Ways to live in Malaysia
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Digital nomad visa Digital nomad visas →
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
Pass for remote workers and freelancers with foreign employers or clients, run by Malaysia's digital economy agency. Open to tech and non-tech roles, all nationalities except Israel.
- What you need
- Age 18+, annual income above $36,000 (tech) or $60,000 (non-tech) from contracts at least 3 months old, 3 months of payslips and bank statements, passport valid 14+ months, health insurance, tax registration and a refundable bond of 200–2,000 ringgit. Valid in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only.
- Income
- from about $3,000 a month
- How long
- 3–12 months initially, up to three 12-month renewals (max 48 months)
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- 1,080 ringgit per applicant and 540 per dependant (non-refundable), plus 360 ringgit a year pass fee
- Processing time
- 6–8 weeks, then about 1 week for endorsement in Malaysia
- How to apply
- Online at mdec.my/derantau; after approval you must leave and re-enter Malaysia
- Family
- Family members can come with you
- Path to permanent residence
- No.
- Tax
- Renewal requires proof that all Malaysian tax liabilities are settled.
Work permit Work permits →
Employment Pass
The main work pass for foreign professionals and managers hired by a Malaysian company. It is tied to the employer and valid in Peninsular Malaysia; Sabah and Sarawak issue their own permits.
- What you need
- Employment contract with a Malaysian company registered with the Expatriate Services Division, and approval by the Expatriate Committee. Three categories set by monthly salary; the higher categories allow longer stays. Changing employer needs a new pass.
- How long
- Up to 60 months, in line with the employment contract
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- The employer applies online through the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) portal
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Student visa Student visas →
Student Pass
For foreigners studying at Malaysian schools, universities, colleges or language centres. University students may work part-time, and Master's and PhD students may bring their family.
- What you need
- Offer letter from an approved institution, approval from Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS, the government agency that processes student visas) for higher education, a passport valid for at least 18 months, health insurance for at least 12 months and a medical check within 7 days of arrival. Apply while outside Malaysia.
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- RM60 pass fee per year, plus EMGS processing and medical screening fees
- Processing time
- Pass endorsement about 14 working days after the institution submits the passport
- How to apply
- Online through the EMGS portal or the institution; students from visa-required countries then get a single-entry visa via eVISA
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Passive income visa Passive income visas →
MM2H Silver
Entry tier of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H): a 5-year renewable pass with a multiple-entry visa.
- What you need
- Age 25+; a $150,000 fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank (up to half can be withdrawn for housing, education or medical costs) and a home worth 600,000+ ringgit (about $140,000) kept for 10 years. At least 90 days a year in Malaysia if under 50, medical check, no work.
- Savings
- about $150,000
- How long
- 5 years, renewable
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- Participation fee 1,000 ringgit; pass fee 500 ringgit a year
- How to apply
- Through licensed MM2H agents, under Malaysia's tourism ministry
- Family
- Family members can come with you
MM2H Gold
15-year MM2H pass with multiple-entry visa.
- What you need
- Age 25+; a $500,000 fixed deposit and a home worth 1 million+ ringgit kept for 10 years; 90 days a year in Malaysia if under 50.
- Savings
- about $500,000
- How long
- 15 years, renewable
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- Participation fee 3,000 ringgit; pass fee 500 ringgit a year
- How to apply
- Through licensed MM2H agents, under Malaysia's tourism ministry
- Family
- Family members can come with you
MM2H Special Economic Zone (Forest City, Johor)
Cheapest MM2H tier, tied to buying property in the Forest City special zone in Johor.
- What you need
- Age 21+; a fixed deposit of $65,000 (age 21–49) or $32,000 (50+); buy a home in Forest City (minimum price set by Johor state) and keep it 10 years.
- Savings
- about $65,000
- How long
- 10 years, renewable in 5-year periods
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- Participation fee 1,000 ringgit; renewal 300 ringgit
- How to apply
- Through licensed MM2H agents, under Malaysia's tourism ministry
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Investment and golden visa Investment and golden visas →
MM2H Platinum
Top MM2H tier: 20-year pass with multiple-entry visa.
- What you need
- Age 25+; a $1 million fixed deposit and a home worth 2 million+ ringgit kept for 10 years.
- Savings
- about $1,000,000
- How long
- 20 years, then renewable in 5-year periods
- Renewable
- Yes
- Cost
- Participation fee 200,000 ringgit; renewal 5,000 ringgit
- How to apply
- Through licensed MM2H agents, under Malaysia's tourism ministry
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| One-bedroom flat | $270 |
|---|---|
| Two-bedroom flat | $460 |
| Bills | $40 |
| Typical local salary | $1,000 |
| Budget for one person | $950 |
Cities to consider
- Kuala LumpurModern city, hawker food≈ $590 a month for one person, before rent
- Johor BahruMalaysia's border city
- IpohFood and limestone hills≈ $590 a month for one person, before rent
- MalaccaHistoric port town≈ $590 a month for one person, before rent
- Kota KinabaluSea, islands and Mount Kinabalu
- KuchingRiverside capital of Sarawak
- George TownHeritage streets and hawker stalls
- LangkawiDuty-free island≈ $590 a month for one person, before rent
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Kuala Lumpur offers modern condos, malls and green hills nearby, while Penang charms with heritage streets and hawker food. Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures blend daily, and islands like Langkawi are an easy escape.
Day to day
Trains, buses and cheap flights link cities, and KL has a good rail network. Private hospitals are excellent and widely used. Cards and e-wallets are everywhere. English is widely spoken, especially in cities.
Trade-offs
Heat and humidity never let up, with heavy afternoon storms. Haze from regional fires appears some years. Cities are car-centric and walking can be uncomfortable.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States90 days
United Kingdom90 days
Australia90 days
Canada90 days
New Zealand90 days
Switzerland90 days
Norway90 days
Singapore30 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
IsraelNo entry
United Arab Emirates90 days
Hong Kong90 days
South Africa90 days
Mexico30 days
Brazil90 days
Questions
Does Malaysia have a digital nomad visa?
Yes. Malaysia offers: DE Rantau Nomad Pass.
How much money do I need to live in Malaysia?
A single person can live on from about $950 a month. A one-bedroom flat costs about $270 a month.
How can I move to Malaysia?
The routes we have checked are: Digital nomad visa, Work permit, Student visa, Passive income visa, Investment and golden visa.
When was this information checked?
The residence routes for Malaysia were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
Sources and last check
Residence routes for Malaysia were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.
- MDEC — DE Rantau
- MDEC — DE Rantau Pass FAQ v11 (Nov 2026)
- MOTAC — MM2H guidelines
- MOTAC — MM2H Silver
- MOTAC — MM2H Gold
- MOTAC — MM2H Platinum
- MOTAC — MM2H SEZ/SFZ
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Visa requirement by country
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.
