Expat Community > Malaysia

cinnamonape
Joined 2017
Posts: 52

The Fall of Malaysias MM2H Long Stay Visa and a Sarawak Alternative

3 years ago

As you may be aware the Federal MM2H program has been suspended for some time for "review". Even before that for the last several years the Department of Immigration had begun delaying applications for over a year and then rejected without even reviewng them 10,000 applications.

The Government has just released a new set of revised requirements supposedly "to attract high earning quality individuals". Most already on the visa believe will strangle the program. Some believe that this is actually the intent.

Supervision of the program moved from the Ministry of Tourism to Home Affairs = Security).

Furthermore, as the new rules are retrospective on current visa-holders (it is still unclear if this will take place immediately or upon renewal)...it will likely mean the 98% that cannot meet the new terms and up to 53,000 will have to sell properties, terminate their leases, uproot their children from schools and move elsewhere.

Amongst these new regulations are:
1) An increase in Income/Pension from US$2500 to US$10,000/month, AND
2)Increase in Fixed Deposit from RM150K to RM1 million ((=US$250K). AND
3) Proof of Overseas Liquid Assets of US$385K AND
4) Mandatory Residence of 90 Days/Year AND
5) Fee Increases: Pass from RM90/yr > RM500/person/yr
Processing Fee (new) RM 5000+ RM2500/dependent.

Malaysia has just moved from near the top of retirement and expat long-stay locales to the bottom.

There are two possible places in Malaysia that mights still prove to be possible locales for application.

Sarawak (and Sabah) are autonomous States with broad independent and separate immigration systems and regulations.

Sarawak already has its own MM2H-type program and has informed the Federal Government that it will NOT CONFORM to the new regulations.

Sarawak has several options for those under 50 but is essentially oriented towards retirees (50+).
For Over 50's it allows EITHER a fixed deposit OR a proof of income/salary.
A) Pension Option: RM1700 (single)/RM2500 (couple)
B) FD Option: RM150K/RM300K with several withdrawal options down to 60% of those amounts for tuition, healthcare, vehicle or property purchase. Remember..unlike the Mainland Program for Sarawak its (A) or (B) not "all of the above".

Sarawak allows one 5 years + 5 years with a check at the first extension to make sure you still meet the above and have met the residency requirement..which is only 15 Days a year.

Currently Sarawak Visa Holders have the right to visit and stay in the Peninsula throughout their visa. Some have decided to reside there. We will see if the Federal Government will somehow try and restrict this "Sarawak Back Door".

In my view Sarawak is a much more attractive destination than West Malaysia in any case, and has easy access to Singapore and "all mod cons" and a much more agreeable multi-racial and multi-religious community, too.

https://www.mtac.sarawak.gov.my

Look under the "For The Public" section for more about the Sarawak MM2H.

This official site also has the information of how those 30-50 with school-age children and those 40-50 willing to buy a property in Sarawak can also qualify.
Also check out the Sarawak My Second Home Group FB Site for ongoing discussions of the very fluid situation in Malaysia,

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