Is MM2H permanent residence?
No. It is a renewable long-stay programme with financial bars. PR is a separate, discretionary grant.
Passport Atlas
Malaysia travel, immigration and PR
Malaysia is easy to visit. Long stays sit on products such as MM2H and DE Rantau — it is not a points-based skilled-migration state.
TravelPermanent residence
Openness rank
#31
Entry openness
167
Visa free
167
Briefing updated
2026-09
Country profile
Capital
Kuala Lumpur
Population
34.2 million
Area
329,750 km²
Currency
Malaysian ringgit MYR
Languages
English, Malay
Time zone
UTC+08:00
Foreign-born
3.8 million · 2024
Migrant share
10.7%
Ethnic groups · 2023
- Bumiputera63.8%
- Chinese20.6%
- non-citizens9%
- Indian6%
- other0.6%
Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.
Entry visas and immigration pathsPassport visa-free listPaperwork and passport photosVisa siteImmigration site
Who this handbook is for
For ASEAN trips, a second home, retirement and remote work, and anyone comparing Malaysian passes with Singapore.
How to visit, and for how long
Many passports are visa-free for 30–90 days. Chinese visa exemption has been widened in recent years. Return tickets can be checked. Work requires a pass; a social visit pass is not employment.
How to work or reside
Employment passes are employer-filed. DE Rantau targets digital nomads; MM2H is a long-stay second-home route with deposit and income bars that can differ by state. Students and spouses have separate passes.
PR and citizenship
PR grants are limited — typically long MM2H, spouses or exceptional contribution. There is no federal invitation grid like Canada’s. Citizenship usually requires PR first and dropping prior nationality, with few exceptions.
Time to PR：No stable public formula; tightly screened
How popular passports enter
FAQ
Can DE Rantau holders work for a Malaysian firm?
It is aimed at remote work for overseas clients. Local employment usually needs an employer-sponsored pass.
Does a Chinese passport need a visa?
On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa free”. typical stay on the matrix is 30 days. The port and mission are authoritative.
Does a US passport need a visa?
On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa free”. typical stay on the matrix is 90 days. The port and mission are authoritative.
Related destination guides
ThailandHandbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.