MM2H or PVIP?
Malaysia's two long-stay routes overlap just enough to confuse everyone. This is the comparison we give clients at the first meeting — obligations included, so you choose once and choose right.
Settling,
or staying flexible?
Choose MM2H if you are settling in Malaysia — schooling children, buying the family home, living here much of the year. Choose PVIP if you want 20-year residency with maximum freedom: no minimum stay, no compulsory property purchase, and the right to work and run a business from day one.
Every line
that differs
MM2H figures show Silver / Gold / Platinum in order; the Forest City Special tier and full fee detail live on the MM2H comparison. PVIP has one set of terms for everyone.
| Criteria | MM2H | PVIP |
|---|---|---|
| Visa validity | 5 / 15 / 20 years by tier, renewable | 20 years, renewable |
| Minimum age | 25 (21 for Forest City Special) | No age limit |
| Fixed deposit | US$150,000 / US$500,000 / US$1,000,000 | RM1,000,000 — RM500,000 withdrawable 6 months after approval |
| Property | Purchase required: RM600,000 / RM1,000,000 / RM2,000,000 minimum | Not required |
| Minimum stay | 90 days a year — main applicants under 50; 50+ exempt | None |
| Work & business | Platinum tier only | Allowed — work, business and investment |
| Income proof | No fixed threshold — bank statements and source of income | RM40,000/month or RM480,000/year income |
| Participation fee | RM1,000 / RM3,000 / RM200,000 one-off | RM200,000 one-off + RM50,000–100,000 per dependant (10 / 20-year pass) + ~RM2,000/yr annual pass and security bond |
| Agency & processing | RM40,000 / RM55,000 / RM70,000; RM2,500 per dependant; RM500 online fee | RM60,000 + RM20,000 per dependant |
| Applied through | Licensed MM2H agent to MOTAC's One Stop Centre | Immigration-appointed agency to the Immigration Department |
| Dependants | Spouse, children to 34, parents & parents-in-law | Spouse, children to 25, parents & parents-in-law |
MM2H figures follow the 2024 regulations currently in force; PVIP terms as published by the Immigration Department. Both programmes revise figures from time to time — we confirm the current set before you commit.
Six clients,
six answers
Nobody chooses a visa in the abstract. These are the six situations we see most, and the route each one usually points to.
Official sources: MOTAC — Malaysia My Second Home programme portal · Immigration Department of Malaysia (pages in English/Malay)
The deciding
questions
Which is cheaper overall?+
For pure entry cost, MM2H Silver: a US$150,000 deposit you keep, a RM600,000 home you own, and about RM41,000 in fees. PVIP concentrates cost differently — the RM1,000,000 deposit is yours throughout (half withdrawable after six months), but the RM200,000 participation fee is spent — and each dependant adds up to RM100,000 more. The honest answer: MM2H converts money into assets and suits families; PVIP buys freedom from obligations and suits individuals or couples.
Can I work on either visa?+
On PVIP, yes — employment, business and investment are permitted. On MM2H, only the Platinum tier allows it; Silver, Gold and Forest City passes do not. A dependant spouse cannot work on either programme without qualifying for their own Employment Pass.
Can I switch from one to the other later?+
There is no conversion lane — you cannot hold both, and switching means exiting one programme and applying fresh to the other. Exiting releases your full fixed deposit with interest, and a home bought under MM2H can be kept. Still, choosing correctly the first time is what this page is for; if your situation is genuinely borderline, we will map both exits before you commit.
Which is approved faster?+
Both run through security vetting and document review; a clean MM2H file currently takes about three to four months to conditional approval, with a further short visit to complete it. PVIP timelines are broadly comparable. In practice the file quality moves the needle more than the programme chosen.
Can children study in Malaysia on both?+
Yes — dependant children study at any government-recognised school on either pass. The difference is how long they stay covered: up to 34 on MM2H, up to 25 on PVIP.
Do PVIP holders ever have to buy property?+
No. If a PVIP holder chooses to buy, the ordinary state minimums for foreign buyers apply — but nothing in the programme requires it.
Is PVIP still open in 2026?+
Yes — and it became friendlier in March 2026: dependants can now take a cheaper 10-year pass at RM50,000, and half the fixed deposit unlocks after six months instead of a year. A government study on aligning PVIP with MM2H Platinum has so far changed nothing. We track every revision; the figures on this page reflect the terms in force today.