🇲🇾 Malaysia · Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Quick answer
Malaysian permanent residence is discretionary and hard to get, mainly for points-qualified experts, long-married spouses of Malaysians, and high-value investors. Most foreigners instead use long-stay passes such as Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H); permanent residents can live and work without an employment pass.
Malaysian permanent residence is relatively restrictive and granted case-by-case (for example to highly-skilled experts, investors, spouses of Malaysians and long-term residents) by the Immigration Department. Far more common for long-term living is the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme — a renewable long-stay pass (now in Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers requiring a fixed deposit and property), which is residence, not permanent residence or citizenship.
- Permanent residence is restrictive and granted case-by-case by the Immigration Department.
- MM2H is a renewable long-stay programme (Silver/Gold/Platinum tiers; fixed deposit + property) — residence, not PR.
- MM2H does not lead to citizenship; verify current tiers and conditions.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check the PR routes
PR routes are limited: a points-based expert track, being a long-term spouse of a Malaysian, or high-value investment/talent.
- 2
Build the qualifying record
Meet the points threshold or the years of prior residence/marriage required, with income and clean-record conditions.
- 3
Apply to the Immigration Department
Submit the PR application to the Immigration Department of Malaysia with sponsor, income, residence and background documents.
- 4
Await the discretionary decision
Approval is discretionary and can take a long time; keep a valid pass (e.g. employment or MM2H) meanwhile.
- 5
Receive the entry permit (PR)
PR is granted via an Entry Permit and endorsed in a MyPR ID; you can then live and work without an employment pass.
- 6
Consider MM2H and citizenship
If PR is out of reach, MM2H offers a renewable long-stay pass; Malaysian citizenship is very restrictive and generally bars dual nationality.
Checklist
- PR route (points expert / long-married spouse / investor)
- Points threshold / years / income
- Immigration Department application + documents
- Discretionary decision (keep valid pass)
- Entry Permit + MyPR ID
- Work without an employment pass
- Alternative: MM2H long-stay pass
- Citizenship very restrictive (no dual nationality)
Official authorities
- Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) — Immigration Department
Official long-stay programme.
- Immigration Department of Malaysia
Official authority for permanent residence.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malaysian PR easy to get?
No — it is discretionary and limited, mainly for points-qualified experts, long-married spouses of Malaysians, and major investors.
What is MM2H?
Malaysia My Second Home — a renewable long-stay pass (not PR) based on financial criteria, popular for retirees and long-stay residents.
Does Malaysia allow dual nationality?
No — Malaysia does not allow dual nationality, and naturalization is very restrictive.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- MyGovernment Portal — Malaysia government services portal
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Visas, passes (Employment / DE Rantau) and MM2H
- Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) — Income tax and tax-number registration
- Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) — Foreign investment and manufacturing/services licensing