Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
For Sabah suggest you check with an Agent based there. The list of Agents is on the MM2H gov site.
I can see some changes in the Peninsular Malaysia terms now i.e. the fixed deposit is mandatory as well as the monthly pension or income for the over 50's
Gravitas wrote:Anything can happen in one year. Bringing your car stopped January 2018 from the Ministry concerned, also tax relief on locally assembled car purchase - It waits to be seen if Sarawak is somehow exempt?
Some interesting tax free car stuff for Sarawak from last July - file:///C:/Users/diane/Downloads/MM2HEM_26.07.17MetNon-Met.pdf
This info is currently online -
The information above is dated August 2017. There is also a new application procedure announced
So far the either/or option about having a Fixed Deposit has become mandatory in Peninsular Malaysia for both the over and under 50s categories, so the question is whether Sarawak is also going to change. It's about maximising tax revenue in lean times.
This is a roundup of the changes which may affect the Sarawak application in future. If you have info about the 2019 import/purchase rules please could you post the souce to help others.聽 Tq.
The "Federal" - "State" thing is sometimes hard to fathom
The Goverment has decided to abolish the tax incentive on the purchase of a new locally assembled vehicle or the import of a pre-owned private vehicle into Malaysia under MM2H Programme. Therefore, this tax incentive will be terminated effective from 1 January 2018. However, Ministry of Finance will give special consideration to MM2H participant with first MM2H鈥檚 Visa approved beginning 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2017 to submit complete application via Sistem Maklumat Pengurusan Cukai / Sistem Maklumat Pengurusan Cukai Kerajaan Malaysia not later than 31 December 2018.
I'm using one of the recommended agents from this forum, but I would just like to double check some of my questions since I get conflicting answers depending on who I ask.
1. Can I work for a foreign company 100% legal while living in MY under the MM2H, not doing any business with MY entities? As in if immigration would ask me what I do, I could tell them I work for a company in Hong Kong?
2. The monthly management fee that I receive will not be taxed either in Malaysia? Because I thought salary tax is 28%
3. If I liquidate one of my companies while being a tax resident in Malaysia, it will not be taxed either?
4. Can I still report 0% personal taxes? I know technically I won't have to since foreign income is not taxed, but I'd simply feel more secure if I have some proof of that
.Can continue business or employment聽 outside Malaysia as normal
Malaysia doesn't tax income derived in another tax jurisdiction
The management fee has to be paid by offshore not local company.
Check Double Taxation treaty too as can be beneficial to offshore income but depends on content e.g. uk income becomes tax free if remitted to Malaysia
Still have to be in Malaysia for 182 days to be tax resident with long-term visa such as MM2H
Gravitas wrote:Malaysia doesn't tax income derived in another tax jurisdiction
This is something that only applies to foreigners/people on an MM2H? I assume otherwise every Malaysian working online would just set up an offshore company?
Gravitas wrote:Still have to be in Malaysia for 182 days to be tax resident with long-term visa such as MM2H
Yes this is the plan , I just want to be sure that it is worth it
. Not that in the end they charge me 28% or I can't report my taxes.
This is worth reading for your concerns as well as it reiterates tax in general
Gravitas wrote:E-commerce - The local rules do state that tax is payable where the server is based.
We might be going off-topic, but this can easily be bypassed by a Malaysian citizen by just hosting their e-commerce website in let's say Singapore. But anyways I think I got all the information and I'll continue with my MM2H application. Thanks Gravitas!
You can appeal their decision if that was a typo
Thanks for the link.. will give it a try.
My other option is just to include some bank interest, which was also shown on my bank statements, that they had in front of them,but i was too stunned to mention.
Do you think it would be worth paying one of these agents who submit these, ie would the immigration people take them more seriously?
It's IMPERATIVE that anyone intending to apply to Sarawak or Sabah do so at the Immigration offices in those States. Sabah, and Sarawak in particular, retain control of their immigration policies and the latter have established programs that are in some ways distinctive to their State. You cannot convert your Peninsular MM2H to those states, you have to reapply in full.
It's difficult to find out information about the Sabah Program, though my understanding is that it largely is the same in terms of requirements and benefits as the Peninsular programs. One does have to submit all the documents to the Immigration Department for Sabah. They have a number of agents that are authorized as well. One benefit...The minimum floor for purchasing a condominium or home is lower than in most of the peninsula.
