Moving to Malaysia in 2026

Moving to Malaysia: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

Russian citizens need no visa for trips to Malaysia of up to 30 days, completing an electronic arrival card before entry. Long-term living requires a status: the nomad pass for remote digital workers earning from $24,000 a year, the second home programme for 5, 15 or 20 years with a deposit and a property purchase, or the startup programme for tech founders. Applications are filed in advance, so choose the ground before the trip.

1. Before the trip. An online nomad pass application or a second home file through an authorised agent, then waiting for approval.
2. Days 1-30. Entry, the pass endorsed in your passport at immigration and a condominium lease: on moving in you pay a 2-month deposit, one month for utilities and the first month's rent.
3. Days 30-90. A Malaysian bank account, a local SIM card on your passport, health insurance and school for children.

Penang and Johor Bahru are cheaper than the capital, and street food and local cafés are very inexpensive. A family budget depends on its size and the programme; we calculate it in the chat. Exchange rate: about 4.09 ringgit per dollar on 6 October 2026.

Malaysia in brief

Malaysia is a South-East Asian country on the Malay Peninsula and the northern part of Borneo with about 34 million people. The capital is Kuala Lumpur, while the government works in neighbouring Putrajaya. The national language is Malay, but English is widely used in business, banking, healthcare and schools. The currency is the ringgit, about 4.08 ringgit to the dollar. The states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo control their own entry.

Malaysia suits remote workers, families and retirees who want an affordable life in Asia with good infrastructure, English, strong international schools and private healthcare, plus a tax exemption on foreign income.

How to move in 2026

• Second home programme - a 5, 15 or 20-year visa for the whole family: a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank from $150,000 in the Silver tier, $500,000 in Gold and $1,000,000 in Platinum, plus a mandatory home purchase, from 600,000 ringgit, about $146,900, in the Silver tier. In special economic zones the deposit is $65,000, and from age 50 it is $32,000. You must spend at least 90 days a year in the country, and applications go only through an authorised agent. Details are on the page Malaysian residence.
• Nomad pass - up to 2 years for remote workers in digital professions earning from $24,000 a year. Details are on the page Malaysia digital nomad visa.
• Start-up programme - for tech entrepreneurs with 50,000 ringgit in the bank over 3 months: a 1-year pass for new projects or a 5-year residence permit for experienced founders. Details are on the page Malaysia start-up visa.
• Employment - a permit under a contract with a Malaysian company, with the category depending on salary.

We handle the choice of programme, documents and filing through the agent end to end.

Permanent residence and citizenship

The second home programme and other visas give no right to permanent residence or citizenship. Permanent residence is rarely granted to foreigners, mainly to major investors, spouses of citizens and highly skilled professionals after many years of work. Naturalisation requires long residence and Malay and is practically out of reach, so Malaysia is chosen as a convenient base for years rather than a path to a passport.

Taxes

You become a tax resident after 182 days in a year. A resident pays income tax from 0% to 30% on a scale on Malaysian income, while a non-resident pays 30%. Foreign income of individuals remitted to Malaysia is tax-exempt until 31 December 2036. Corporate tax is 24%, and small and medium businesses pay 15% on the first 150,000 ringgit and 17% on the next band. Instead of VAT there is a 5-10% sales tax and an 8% service tax. Details are on the page taxes in Malaysia.

Property

Foreigners buy homes with state approval and only above a minimum price set by each state; in Kuala Lumpur and popular states the threshold is usually around 1 million ringgit. Low-cost housing and land reserved for Malays cannot be bought. For Silver tier second home participants the minimum price is 600,000 ringgit. We source and check properties on the page property in Malaysia.

Business and accounts

A company with foreign shareholders is registered with the companies registry in a few days, but some sectors need licences and minimum capital. Banks open accounts for non-residents with a visa and check the source of funds, and the second home deposit is held in a local bank. We help with company registration, a business account and a personal account.

Cost of living

• Rent - a one-bedroom flat in the centre from $400 a month; a condominium with a pool and security costs more.
• Costs excluding rent - about $600 a month for one person and about $1,800 for a family of four.
• Transport - since June 2026 an unlimited monthly pass in Kuala Lumpur costs 150 ringgit.
• Food - street food and local cafés are very cheap.

Where to live

• Kuala Lumpur - jobs, international schools, hospitals and the airport; foreigners choose Mont Kiara, Bangsar and neighbouring Petaling Jaya. More in the Kuala Lumpur guide.
• Penang - an island with the old town of George Town, great food and a large foreign community.
• Johor Bahru - on the border with Singapore, with housing cheaper than in Singapore.
• Langkawi - a resort island with duty-free shopping.
• Kota Kinabalu - Sabah on Borneo, with nature and mountains.

Practicalities

• Entry. Russian citizens enter visa-free for 30 days.
• Climate. Hot and humid all year, about +30 to +33, with monsoon seasons bringing downpours.
• Healthcare. Private hospitals are good and inexpensive, and people from neighbouring countries come for treatment.
• Schools. Many international schools with British, American and Australian curricula.
• Roads. Traffic drives on the left.

Who Malaysia suits

Pros: English, low prices with good infrastructure, private healthcare and international schools, a tax exemption on foreign income until 2036 and a long visa for the whole family. Cons: heat all year, traffic, a high purchase threshold for foreigners and no path to citizenship. Malaysia suits remote workers, families and retirees as a convenient base in Asia for many years. Write in the chat and we will choose a programme and work out the budget for your family.