to purchase property under MM2H, and interested participants should carefully research the background of any sponsor with whom they plan to obtain services.
[edit] Personal application
Application can also be made personally by submitting an application, along with relevant materials, to the government departments listed. Applications are accepted only at government headquarters in Kuala Lumpur (Putrajaya).
- Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia
- Immigration Department, Malaysia (Headquarters)
