Malaysia offers two paths for long-stay foreigners: the DE Rantau nomad pass for remote workers ($24k–$60k/yr) and the MM2H second-home visa for those with capital. Here are the 2026 requirements — with the corrected figures most sites still get wrong.
DE Rantau requires US$24,000 per year for IT, digital, and tech professionals — or US$60,000 per year for applicants in other fields.
The non-IT threshold of $60k was introduced in 2024, opening the pass to professionals outside the tech sector. You can qualify as a remote employee of a foreign company or as a freelancer — clients can be local or foreign. Proof of income can be contracts, invoices, or payslips. The pass runs for 12 months, renewable once for a maximum of 24 months total. There is no permanent residency path through DE Rantau.
MM2H Silver needs approximately a US$150,000 fixed deposit plus the purchase of a property worth at least RM600,000 — most sites still quote the old, outdated figures.
MM2H rules changed twice in 12 months, so a lot of online information is stale. The corrected 2026 national figures:
| Requirement | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed deposit | ~$150,000 | ~$500,000 | ~$1,000,000 |
| Property purchase | RM600,000+ | RM1,000,000+ | RM2,000,000+ |
| Participation fee (one-off) | RM1,000 | RM3,000 | RM200,000 |
| Validity | 5 years | 15 years | 20 years |
| Minimum age | 25+ | 25+ | 25+ |
Up to 50% of the fixed deposit may be withdrawn after approval for approved purposes (property purchase, healthcare, education). The offshore-income requirement was waived in 2025. Always confirm current MOTAC terms before applying or moving money.
Health insurance valid in Malaysia is mandatory for both visas — and for MM2H it is commonly cited at a minimum cover of around RM80,000.
Both DE Rantau and MM2H require valid health insurance throughout the stay. For MM2H, the commonly cited minimum is approximately RM80,000 cover — confirm the exact figure with MOTAC as it can change with the program rules. For DE Rantau, insurance must cover you and any dependents included on the application. This is one of the most common avoidable blockers: check that your existing policy is valid in Malaysia before applying.
Most nationalities qualify, but Israeli nationals are currently excluded from both DE Rantau and MM2H. MM2H requires applicants to be 25 or older; DE Rantau requires 18 or older.
DE Rantau is applied for online via the MDEC portal; MM2H goes through MOTAC. They serve different profiles: nomads pick DE Rantau, settlers with capital pick MM2H.
| Factor | DE Rantau | MM2H (Silver) |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Remote workers, digital nomads | Long-stay settlers, retirees |
| Key requirement | $24k/yr (IT) or $60k/yr (other) | ~$150k fixed deposit + RM600k property |
| Duration | 12 months, renewable once | 5 years, renewable |
| Application via | MDEC online portal | MOTAC / MM2H centre |
| Application fee | RM1,080 main + RM540/dependent | RM1,000 (Silver) |
| PR pathway | No | Long stay permitted |
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