Everything You Need to Know about Malaysia Permanent Residence

For foreigners who have been working or living in Malaysia for years, becoming a permanent resident (PR)in Malaysia is usually the next step. In this case, a Malaysia PR visa is required. However, it is not an easy job to gain this immigration status. And some people are still doubting whether it is worthwhile to obtain permanent residence. In this passage, we are going to introduce the benefits of Malaysian permanent residence, its eligibility, requirements, and how to apply for it.

What is Malaysia Permanent Residence?

Just as its name implies, permanent residence is an immigration status for someone who is allowed to live permanently in Malaysia without applying for or renewing an extra visa. Holders of Malaysian PR can enjoy almost the same rights as Malaysian citizens but retain their citizenship of the country of origin.

A Malaysia PR visa is a long-term residency visa issued to those who want to live in Malaysia permanently. It is valid for up to 20 years.

Benefits of Malaysia Permanent Residence

It provides almost the same privileges as a Malaysian citizen. The benefits that a permanent resident can enjoy are listed as follows.

✅ Indefinite stay
Unlike tourist visa or other short-term residence visa holders, You can stay in Malaysia for a lifetime and leave/re-enter the country multiple times.

✅ Employment
You can work in Malaysia without obtaining an extra work permit and change the job as you like.

✅ Property purchase
You are allowed to buy some designated property without any restrictions.

✅ Education
You can go to any educational institution in Malaysia, especially public ones. Moreover, no extra fees are needed compared with local students.

✅ Healthcare
You are accessible to the public healthcare system and enjoy medical subsidies.

✅ Social security
Social security benefits are now applicable to you, such as pension, and medical coverage.

✅ Family benefits
You can sponsor their family members to apply for a long-term visa as long as they meet the visa requirements.

✅ Business
You can start your own business like a local Malaysian.

However, please note that you are not entitled to:

❌ Vote in an election.
❌ Take part in political events.

Eligibility for Malaysia Permanent Residence

A Malaysia PR visa is a pathway to get Malaysian citizenship in the future. Therefore, not everyone is eligible for permanent residency. This visa is usually issued to those who contribute to the country’s economy and society, such as investors, experts, professionals or those based on marriage or the point system.

• Investor

It refers to those with a high net worth. The applicant is required to have a fixed deposit of at least USD 2 million in a Malaysian bank and it cannot be withdrawn in 5 years. Your spouse and minor children are likely to gain Malaysia permanent residence after 5 years.

• Expert

It refers to those with exceptional “World Class” skills or expertise recognized by any international organization. The applicant must find a Malaysian sponsor to support your application. Moreover, a recommendation letter from a Malaysian authoritative agency related to your field and a Certificate of Good Conduct from your home country is also required.

• Professional

It refers to those with incredible skills in any field. The applicant must have a 3-year working experience in any government or private organization in Malaysia. Additionally, a reference letter from a Malaysian authoritative agency and a Certificate of Good Conduct from your home country are also required.

• Spouse of Malaysian citizen and child(ren) of Malaysian citizen under 6

Only those who are married to a Malaysian citizen and have lived in Malaysia for a consecutive of 5 years with a long-term visit pass are eligible for permanent residence. The Malaysian spouse or parents must be the applicant’s sponsor.

• Point System

Foreign residents in Malaysia excluded from the categories above are also qualified for the PR visa if they have been living in the country for several years with a work permit and score a minimum of 65 out of 120 points in the Malaysia point-based system. The system will evaluate the applicant through the following 7 criteria.

Malaysia Permanent Residency Requirements

Now that you come to this part, you must be eligible to apply for a Malaysia PR visa. To make everything go smoothly, it is suggested to prepare the supporting documents in advance.

• Application form 16 which can be found at the Immigration Department of Malaysia counter
• Photocopy of all pages and covers of your passport
• 2 passport-size pictures of yourself and your sponsor that comply with the official photo guideline.

• A cover letter explaining your purpose of travel, itinerary details, reservation of accommodation, etc.
• Recommendation from tan Malaysian agency, required when applied as experts or professionals)
• Surat Akuan Perkahwinan (Marriage Declaration Letter), required when applied as the spouse of a Malaysian citizen
• Photocopies of Employment Pass on the condition that you’re currently working in Malaysia
• Photocopies of the marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Photocopies of birth certificates for your children, are required when your child is traveling with you
• Proof of funds, medical insurance, or other necessary documents

📖 Read Also: Malaysia Passport Photo Requirements & How to Take One at Home

List of Authorized Malaysian Agency That Issues Recommendation for Permanent Residency

A recommendation is required when applying under the expertise or professional category, which can be obtained from the agencies below.

