MM2H Requirements 2026: All 6 Programmes Compared in One Table
Most MM2H articles only cover the three federal tiers and stop there. In 2026 there are actually six active pathways into Malaysia: Silver, Gold, Platinum, the SEZ/SFZ Forest City category, and two separate state-run programmes in Sarawak and Sabah. Each has different money rules, different stay rules and a very different day-to-day life attached. This page puts all six side by side in one table, with the figures verified against MOTAC and state guidelines as of November 2026.
Quick answer: the six pathways at a glance
Short version: budget decides everything. Under roughly USD 200,000 of flexibility, you are choosing between SEZ/SFZ (cheapest, but Forest City property) and Sarawak (moderate, most lifestyle freedom). From USD 150,000 in deposits upward, the federal Silver tier is the standard route. Gold and Platinum buy longer security and, at the top, the right to actually work in Malaysia.
The master comparison table
| Requirement | Silver | Gold | Platinum | SEZ/SFZ (Forest City) | Sarawak MM2H | Sabah MM2H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | MOTAC (federal) | MOTAC (federal) | MOTAC (federal) | MOTAC + Forest City (Johor) | Sarawak state (MTCP) | Sabah state |
| Fixed deposit | USD 150,000 | USD 500,000 | USD 1,000,000 | USD 65,000 (21-49) / USD 32,000 (50+) | RM 500,000 in a Sarawak panel bank | RM 500,000 (Silver) / USD 500,000 (Gold) / USD 1,000,000 (Platinum), Sabah panel bank |
| Minimum age | 25 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 30 | 25 |
| Pass length | 5 years, renewable | 15 years, renewable | 20 years, renewable | 5 years (21-49) / 10 years (50+) | 5 + 5 years | 5 + 5 (Silver) / 15 (Gold) / 20 (Platinum) |
| Property: compulsory? | Yes, RM 600,000+ | Yes, RM 1,000,000+ | Yes, RM 2,000,000+ | Yes, Forest City only, RM 500,000+, direct from developer | Optional (RM 600,000 Kuching / RM 500,000 elsewhere if bought) | Yes, in Sabah: RM 600,000+ (high-rise for Silver) / RM 1M / RM 2M |
| Minimum stay | 90 days/yr (under 50) | 90 days/yr (under 50) | 90 days/yr (under 50) | 90 days/yr (under 50) | 30 days/yr in Sarawak | 30 days/yr in Sabah |
| Income test | None | None | None | None | RM 10,000/mth single or RM 15,000 couple (or savings RM 100,000/RM 200,000) | RM 10,000/mth single or RM 15,000 with dependants (Silver) |
| Participation fee | RM 1,000 | RM 3,000 | RM 200,000 | RM 1,000 | RM 5,000 processing | RM 3,000 / RM 3,000 / RM 200,000 by tier |
| Work in Malaysia | No (business ownership as non-executive director, subject to conditions) | Business investment, subject to conditions | Yes, employment allowed | No | No | No (Platinum excepted) |
| Where you must live | Peninsula Malaysia | Peninsula Malaysia | Peninsula Malaysia | Forest City, Johor (own the unit; living elsewhere is possible but the unit must be held) | Anywhere in Malaysia; 30 days/yr in Sarawak | Sabah (property there); 30 days/yr in Sabah |
Figures verified 1 November 2026 against the MOTAC conditions issued June/July 2024 (official table last updated February 2026), the Forest City SFZ guidance of May 2026, and the current Sarawak MTCP and Sabah state application guides. Government charges and thresholds change; confirm the live rules before committing funds.
The four federal categories, in plain terms
Silver is the standard route and where most applications land. USD 150,000 into a Malaysian fixed deposit, a home of at least RM 600,000 anywhere on the Peninsula, and a five-year renewable pass. If you are under 50, you spend 90 days a year in Malaysia (counted across you and your family, not each person). You may withdraw up to half the deposit for the property purchase, medical costs or children's education.
Gold is the security play: five times the deposit (USD 500,000) buys a 15-year pass instead of five. Same 90-day rule, same style of property commitment at the RM 1 million floor. Worth it if you do not want to think about renewals for a decade and a half, or you want the business-investment latitude.
Platinum is the only category that lets you take a job in Malaysia. It costs USD 1,000,000 in deposit, a RM 2 million property, and a RM 200,000 participation fee - which is why it suits senior executives and business owners relocating their working life, not pure retirees.
SEZ/SFZ is the budget route with a catch. The deposit drops to USD 65,000 (or USD 32,000 if you are 50 or better), but you must buy one Forest City unit in Johor, at least RM 500,000, directly from the developer, within 90 days of approval - and hold it for 10 years. You can live elsewhere in Malaysia, but the Forest City unit is yours to keep. It is the cheapest door into the programme and the most conditional one.
