MM2H Silver: Malaysia's 5-year pass for Americans with savings to park
What the entry tier of Malaysia My Second Home asks of you, what you get back, and who should pick a different route.
Silver fits Americans whose money is a lump sum rather than a monthly check, and who want a base in Asia without living there year-round. It asks the least of the three main tiers; the next one up, Gold, wants more than three times the deposit.
Silver at a glance, September 2026
$150,000
Fixed deposit
held in a Malaysian bank
RM600,000
Minimum home price
about $147,500; many states set more
5 years
Pass length
renewable, with multiple entry
90 days
Yearly stay if you're under 50
added up, not in a row
10 years
Before you can sell the home
unless you trade up
25
Minimum age
for the main applicant
A visa for a nest egg, not a pension check
Silver never asks what you earn each month. It asks you to lock up USD 150,000 in a Malaysian bank and buy a home, so it suits people with savings or home equity to move. If your money arrives as a monthly pension, tying up that much for years may be the wrong trade.
- Good fit if you're 50 or older and want to split your year: MOTAC's guidelines apply the 90-day stay rule only to holders under 50
- Good fit for families: your spouse, children under 21, unemployed single children up to 34, and parents or in-laws can come as dependents
- Poor fit if you need to earn in Malaysia: jobs and business activity aren't allowed on Silver
- Poor fit if you want a second passport someday: MM2H doesn't lead to permanent residence or citizenship
Remote work on Silver is a gray area
MOTAC lists careers and business activity as not allowed on Silver and says nothing about working remotely. One licensed agent says freelancing from home for a foreign company is fine. If your income depends on it, get the answer in writing from your agent, or look at the DE Rantau nomad pass, which is built for foreign-paid work.
How an application runs, start to finish
You can't apply on your own. Every file goes through an MM2H operator licensed by Malaysia's tourism ministry, MOTAC. Agents report roughly 3 to 4 months from a complete file to approval.
- Hire a licensed agent and gather passports, photos, police certificates and bank statements
- Get conditional approval, then fly in. U.S. citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days; fill out the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card first
- Within about three months, open the fixed deposit, pass the medical at a MOTAC panel clinic (it includes TB and HIV screening) and buy health insurance
- Have the pass endorsed in your passport
- Sign for your home within about a year
The fees, beyond the deposit and the home
RM1,000 participating fee
Paid once per main applicant. A law firm guide notes 8% SST on top.
RM0 to RM50 visa fee
The amount depends on your nationality.
RM500 a year
MOTAC's fixed pass fee.
RM1,500 to renew
Covers you and your dependents. Bring a valid passport, a new medical report and health insurance.
Agent fees
Each licensed operator sets its own. One agency guide puts its fee near RM40,000 (about $9,800), including the medical and first-year insurance.
Health insurance
Required to renew. Some MM2H plans cap the entry age: Bank of China's takes applicants up to 60.
Three details that catch people out
The deposit
After approval you can withdraw up to half of the USD 150,000, but only to buy a home or for education, medical care or tourism in Malaysia. Agents say the balance must be back to the full amount when you renew, or renewal can be refused.
The home
RM600,000 is MOTAC's floor, but each state sets its own minimum for foreign buyers, and the higher figure wins. One property site lists RM1 million in Kuala Lumpur and Johor and for Penang Island condos, and RM2 million in Selangor. You can't sell for 10 years unless you trade up.
Taxes on both sides
Malaysia exempts resident individuals' foreign-sourced income through December 31, 2036, if it was already taxed where it came from. The IRS still taxes your worldwide income, and the deposit alone puts you over the $10,000 FBAR reporting threshold.
If Silver doesn't fit your money
More to invest: Gold
USD 500,000 on deposit and a home of RM1 million or more gets you a 15-year pass. Platinum is the only tier that allows work.
Smallest deposit: SEZ/SFZ
USD 65,000 if you're 21 to 49, or USD 32,000 at 50 and up, for a 10-year pass. The catch: you have to buy in a designated special-zone development.
Borneo: Sarawak's S-MM2H
The state of Sarawak runs its own version for people 30 and up, with its own deposit and stay rules.
Paid from abroad: DE Rantau
Malaysia's nomad pass is built for remote income. Remote workers outside tech need USD 60,000 a year.
People who know MM2H
Christine Reynolds
Paraguay Local Guide, Malaysia Local Guide
A relocation consultant who has lived and worked in several countries. For Malaysia she covers MM2H and other visa routes, plus housing, healthcare and daily life, so you can test your plan before you wire a deposit.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach for Americans abroad. He helps you plan how you'll find and pay for good care in a new country before you need it.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Health insurance help for people living abroad. They look for private plans that fit your age and health and meet the coverage your pass asks for.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Tax software and support built for Americans overseas, so you can file your U.S. return from Malaysia.
MM2H Silver: common questions
Can I sell the home I buy for MM2H Silver?
Not for 10 years. The one exception is selling to upgrade to a home of higher value.
Can I work in Malaysia on MM2H Silver?
No. MOTAC lists careers and business or investment activity as not allowed on Silver; only the Platinum tier permits them. Working remotely for a foreign company isn't addressed by MOTAC, so get written advice from a licensed agent before relying on it.
Will Malaysia tax my U.S. pension or investment income?
Malaysia exempts foreign-sourced income received by resident individuals through December 31, 2036, as long as it was already taxed in its country of origin. The U.S. still taxes citizens on worldwide income, and Americans with foreign accounts totaling more than $10,000 must file an FBAR.
How much money do I need for MM2H Silver?
You need a USD 150,000 fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank plus a home worth at least RM600,000 (about $147,500 at July 2026 rates), so plan on roughly $300,000 before fees. After approval, up to half the deposit can go toward the home. Many states set a higher minimum price for foreign buyers.
How long does the MM2H Silver pass last?
Five years, with a multiple-entry visa. It's renewable, and its validity depends on your passport's. Renewal costs RM1,500 for you and your dependents, and you'll need a new medical report and health insurance.
Does MM2H Silver lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
No. MM2H doesn't entitle holders or their dependents to permanent residence or citizenship. Malaysia also doesn't recognize dual citizenship, so it isn't a route to a second passport.
Can I apply for MM2H Silver myself?
No. Applications must go through an MM2H operator licensed by Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Agents report about 3 to 4 months from a complete application to approval.
Do I have to live in Malaysia full time on MM2H Silver?
No. MOTAC's guidelines require holders under 50 to spend 90 days a year in Malaysia, counted in total rather than in a row. The guidelines don't apply that rule to holders 50 and older, but confirm your case with your agent.
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