Validity of Malaysia PR Visa

It is a 20-year residence visa allowing foreign investors, entrepreneurs and other residents to live and work in the country.

Cost of Malaysia Permanent Residence

The processing fee is RM40, but you also have to consider the financial requirements. When applying through the investor category, a Fixed Deposit (FD) should be at least USD 2,000,000. When applying through other categories, you need to prove you are in a good financial position or capable of supporting yourself financially.

How to Apply for Malaysia PR visa

Have you got everything ready? It’s time to apply to become a permanent resident in Malaysia. Please note that it cannot be done online or by mail. Instead, you must visit the immigration office in person. Here is what you should do.

Step 1: Take all supporting documents to the Immigration Department in Putrajaya. If you have a sponsor, he/she should appear with you as well. You can obtain and fill out the application form there. Submit your applications and pay for the processing fee.

Step 2: You and your sponsor (if any) will be asked to have an interview with the Immigration Department officer and undergo a background check conducted by the police.

Step 3: Wait for approval and receive your Malaysia PR visa.

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program is another type of Malaysia residence permit that is issued to foreign nationals. It is valid for 5 years and renewable, allowing the holder and their family members to stay in Malaysia for up to ten years.

The program is open to citizens around the world despite ethnicity, religion, or gender. Individuals are eligible for it as long as there is proof of enough independent financial funds to support their stay.

Applicants under 50 years old must have a monthly income of at least $10,000 from non-Malaysian sources, or liquid assets worth at least $135,000.

Applicants over 50 years old must have liquid assets worth at least $95,000, a monthly income of at least $3,000 from a pension/other income, or a deposit of at least $40,000 in a Malaysian bank. Please note that the deposit can be withdrawn after one year, but there should always be $27,000 remaining in your account.

Difference Between Malaysia Permanent Residence and Malaysia My Second Home

We can see that both MM2H and Malaysia PR visa allows foreign nationals to live for a long time. Are they the same thing? Is it necessary to obtain an MM2H visa before becoming a permanent resident in Malaysia? The answer is NO. MM2H visa is neither a PR permit nor a guarantee for PR eventually. They differ in the following aspects.

• Duration of Stay

They both allow multiple entries and exits. MM2H visa can be renewed and allows the holders to stay in Malaysia for up to 10 years while the permanent residence is valid for a lifetime and has no restriction on the period of stay. 

• Eligibility

MM2H only involves financial eligibility. However, Malaysia PR visa has stricter requirements, including time of residency, economic capability, expertise or professionals, marriage, or ratings of the point-based system.

• Benefits

Although MM2H participants can enjoy benefits in house purchasing, tax exemption, and business to some extent, they cannot access most public benefits and privileges like permanent residents.

• Application Process

MM2H visa application should be submitted online or by email and be approved before arriving in Malaysia. The processing time takes 3-6 months. Malaysian PR must be obtained in person in Malaysia and it takes 6-12 months to receive a decision on the application.

When it comes to choosing between MM2H and Malaysia PR visa, it is suggested to consider whether you are planning to immigrate to Malaysia and which one you are eligible for before making a decision.

Other Malaysian Visa Types

Depending on the purpose of traveling, Malaysian visas can be divided into the following types.

🔸 Visa on arrival (VOA) – It can be obtained after arriving at the Malaysian airport, but it is only available to some countries’ nationals. such as India and China.

🔸 Transit visa – It is issued to those who transit in Malaysia during their trip to the third country. The visa holders are usually not allowed to leave the transit zone at the airport.

🔸 Work visa – It is issued to foreign employees hired by a Malaysian employer to work in Malaysia.

🔸 Residency visa – It is a long-term pass for foreign residents

FAQ

Q1: Can I work in Malaysia with a PR visa?

A: Yes, and you don’t need to apply for an extra work permit

Q2: How long can foreigners stay in Malaysia?

A: It depends on the visa type you have. Single-entry and multiple-entry visa allows you to stay for 30 days at each entry, Residence pass-Talent (RP-T) and MM2H for up to 10 years, and PR visa for a lifetime.

Q3: Does Malaysia allow dual citizenship?

A: No. It is considered a criminal offense for Malaysians to hold multiple passports. If you acquire citizenship in another country, you should give up Malaysian citizenship.

Summary

People who are seeking to live in Malaysia for a long time have many options, such as joining the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program or becoming a permanent resident in Malaysia. To gain a Malaysia PR visa, you can apply through investors, professionals, experts, marriage or point-based system categories. It must be done in person in an Immigration Department. Make sure to learn about Malaysia permanent residency requirements and make a full preparation in advance. We wish you a happy life in this habitable country.