Sarawak and Sabah: the state programmes most articles forget
Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H) is run by the Sarawak state government and is genuinely different: age 30 and above, a RM 500,000 fixed deposit in a Sarawak panel bank, an income or savings test (RM 10,000/month single, or RM 100,000 savings), and only 30 days a year in Sarawak - after which you can be anywhere in Malaysia. Property purchase is optional, which makes it the only pathway with no forced property buy. The pass runs five plus five years.
Sabah MM2H mirrors the federal tier idea but roots you in Sabah: the Silver level needs RM 500,000 in a Sabah panel bank plus a monthly income proof (RM 10,000 single / RM 15,000 with dependants), a RM 600,000+ high-rise home in Sabah, and 30 days a year in the state. Gold and Platinum scale up like the federal tiers. Choose it if Borneo is the point.
Which programme fits you
| If this is you | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Retiree 50+, modest budget, want the lowest cash locked up | SEZ/SFZ | USD 32,000 deposit, but you must keep a Forest City home |
| Family relocating, school-age kids, want flexibility | Silver or Sarawak | Sarawak has no forced property and only 30 days/year in state |
| Own a RM 600k-1M home budget, want the mainstream route | Silver | Standard 5-year pass, any Peninsula property at the floor |
| Hate renewals, want 15+ years of certainty | Gold | 15-year pass, business investment allowed |
| Executive or business owner who will work in Malaysia | Platinum | Only tier with employment rights |
| Borneo lifestyle, lower cost base | Sabah MM2H | RM 500,000 Silver deposit, Sabah property, 30 days/year |
Not sure where you land? Run our MM2H cost calculator - it estimates your total commitment by tier, age and property choice, and our team can recommend the right category.
Four rules that catch people out
1. The deposit and the property are separate money. A Silver applicant ties up USD 150,000 and buys a RM 600,000 home. Headlines that say "MM2H from USD 150,000" are quoting the deposit alone.
2. Property is compulsory on five of the six pathways. Only Sarawak lets you skip it. And the purchase carries its own tax: foreign buyers of residential property pay a flat 8% stamp duty from 1 January 2026 - on a RM 600,000 home that is RM 48,000 on top of the price.
3. The stay rule is age-based, not tier-based. Under 50 on any federal pathway means 90 days a year in Malaysia (cumulative across the family). At 50 or better, the federal programme has no minimum. The state programmes ask for just 30 days, but in their own state.
4. Property is locked in. Federal tiers: 10-year hold, Peninsula only. SEZ/SFZ: the Forest City unit cannot be resold for 10 years and must come from the developer. Check the exit rules before you fall in love with a show unit.
Frequently asked questions
How many types of MM2H are there in 2026?
Six active pathways: the federal Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, the SEZ/SFZ category tied to Forest City in Johor, plus two state-run programmes - Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H) and Sabah MM2H. Each has different deposit, property and stay rules.
What is the cheapest MM2H option?
The SEZ/SFZ category: USD 65,000 fixed deposit (ages 21-49) or USD 32,000 (50+). The condition is a Forest City property of at least RM 500,000, bought direct from the developer within 90 days of approval and held for 10 years.
Which MM2H tier allows working in Malaysia?
Only Platinum. Silver and SEZ/SFZ allow business ownership as a non-executive director subject to conditions, but not employment. Gold allows business investment under conditions.
Is the MM2H fixed deposit refundable?
The deposit is your own money and comes back when you leave the programme. While you are in it, you may withdraw up to 50% for approved purposes: property purchase, medical expenses, or children's education in Malaysia.
Do I have to stay 90 days a year?
On the federal tiers, applicants aged 25-49 must average 90 days a year in Malaysia, counted across the main applicant and dependants combined. At 50+, no federal minimum. Sarawak and Sabah ask for 30 days a year in their state.
What is the difference between federal MM2H and Sarawak MM2H?
Sarawak runs its own programme: age 30+, RM 500,000 deposit in a Sarawak panel bank, an income or savings test, 30 days a year in Sarawak, property optional, and a 5+5 year pass. The federal programme is MOTAC's, with higher deposits but no income test.
Can I buy any property I want?
Federal tiers: any Peninsula residential property at or above your tier floor, with a 10-year lock-in. SEZ/SFZ: one Forest City unit from the developer only. Sabah: the property must be in Sabah. Sarawak: purchase is optional.
How much does MM2H cost in total?
Beyond deposit and property: participation fee (RM 1,000 / RM 3,000 / RM 200,000 / RM 1,000), MOTAC processing RM 5,000 + RM 2,500 per dependent, medical checks, health insurance, visa fees and licensed agent fees. Our calculator gives you a worked total for your own numbers.
Can my parents and children join me?
Yes - spouse, unmarried children up to 34, and your parents and parents-in-law. It is one of the widest dependent definitions of any Asian retirement visa.
Which programme should I choose?
Budget first, then intent. Flexible budget + no property desire = Sarawak. Lowest cash in = SEZ/SFZ. Mainstream family base = Silver. Decade-plus certainty = Gold. Working career = Platinum. Borneo = Sabah. Try the calculator or talk to our licensed team.