Best Long-Stay Visas in Malaysia

Reviewed 2026-11-01. General independent information; check current official immigration, financial and medical guidance before acting.

Expert take — Cost of Asia editorial team Since 1 August 2026, MDEC no longer accepts appeals for rejected DE Rantau Nomad Pass applications, and the two-year extension announced in Budget 2027 is not yet in force. If you are refused, your only option is a fresh application once you meet the criteria. For now, the maximum is still 24 months. Make your first application complete, and plan your exit or next pass around your current expiry date, not the budget announcement.

This guide is for remote workers, retirees and families considering a year or more in Malaysia. The DE Rantau Nomad Pass suits remote workers with a modest income. The MM2H programs suit people who can lock up a large deposit and buy property.

Your choice comes down to income against capital. DE Rantau asks for a minimum income but no deposit, and lasts up to two years. MM2H gives 5 to 20 years, but requires a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank and, in most versions, a property purchase you can't easily reverse.

At a glance

How we chose

• Length of stay and renewal limits
• Money tests: income, fixed deposits and compulsory property
• Day-count obligations and where you are allowed to live
• Work rights for the holder and dependants

We used MDEC's DE Rantau FAQ (version 10, dated 28 August 2026), Emerhub's report on the Budget 2027 announcement, and PropCashFlow's summaries of federal and state MM2H terms, captured on 16 October 2026. Checked on 1 November 2026.

1. DE Rantau Nomad Pass: best for remote workers

MDEC's FAQ sets the minimum income at USD 24,000 a year for tech roles (software, cybersecurity, digital marketing and similar) and USD 60,000 for non-tech roles such as consultants and managers. The pass lasts 3 to 12 months, plus one 12-month renewal, for a maximum of 24 months. The processing fee is RM1,080 for the main applicant and RM540 per dependant, plus an immigration fee of RM360 a year. You need health insurance that covers Malaysia for the whole pass. Dependants can't work.

Budget 2027, presented on 9 October 2026, announced two more years for holders who reach the limit. Emerhub reports that the conditions have not been set, so the current expiry date still applies.

2. Federal MM2H: best for long stays with capital

PropCashFlow lists three federal tiers:

• Silver: USD 150,000 deposit, a home of at least RM600,000, 5-year pass
• Gold: USD 500,000 deposit, a home of at least RM1,000,000, 15-year pass
• Platinum: USD 1,000,000 deposit, a home of at least RM2,000,000, 20-year pass, with business rights

The home generally can't be sold for 10 years, except to upgrade. Applicants under 50 must spend 90 days a year in Malaysia. The source also notes that MM2H doesn't make you a tax resident on its own, since that depends on the 182-day test.

3. MM2H Special Financial Zone (Forest City): best for the lowest deposit

The same source lists a Special Economic or Financial Zone option, tied to Forest City in Johor, with a 10-year pass. The deposit is USD 65,000 for applicants aged 21 to 49 and USD 32,000 for those 50 and over. Before committing, ask a licensed MM2H agent where you must live and what property you must buy under this option.

4. Sarawak S-MM2H: best if you'd rather not buy property

Sarawak's tourism ministry runs its own program. According to PropCashFlow:

• Age 30 or older
• RM500,000 fixed deposit at a Sarawak panel bank, with RM250,000 kept as a minimum balance
• Pension or offshore income of RM10,000 a month (RM15,000 with a dependant)
• 30 days a year in Sarawak
• RM5,000 processing fee, for a 5-plus-5-year pass
• Property purchase optional
• Part-time professional work up to 20 hours a week is allowed in approved sectors

5. Sabah MM2H: best if you want to live in Sabah

Sabah's Silver category needs a RM500,000 deposit, RM10,000 monthly income (RM15,000 with dependants) and a residence of at least RM600,000, for a 5-plus-5-year pass, according to the same source. Holders may live only in Sabah, need Immigration approval to travel to the Peninsula, and can't sell the property for 10 years. Applications go through a licensed Sabah agent.

What to check before you decide

• DE Rantau expiry date. Plan around it until MDEC publishes the Budget 2027 extension rules.
• No appeal. Check every document before submitting, because a refusal can't be appealed.
• Deposit withdrawal rules. Ask the bank and agent when and how much of the MM2H deposit you can use.
• Property lock-in. Ten years without resale is a long commitment if your plans change.
• Tax. MDEC notes that remote workers staying more than 60 days may become taxable. Ask a qualified adviser and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

FAQ

How long can I stay on the DE Rantau pass?

Up to 24 months in total: an initial pass of 3 to 12 months plus one 12-month renewal, according to MDEC. The two-year extension announced in Budget 2027 was not in force as of our check.

Can I appeal a DE Rantau rejection?

No. MDEC's FAQ states that appeals have not been accepted since 1 August 2026. You can reapply once you meet the criteria.

Is MM2H worth it just to buy property?

Generally not. PropCashFlow finds it gives no property price advantage and adds a deposit and resale lock.

Related guides

• Malaysia cost of living
• Immigration and visa support
• Malaysia digital nomad visa
• MM2H guide
• Retire in Malaysia
• Budget calculator