How to get residency in Malaysia in 2026: every route

12 min read · Published 7 October 2026

The second home programme, the nomad pass, work, a startup, family and study: conditions, amounts in dollars, timelines and why permanent status is almost never granted here

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Key facts	2026
Routes	the second home programme, remote work, employment, a startup, family, study
Without working in the country	the second home programme: a deposit from $150,000 and a home, or a deposit from $32,000 in special zones
Cheapest route	the nomad pass: income from $24,000 a year, a fee of ~$270
Salary for a work pass	from $1,300 a month; the thresholds doubled on 1 June 2026
Length	from 1 year to 20 years depending on the route
Permanent residence and citizenship	rarely granted; dual citizenship is not allowed

Data checked: 07.10.2026

Malaysia has no residence card in the usual sense: foreigners live here on long-term passes and visas. Each has its own purpose, living without work, remote work, employment, business, family or study, and its own money requirements.

Malaysia is chosen as a convenient base for years: English in daily life, inexpensive living and tax only on local income. But it is not a path to a passport: permanent residence and citizenship are rarely granted to foreigners. Below: every route in one table, then the conditions, documents and pitfalls for each.

We will work out online the investment or income your family needs and what the permit costs for each member.

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Every way to get residency in Malaysia: comparison

Route	Main condition	From	Processing time	Details
Second home programme	a deposit from $150,000 and a home; $65,000 in the special zones	a deposit from $65,000	several months	our guide
Retirees from age 50	the second home programme in a special zone	a deposit of $32,000	several months	our guide
Nomad pass	remote work and income from $24,000 a year	fee ~$270	several weeks	our guide
Employment	a contract and a salary from $1,300 a month	fees paid by the employer	several weeks	-
10-year pass for specialists	3 years of work in Malaysia and a salary from $3,700 a month	a salary from $3,700 a month	after 3 years of work	-
Startup	a technology project and ~$13,000 in the account	~$13,000 in the account	1-2 months	our guide
Marriage to a Malaysian citizen	a registered marriage and the spouse's sponsorship	-	several weeks	-
Study	admission to a university licensed to enrol foreigners	-	before arrival, 1-2 months	-

Amount from is the fee or the lowest threshold per applicant. The deposit stays yours: it is placed in a Malaysian bank and returned when you leave the programme. Time runs from filing the complete file to the pass in your passport.

The second home programme: living without work

The programme gives the whole family a multiple-entry visa for 5, 15 or 20 years. The silver tier requires a fixed deposit of $150,000 in a Malaysian bank and a home worth at least $150,000, the gold tier a deposit of $500,000 and a home from $250,000, and the platinum tier a deposit of $1,000,000 and a home from $500,000.

In the special economic zones the terms are softer: a deposit of $65,000, or $32,000 from age 50, a 10-year visa and no mandatory home purchase. This is the main route for retirees. More on the page about Malaysian residence by investment.

age from 25, or from 21 in the special zones
at least 90 days a year in the country
applications only through a licensed programme agent
the home must be bought within a year of the visa being issued

From the second year up to half of the deposit can be withdrawn for a home, education or medical treatment in Malaysia. The programme does not allow employment and gives neither citizenship nor permanent status.

The nomad pass: remote work for up to 2 years

The nomad pass is issued by the state digital economy corporation through its portal. It is for those who work remotely for a foreign employer or clients: digital professions need income from $24,000 a year, other remote professions from $60,000.

The pass is granted for 3 to 12 months and renewed once, up to 24 months in total. The fee is about $270 for the applicant and about $140 for a family member. More on the page about the Malaysia digital nomad visa.

a contract with an employer or clients and invoices for recent months
statements proving income
health insurance covering Malaysia for the whole stay
a passport valid for at least 14 months

Working for a Malaysian company and taking local clients is not allowed. Foreign income brought into the country is exempt from tax for individuals until the end of 2036, subject to the exemption conditions.

Employment

A work pass is requested by the Malaysian employer. The category depends on salary, and on 1 June 2026 the thresholds doubled: category one from $5,000 a month, category two from $2,500 and category three from $1,300.

A category one pass is renewed for up to 10 years in total, category two for up to 10 years with a plan to train a local successor, and category three for up to 5 years. Family can accompany you on categories one and two.

an employment contract and job description
a degree and documents on experience
the company's registration in the state system for hiring foreign specialists

The pass is tied to the employer: it is cancelled on dismissal. Those who have worked in the country for 3 consecutive years and earn from $3,700 a month can get a 10-year pass for specialists, with the right to change employer and for the spouse to work.

A startup and your own company

There is a separate programme for technology entrepreneurs: new founders get a pass for a year, established ones residence for 5 years. You need to show about $13,000 in the account over 3 months and a project in technology. More on the page about the Malaysia startup visa.

The owner of an ordinary company gets a work pass as its director: a company with foreign ownership needs paid-up capital under the rules of its sector, and the director a salary matching the pass category.

company registration and paid-up capital
a business plan and contracts with clients
licences if the activity requires them

How to set up a company is on the page about company registration in Malaysia.

Family

Spouses of Malaysian citizens get a long-term pass for up to 5 years with renewal. Working on it is allowed after a separate endorsement by the immigration department. After 5 years of marriage and living in the country a spouse may apply for permanent residence.

