Sarawak's S-MM2H: up to 10 years in Borneo for about $122,400 on deposit
No compulsory home purchase and a light presence rule. Here's what the pass asks for, what it costs to get, and the Sarawak-only strings attached.
These are the rules in force since Sarawak's January 2025 overhaul, with dollar figures at the September 2026 exchange rate.
A pass for people with a lump sum and a pension
S-MM2H is for Americans 30 or older who have two things: a large sum they can lock in a Sarawak bank, and a pension, other income from abroad, or savings on top. Unlike federal MM2H, it doesn't make you buy a home.
It's the wrong fit if you need a full-time job, want Kuala Lumpur or Penang as your base, or hope to end up with a second passport.
The 2025 rules in eight numbers
$122,400
Fixed deposit
RM500,000 in a Sarawak panel bank
$61,200
Must stay in the deposit
RM250,000 minimum balance
$2,450/mo
Income, single applicant
RM10,000, or RM100,000 in savings
$3,670/mo
Income with dependents
RM15,000, or RM200,000 in savings
30
Days a year in Sarawak
main applicant, counted in total
5 + 5
Years on the pass
then a brand-new application
30+
Minimum age
principal applicant
$1,225
Processing fee
RM5,000, one time, non-refundable
Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H)
S-MM2H is a separate program for Sarawak state, with more flexible requirements than federal MM2H. Conditions and validity periods may change without notice.
- Processing time
- ~60 days
- Timeline
- Varies (typically 5–10 years, renewable)
- Difficulty
- Easy
About that data card
Our listing sums up the requirements as "Flexible requirements (subject to change)." Since January 2025 they're fixed in writing, and the eight numbers on this page are the current ones. Two more corrections: InvestSarawak puts processing at about 90 working days, and health insurance is compulsory only for applicants under 60.
How it works
From an agent's desk to a pass in Kuching
You can't file on your own. A licensed Sarawak agent applies for you, or a Sarawakian sponsor who's your spouse, parent, child or sibling. Sarawak's tourism ministry posts its list of licensed agents online.
- Gather an original Letter of Good Conduct from home and proof of your income or savings.
- Your agent uploads everything to MOAS, Sarawak's online system, and you pay the RM5,000 fee.
- Open the fixed deposit with an S-MM2H panel bank in Sarawak.
- After conditional approval, fly in for the medical exam at a registered facility in Sarawak. U.S. medical reports aren't accepted.
- Under 60? Hold health insurance for the life of the pass.
- At year five, extend with Sarawak's Immigration Department. At year ten, file a new application six months before expiry.
What it costs to get the pass
$1,225
Government processing fee
RM5,000, paid once
$3,430
Agency fee, single applicant
RM14,000 at one agency; RM16,000 for a couple
$120 to $135
Visa fee per person
RM500 to RM550 a year, per one agency
$60 to $75
Medical exam and X-ray
RM250 to RM300 per person in Sarawak
$365 to $735
Health insurance
RM1,500 to RM3,000 per person, by plan
$50 to $490
Security bond
RM200 to RM2,000, set by nationality
Before you commit
The strings that come with a Sarawak pass
S-MM2H belongs to Sarawak, and Sarawak runs its own immigration. Even Malaysians flying in from Kuala Lumpur go through a passport check, and you'll carry your passport on domestic flights too.
- It's a Sarawak pass, not a Malaysia-wide one. A Sarawak permit gives no work rights on the peninsula, and one Malaysian advisory firm says holders can visit other states for up to 30 days. Confirm the current limit with your agent.
- No full-time job. Part-time professional work is capped at 20 hours a week in education, banking, manufacturing and medical fields.
- Half the deposit stays put. RM250,000 (about $61,200) remains banked; after a year, the rest can go toward a Sarawak home, a car, school fees or medical bills.
- Federal MM2H Silver, by comparison, wants USD 150,000 on deposit, a home of at least RM600,000 (about $146,900) you can't sell for 10 years, and 90 days a year in Malaysia.
- Malaysia doesn't recognize dual nationality, so plan on a long stay, not a second passport.
- Foreign income you bring in is exempt from Malaysian tax through 2036 if it was taxed at home. The IRS still taxes your worldwide income.
People who can help with a Sarawak move
Christine Reynolds
Paraguay Local Guide, Malaysia Local Guide
A Malaysia local guide who helps with visa choices, housing, healthcare and the everyday details of getting settled.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps you work out how you'll get good care in your new country, before you need it.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Tax software and support for Americans abroad, so you can file your U.S. return from Kuching.
Flamingo Compliance | Tax Residency and Visa Tracker Platform
Tax Residency and Visa Tracker Platform
An app that counts your days in each country and warns you before you miss a visa or tax threshold.
Moneycorp
Currency Exchange
A currency specialist for turning dollars into ringgit, from the deposit itself to regular transfers for bills.
Sarawak S-MM2H: quick answers
What happens when the 10 years are up?
The pass runs 5 years, extends once for 5 more through Sarawak's Immigration Department, and then ends. To stay longer, you file a completely new application six months before the pass expires.
Can you live in Kuala Lumpur or Penang on S-MM2H?
Not as your base. The pass is issued by Sarawak, which controls its own immigration, and a Sarawak permit doesn't carry work rights in Peninsular Malaysia. You're expected to spend at least 30 days a year in Sarawak. Ask your agent how long current rules let you stay in other states.
Can you work on an S-MM2H pass?
Only part-time. Full-time employment isn't allowed, but you can do professional work for up to 20 hours a week in approved sectors: education, banking, manufacturing and medical.
Do you pay Malaysian tax on a U.S. pension?
Generally not. Foreign-sourced income received by resident individuals is exempt from Malaysian tax through December 31, 2036, as long as it was taxed where it came from. You still file a U.S. return, because the IRS taxes citizens on worldwide income, and you get an automatic two-month filing extension while living abroad.
Do you have to buy property for S-MM2H?
No. Buying a home is optional. If you do buy, the minimum price is RM600,000 (about $146,900 at September 2026 rates) in the Kuching Division and RM500,000 (about $122,400) elsewhere in Sarawak, and you can't sell for 5 years.
Can Americans apply for Sarawak's S-MM2H?
Yes. If you're 30 or older and meet the deposit and income rules, you can apply through a licensed Sarawak agent or a Sarawakian sponsor who is an immediate family member. U.S. citizens can also visit Malaysia visa-free for up to 90 days, which is time enough to look around Kuching before committing.
Can you get your S-MM2H fixed deposit back?
Part of it. After one year you can withdraw up to half for a home in Sarawak, a vehicle, children's school fees or medical costs. At least RM250,000 (about $61,200) has to stay in the account.
Does S-MM2H lead to Malaysian citizenship?
No. It's a long-stay pass, and Malaysia doesn't recognize or permit dual nationality, so it isn't a route to a second passport you could hold alongside your U.S. one.
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