Malaysia MM2H (My Second Home) Program
Overview
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) is a long-stay social visit pass for US citizens and other foreigners, restructured in June 2024 into a tiered fixed-deposit model. Spouse and children can be included as dependents. The program is run by Malaysia’s Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The 2024 tier structure
Each tier requires a fixed deposit (FD) in a Malaysian bank (denominated in US dollars) plus a mandatory property purchase with a minimum value set in Malaysian ringgit:
| Tier | Fixed deposit | Pass duration | Minimum property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | US$150,000 | 5 years, renewable | RM600,000 (~US$130,000) |
| Gold | US$500,000 | 15 years | RM1,000,000 (~US$215,000) |
| Platinum | US$1,000,000 | 20 years | RM2,000,000 (~US$430,000) + RM200,000 (~US$43,000) one-time participation fee |
| SEZ/SFZ (Forest City, Johor) | US$65,000 (US$32,000 if 50+) | special economic/financial zone variant | Forest City property ≥ RM500,000 (~US$107,000), mandatory |
Key rules across tiers:
- Minimum age: 25 for the national tiers (Silver/Gold/Platinum); 21 for the SEZ/SFZ (Forest City) tier
- Property purchase is mandatory in all tiers, with a 10-year no-resale holding requirement
- Up to 50% of the fixed deposit can be withdrawn for property purchase, healthcare, or education expenses in Malaysia
- Sabah and Sarawak run their own separate MM2H variants with different terms
Step-by-step process
- Apply through a licensed MM2H agent (applications are agent-channeled under the 2024 rules) to the Immigration Department
- Receive conditional approval, then enter Malaysia
- Place the fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank and complete the medical exam + insurance
- Complete the mandatory property purchase within the required window
- Collect the MM2H pass (5 / 15 / 20 years by tier); renew or upgrade tiers later if eligible
⚠️ Verification note: the tier figures above are corroborated from secondary sources because the official MM2H portal (mm2h.gov.my) blocks automated access; the Immigration Department page linked in sources confirms the program structure. Confirm current figures with a licensed MM2H agent before committing funds — the program’s terms have changed three times since 2021.
US tax obligations as expat
⚠️ Critical: as US citizen, you remain obligated to file US federal taxes.
- Form 1040 annual with worldwide income
- FEIE Form 2555: exclude up to $132,900 (tax year 2026) if you qualify — the IRS requires foreign earned income, a tax home in a foreign country, and passing the bona fide residence test or the 330-day physical presence test; residing abroad alone is not enough
- Foreign Tax Credit Form 1116: avoid double taxation
- FBAR FinCEN Form 114: if foreign accounts >$10K aggregated
- FATCA Form 8938 — living abroad, the thresholds are higher: if you must file a US income tax return, file Form 8938 if your specified foreign financial assets exceed $200,000 (single) or $400,000 (married filing jointly) on the last day of the year, or $300,000 / $600,000 at any point during the year. The $50,000 / $100,000 figures are the thresholds for filers living in the US.
Services and banking
As expat in Malaysia, consider:
- Local bank account (for daily expenses)
- Maintain US account (for Social Security, Medicare)
- International transfers: the 1% remittance excise tax (IRC § 4475, on transfers after December 31, 2025) reaches only transfers the sender funds with cash, a money order, a cashier’s check, or any other similar physical instrument (as determined by the Secretary). Section 4475(d) exempts transfers funded from an account at a US financial institution or with a US-issued debit or credit card — which covers an ordinary Wise or bank transfer.
- Credit card: many US ones don’t work; get country one
Healthcare
Medicare generally does NOT cover in Malaysia. Options:
- Local insurance: country’s national coverage
- International insurance (Cigna Global, AXA): worldwide coverage
- Traveler’s private insurance (short term)
Related information
Last verified: 2026-09-10.
General information — not legal advice. Consult immigration attorney in destination country for specific cases.
Related procedural information
- USCIS Form I-407 — abandonment of LPR status — formal renunciation procedure
- IRS tax obligations as a US citizen abroad — citizens file regardless of residence
- Social Security totalization agreements — avoiding double SS coverage
- Find an international tax attorney — for renunciation and exit-tax cases
- Consulate of your destination country — pre-departure documentation