I can tell you in detail about the Sarawak version...in reality. Some things are different that what they advertise, however.
Unlike the Peninsular version it's definitely a RETIREMENT visa program. With one or two exceptions (if you have school age children in school) it's for a primary applicant 55 years of age or above. As well, with rare exceptions (e.g. a government consultancy) you cannot work in Sarawak.
Sarawak doesn't require that you demonstrate proof of liquid assets abroad at any level...you simply need to fulfill one of two INCOME or deposit options.
The Malaysian PENINSULAR version of the program supposedly has done away with the pension/offshore income option and has gone to a single FIXED-Deposit version.
Sarawak retains BOTH options, and if you are SINGLE the amount of government pension is RM 7,000 (For married couples RM 10,000).聽 If you take this option you must have 3 Months of payment slips to demonstrate you are already receiving that income.
Option 2 is the Fixed Deposit Option. Sarawak requires applicants in this path to establish a Fixed Deposit (refundable upon termination of the program) of RM 100,000 for a SINGLE and RM150,000 for a couple.聽 Similar rules about the withdrawal as on the peninsula - one can withdraw up to RM40K (single) or RM90K (couple) after the second yer for housing purchase, Malaysian-built car(?), or Medical/Educational purposes. Afterwards one must retain RM60,000 (@US$15,000) in the account.
*(*
There are two difficulties in the Sarawak program. One is that one will only be given a maximum of a FIVE-YEAR renewable visa...not 10-Years as advertised. This is supposedly because the Immigration office wants a re-applicant to undergo another health check to examine for any communicable diseases. I was assured that other ailments would not disqualify the re-applicant. For everyone else it's a formality. "We have never rejected a reapplicant" according to the Asst. Director of Sarawak Immigration. Talking with a few expats on the program they have said it's just a matter of filling out the forms, giving them another health checkup (which must include blood and urine tests and a Chest X-Ray @ RM150 signed by a DOCTOR). Oh and paying the RM90/year visa fee.
The second problem is that one MUST have a Sarawakian sponsor willing to sign a PROMISSARY document (Stamp Fee of RM10 at the Tax Office) to provide for cover the Security Bond IF the applicant is for some reason thrown off the program (for secretly working, dealing drugs, establishing a covert political party, etc.)聽 The bond PROMISE varies...from RM2000 for Americans and Canadians...down to RM200 for Singaporeans.聽 I quizzed the Asst. Director of Immigration who stated that they had no issue if a landlord acted as the sponsor and took a deposit for the bond, or if there was a contract between the sponsor and applicant. Apparently there are now four approved agents (who likely fold the bond into their fees)...but you can do this all on your own. IF you can find a Sarawakian sponsor.
***
Another oddity is that while you have to be PRESENT in Sarawak to complete the process, you cannot come in on a TOURIST PASS. This appaenttly applies only to some countries (I believe Commonwealth are exempt). You must actually have a Visa issued from the consulate/embassy in your home country (Cost there US$6). Oh dear, does that mean I have to fly back to the USA for a six dollar visa and fly back again? No, there was a "fix"...I could buy a $6 Single-Entry Visa at the immigration office (Hooray!!!). The problem is that there is something called the "Journey-Performed Fee" in addition. That was a whopping RM500. (Boo...US$130). My advice is to get the regular visa before you come. BTW This applies on the peninsula as well.
***
As I mentioned it's a 5 Year Multi-Entry Visa awarded. My total cost was RM 150 for Check-Up, RM 50 for various notarizations/legal affidavits, RM10 for the stamp tax, RM480 for the Social Visit/ME Visa, and RM500 for the darned Journey-Performed FEE.
Total cost @RM1200 (US$300) plus some Uber fares for me and my sponsor. Half of that was the avoidable JP Fee. Done in 2 months. You could knock RM500 ($130) off that if you avoided the JP fees.