Family members of a holder of a work pass, a nomad pass or a second home visa get a dependant pass for the same term.

a certificate of a marriage registered in or recognised by Malaysia
the citizen spouse's documents and proof of living together
the spouse's sponsorship

Study

A student pass is arranged by the university through the state service for international students before arrival. It is granted for a year and renewed for the period of study with good attendance and grades. Students may work only during holidays and in a limited range of sectors.

an offer letter from a university licensed to enrol foreigners
a medical check before and after entry
health insurance arranged together with the pass

Health insurance for a residence permit

For the second home programme health insurance is mandatory: it is taken out with an insurer operating in Malaysia after conditional approval, together with the medical check. The nomad pass requires a policy covering Malaysia for the whole stay, and students get a policy together with the pass.

Employees are insured by the employer. Public hospitals charge foreigners, while the private hospitals of Kuala Lumpur and Penang are among the best in the region. For older people a policy costs noticeably more, so we check the price before filing.

Fees and timelines: what residency in Malaysia costs

Item	Amount
Nomad pass, applicant	~$270
Nomad pass, family member	~$140
Second home participation fee, silver tier	~$250
Participation fee, gold tier	~$740
Participation fee, platinum tier	~$50,000
Second home deposit	$32,000 to $1,000,000, refundable
Work pass	fees are paid by the employer

The second home fees are subject to service tax, plus the visa fee, the medical check and insurance. Amounts are for the main applicant. A manager in the chat will calculate the total for the whole family.

In Malaysia the key is to choose the pass for your purpose and not lose the deposit to a mistake

The law does not stop you applying for the nomad pass on your own, while the second home programme accepts applications only through a licensed agent. Mistakes cost more than the fees: a deposit without a documented source of funds, a home bought below the state's threshold, a pass that does not allow the work you are coming for. We match the route to your income and plans, prepare the documents on funds, run the application through the agent and the digital economy corporation, and track the deadlines for the home purchase and renewals.

The cost of support depends on the route and family size; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

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Common reasons for refusal

the origin of the deposit money is not documented
the nomad's income is below the threshold or the profession is not on the digital list
the salary in the contract is below the threshold for the work pass category
the employing company is not registered in the system for hiring foreign specialists or lacks the required capital
the criminal record certificate has expired or is not legalised
the second home application was not filed through a licensed agent
a past overstay in Malaysia

Even after it is issued, a second home visa can be revoked if you do not buy a home within a year or spend fewer than 90 days a year in the country. We track these deadlines together with you.

Restrictions for certain nationalities

The law does not divide applicants for long-term passes by nationality, but entry differs. Citizens of most European countries need no visa for up to 90 days, citizens of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Before arrival all foreigners fill in a digital arrival card.

Second home applications go through security vetting, which takes longer for citizens of some countries. Banks check the source of funds of every applicant when opening the deposit, and transfers from sanctioned countries especially closely. We plan the route of the money before filing.

Path to permanent residence and citizenship in Malaysia

Neither the second home programme, nor the nomad pass, nor a work pass gives a right to permanent residence. It is rarely granted: to spouses of citizens after 5 years of marriage and living in the country, to large investors and to highly qualified specialists after many years of work. The decision is discretionary and takes years.

Citizenship by naturalisation requires living in Malaysia for 10 of the last 12 years, knowing Malay and giving up your previous passport: dual citizenship is not allowed. In practice foreigners almost never get it, so Malaysia is chosen as a base to live in, with a passport obtained in another country.

This topic in other countries

How to get residency in other countries:

FAQ

How do I get residency in Malaysia in 2026?

Choose a route: the second home programme with a deposit, the nomad pass for remote work, a work pass for employment, a startup, marriage to a citizen or study. There is no separate residence card; long-term passes and visas play that role.

How much does Malaysian residency cost under the second home programme?

A deposit of $150,000 and a home from $150,000 in the silver tier, $500,000 in gold and $1,000,000 in platinum. In the special economic zones the deposit is $65,000, or $32,000 from age 50, with no home purchase.

What income is needed for the nomad pass in Malaysia?

From $24,000 a year for digital professions and from $60,000 for other remote professions. The fee is about $270, and the stay is up to 24 months with renewal.

What salary is needed for a work pass in Malaysia?

From 1 June 2026: from $1,300 a month for category three, from $2,500 for category two and from $5,000 for category one.

Does buying property give residency in Malaysia?

Not on its own. A home is a mandatory condition of the second home programme together with the deposit, except in the special economic zones.

Can I work in Malaysia on the second home visa?

No, the programme gives no right to employment. Work requires a work pass, and remote work for foreign clients the nomad pass.

Can I get permanent residence in Malaysia?

Rarely: spouses of citizens after 5 years of marriage and living in the country, large investors and specialists after many years of work. Long-term visas give no right to it.

Can I get Malaysian citizenship?

Formally after living there for 10 of the last 12 years, with Malay and renunciation of your previous passport. In practice foreigners almost never get it.

What taxes does a long-term visa holder pay in Malaysia?

Malaysia taxes income from local sources on a scale up to 30%. Foreign income of individuals brought into the country is exempt until the end of 2036, subject to the exemption conditions.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.