Sarawak (Malaysia) MM2H

Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H) is the Malaysia visa issued by the country's largest state under its own rules. The Sarawak Investor Visa (S-MM2H) grants foreigners long-term residency in Sarawak, Malaysia's largest state on Borneo. Sarawak's semi-autonomous status allows it to independently manage the program with state-specific requirements. This is a Residence by Investment pathway.

Qualification is based on two parallel requirements: financial capacity and minimum investment. Applicants must demonstrate either regular offshore income or sufficient personal savings. Individuals need monthly offshore income of at least MYR 10,000, or personal savings of at least MYR 100,000. Couples need monthly offshore income of at least MYR 15,000, or personal savings of at least MYR 200,000.

The core investment is a MYR 500,000 fixed deposit in any local bank in Sarawak. This amount applies to both individuals and couples. After one year, up to 50% may be withdrawn for approved expenses: property purchase, vehicle acquisition, healthcare, or children's education in Sarawak. The remaining balance must stay deposited throughout the residency period.

Participants must spend at least 30 days per year in Sarawak to maintain their status. The program allows dependents to be brought along. After 5 years, permanent residency becomes available. Citizenship is discretionary and typically requires 12+ years. Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship; applicants pursuing Malaysian citizenship must renounce other nationalities.

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The fixed deposit requirement is MYR 500,000, placed in any local bank operating in Sarawak. This amount is identical for both individuals and couples, no variation based on household size or applicant profile.

The deposit must remain in place initially. After one year of residency, you may withdraw up to 50% of the balance (MYR 250,000 maximum) for specific approved expenses within Sarawak: property purchase, vehicle acquisition, healthcare costs, or children's education.

Withdrawals are conditional on documented proof that funds were used for these eligible purposes. Withdrawals for other uses are not permitted under the program terms.

The Sarawak MM2H program requires documented monthly offshore income or alternative liquid savings to qualify financially. Income thresholds differ by household composition.

Individual applicants must demonstrate either MYR 10,000 in monthly offshore income or MYR 100,000 in personal savings. Couples require either MYR 15,000 monthly offshore income or MYR 200,000 in personal savings. You satisfy the requirement through one pathway only, either the monthly income threshold or the savings threshold, not both.

Offshore income is the qualifying income type. This means income earned outside Malaysia, typically from foreign employment, business operations, investments, pensions, or rental income from property located outside Malaysia. The income must be verifiable and documented through official channels.

Documentation must establish consistent monthly income over a recent period. Bank statements showing regular deposits, employment contracts from foreign employers, business registration documents from overseas entities, pension award letters, or investment account statements all serve as qualifying proof. The immigration authority requires evidence that your income is genuine, recurring, and sustainable, not one-time payments or irregular transfers.

Income from Malaysian sources does not qualify toward this threshold. Employment or business income earned within Malaysia, even if substantial, cannot be counted as offshore income for MM2H purposes. This distinction is strict and enforced during application review.

The savings alternative (MYR 100,000 for individuals, MYR 200,000 for couples) serves as a substitute for demonstrating monthly income but is not additional to it. You do not need both; you choose one pathway based on your financial situation.

Applicants must be aged 30 or above. There is no upper age limit.

Financial capacity is demonstrated through one of two routes. Individuals must show either monthly offshore income of at least MYR 10,000 or personal savings of at least MYR 100,000. Couples must show either monthly offshore income of at least MYR 15,000 or personal savings of at least MYR 200,000. Offshore income means income earned outside Malaysia.

All applicants must place a fixed deposit of MYR 500,000 in any local bank in Sarawak. This amount is the same for individuals and couples. The deposit must remain in place throughout the residency period. After one year, up to 50% may be withdrawn for approved expenses only: property purchase, vehicle acquisition, healthcare, or children's education in Sarawak. The remaining balance must stay deposited.

Applicants must submit a medical report from a recognized medical institution and maintain valid medical insurance in Sarawak throughout their stay. No specific health conditions are listed as grounds for rejection.

Participants must spend at least 30 days per year in Sarawak to maintain status. This is a mandatory physical presence requirement. Days spent in other parts of Malaysia do not count toward this threshold.

Dependents may be included: spouses, children under 21, and parents above 60 years old. Dependent inclusion does not increase the fixed deposit requirement.

S-MM2H visa holders may not live or settle in other parts of Malaysia. The program grants residency rights only within Sarawak state. Travel to other Malaysian states is permitted, but residency is restricted to Sarawak.

Sarawak offers a low-tax environment. Malaysia applies territorial taxation on foreign-sourced income. Income earned outside Malaysia is typically not taxed locally. Sarawak's cost of living is significantly lower than most Western countries. Housing, healthcare, and daily expenses remain affordable even in urban centers. The state maintains high personal safety. Crime rates are low compared to regional and global standards.

English is widely spoken in Sarawak. Government services, healthcare, and business transactions are commonly conducted in English. The climate is tropical and consistent year-round. Temperatures remain warm with regular rainfall. There is no winter season.

The program provides enhanced access to large regional economies. Sarawak's location in Borneo positions residents near Singapore, Indonesia, and ASEAN markets. Malaysian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 183 countries. While this program grants residency and not immediate citizenship, eventual naturalization unlocks this travel access.

Dependents benefit from the same residency status. Spouses, children under 21, and parents above 60 may reside in Sarawak without additional fixed deposit requirements. Children can attend local or international schools in Sarawak. Partial withdrawal of the fixed deposit is permitted after one year for education expenses, property, vehicles, or healthcare within Sarawak.

The Sarawak MM2H program does not provide a direct route to Malaysian citizenship. Applicants interested in citizenship must meet standard requirements defined under Malaysian immigration law, which includes long-term residency of 12 years or more. Citizenship decisions are discretionary.

Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship. Applicants who pursue Malaysian citizenship must renounce their other nationalities.

The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak administers the program. This reflects Sarawak's semi-autonomous status within Malaysia, which permits the state to independently manage residency initiatives.

The program operates under two foundational legal instruments. The Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) provides the primary federal framework governing residency and immigration matters across Malaysia. The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) establishes Sarawak's constitutional authority to administer its own immigration policies, the basis for state-level autonomy in program design and management.

This dual-authority structure means Sarawak operates the MM2H independently of federal Malaysia's standard MM2H program, with state-specific requirements and administration distinct from programs in other Malaysian states.