Currently one can only supposedly purchase聽 an apartment/condo/house in Kuching (included the beach areas at Damai), Sibu or Miri. I hope they expand to the Borneo Highlands and Sematan/Lundu. The other rule is that you cannot purchase "native land" - this is property that can only be bought and sold amongst the specific bumiputra (Native) communities. There's a lot of discussion about this issue, right now over long term leasing (99 Year leaseholds) and whether title can be exchanged between sub-groups (e.g. Iban to Bidayuh). For the most part these areas are fairly undeveloped and remote, though beautiful, except for the Borneo Highlands which has a resort/golf course.
Gravitas wrote:Yes they can buy commercial property as long in accordance with the minimjm purchase price for foreigners or those on MM2H (the limits differ in some States). The exception is the property cannot be on Malay Reserved land or have been designated as only for Bumiputera ownership (Bumi lots). Purchasing agricultural land is also not permitted
Thank you very much for your kind answer .
what do think聽 is it good idea聽 for investment?
However, as written earlier, you can purchase commercial property as a foreigner under the normal rules.
From same link given above:
I am interested to invest in Malaysia. Who can I contact to get more information?
You can contact the Malaysia Industrial Development Authority at:
MIDA Headquarters
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) Block 4, Plaza Sentral,
Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 603-2267 3633
Fax: 603-2274 7970
Website :
Email: investmalaysia@mida.gov.my
It would probably be good to check out their website as well.
Gravitas wrote:I was looking on the MM2H website and it states that if making purchases AFTER getting the MM2H visa they should be residential properties.
However, as written earlier, you can purchase commercial property as a foreigner under the normal rules.
From same link given above:
I am interested to invest in Malaysia. Who can I contact to get more information?
You can contact the Malaysia Industrial Development Authority at:
MIDA Headquarters
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) Block 4, Plaza Sentral,
Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 603-2267 3633
Fax: 603-2274 7970
Website :
Email: investmalaysia@mida.gov.my
It would probably be good to check out their website as well.
Thank you very much for your valuable comment
tarek2018-2019 wrote:I want to do business and stay ,, is the business is enough to get long term visa in malaysia
The Malaysia My Second Home Program is not designed for setting up a business/working in Malaysia. On the MM2H it's allowable to do work outside of Malaysia, and a small amount of "part time" work (up to 20 hrs/week, it is stated) with government approval. You can also invest while on the MM2H and "supervise the partnership". That would probably include training employees.
There are ways of establishing a business, but it's a different visa category entirely. It requires certain levels of capital and other provisions.
You might go to this topic area..."Malaysia Company Set-Up"
/forum/viewtopic.php?id=369149
Are you working through an agent...and they have told you that they have "approved" your application and submitted it? Is that what you mean "final approval"? If that's what you mean...
Now it's in the hands of the MM2H office.... and that could take some time as they check all your particulars (bank accounts, blah, blah, blah). As noted that can take 4 months, 6 months....
Here's a way to check your status. Presumably your Agent should let you know as you will need to establish your fixed deposit once you get your immigration"conditional letter of聽 approval", do your medical check up, submit insurance document (if required) and have a limited amount of time to go to immigration and pay for your visa (6 months after issuance of letter).
I did not get final approval. I just got a letter that my application has been received by the MM2H department.
I will deposit the funds only after I get the conditional approval I guess.
Thanks for the help.
IggyIgnatius wrote:Thank you. I did apply through an agent.
I did not get final approval. I just got a letter that my application has been received by the MM2H department. I will deposit the funds only after I get the conditional approval I guess..
Yes...it can take awhile after this. Some say 4-6 months, though for some it seems a year. Don't bother with the Medical, Insurance, or FD until you get the conditional letter. Most banks won't look at you anyway. And they'll want a recent health check. Then there is another wait. Finally you'll get your notice to get your visa.
caesar1956 wrote:I thought you could check online with your reference number
Yes, provided above.
鈥 ion-status
The MM2H status check website is behind though - it still hasn鈥檛 been updated, and still states 鈥淧ending committee approval鈥
I think others have had the same experience with the site being somewhat slow to update.
It would seem illogical to want to put so much cash into two separate visa-generating ventures, especially as soon it will be RM500,000 Fixed Deposit for MM2H
My friend will find this really helpful!
Thank you once again!
I want to know which bank is better to open fixed deposite聽 acc and has a good intrest rate?
Thank you
Be sure to have the full amount split into two so you can easily withdraw the part you are allowed to for health, education or car after one year.
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