- Talk to Us:
- (+08) 238 4947 / enquiry@investsarawak.gov.my
- Reach Us:
- The Grounds Coworking Space, Interhill Place, Ug Floor, The Hills, No 8, Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Sarawak’s MM2H programme, overseen by the Ministry of Tourism, offers foreigners affordable property prices and top-tier healthcare services, standing out amidst changes in the federal program.
The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) oversees the S-MM2H program. Foreigners benefit from lower minimum property purchase prices in Sarawak compared to other states. Sarawak boasts a lower crime rate than many countries, along with advanced healthcare services. Private hospitals provide world-class treatment at significantly reduced costs, offering competitive rates compared to numerous other countries.
The popularity of the S-MM2H program has surged recently due to significant changes in the MM2H program. In 2020, the monthly income requirement for MM2H was RM10,000, but it has now risen to RM40,000 after a pause during the pandemic. The Sarawak government chose not to follow the federal government’s lead, keeping its S-MM2H requirements unchanged. They also continued accepting applications throughout the pandemic, which was crucial for retaining the trust of long-term stay applicants who invest a substantial amount of their savings to live in Malaysia.
| S-MM2H | MM2H | |
|---|---|---|
|
Location |
Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia
|
Peninsular Malaysia only
|
|
Fixed deposit requirements
|
Individual: RM150,000 Couple: RM300,000 |
RM1,000,000 (currently undergoing 1 year testing period with Gold category starting at only RM500,000 FD)
|
|
Monthly offshore income
|
Individual: RMRM7,000 Couple: RM10,000 |
RM40,000
|
|
Length of pass
|
5 years + 5 years
|
5 years + 5 years
|
|
Permission to work
|
Application for endorsement required
|
Application for endorsement required
|
|
Age eligibility
|
From 30 years old |
From 30 years old (starting in 2023)
|
|
Minimum house purchase value
|
RM600,000 in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu; or RM500,000 in other divisions
|
In most states in Peninsular, a minimum threshold of RM1,000,000 is required
|
|
Minimum stay requirements
|
30 days annually in Sarawak
|
60 days annually in Peninsular Malaysia (starting in 2023)
|
Between November 2021 and September 2023, the federal MM2H program received a total number of 2,164 MM2H applications, of which 1905 or 88% of those applications have been approved. In 2023 alone, the Sarawak government is set to approve 700 applications. Since 2021, the S-MM2H program has received a 25x increase in interest. Before this, the S-MM2H applications only made up an insignificant portion of the federal MM2H program, but now it rivals the federal MM2H program in terms of applications and interests.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
As obtained from the MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CREATIVE INDUSTRY AND PERFORMING ARTS SARAWAK.
A. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
a. Applicant must be 50 years old and above while spouse (if any) did not have an age limit;
OR
b. Applicants who are 30-49 years old who are:
Children must study in Sarawak if the applicant applies under the condition of having children study here.
B. SUBMISSION
Applicants can submit the application at MTCP office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur II, Petrajaya Sarawak.
The applicant must attend physically to submit the application or can appoint a registered agent to submit on their behalf.
No, all applications must be submitted physically. Applications by mail will not be accepted to prevent unlicensed agents from submitting on your behalf.
Processing takes 90 WORKING DAYS. The duration might be longer due to background and security checks by relevant authorities.
C. S-MM2H PASS
10-year program, renewable for a total of 10 years.
S-MM2H pass follows the passport expiry date. For example, the passport is only valid for 30 months, the S-MM2H pass given would be for 30 months only. The applicant needs to renew their pass once he/she receives his/her new passport.
Pass holders must fulfil a minimum stay of 30 days a year in Sarawak. Pass holders must renew their pass at the immigration office.
Minimum stay of 30 days per year in Sarawak required. Failure to do so may result in the termination of your pass.
D. FINANCIAL PROOF
Property and other liquid assets are not accepted as financial proof for SMM2H.
Any banks in Sarawak as long as the FD account is opened in any bank branch located in Sarawak.
Yes, pass holders need to
E. MEDICAL CHECK-UP
Certified medical institutions in Sarawak. For private institutions, the applicant needs to have their medical exam form and results certified by a government doctor at any public hospital or polyclinic.
No, only medical exams done in Sarawak are accepted.
F. DEPENDENTS
a. Parents of the principal applicant
b. Children under 21.
No. Dependents will only receive a yearly social pass. For children, he/she/they will still be under student pass or yearly social pass if he/she/they are not studying in Sarawak.
Children over 18 years of age who have finished their studies will be under yearly social pass until they reach 21 years old.
Required for all except children 7 years old and below.
G. BUYING PROPERTY
Yes, providing the pass holder follows the requirement set by the Sarawak Land and Survey Department under the Sarawak Land Code (last reviewed 2019)
H. EDUCATION
No. The children must already be registered and studying in Sarawak to be eligible for the programme.
I. INVESTMENT
Yes, under Section 13 of the Sarawak Land Code, for the Property for Foreign Acquisition (last amendment: May 2019), foreigners can only own the land under the land classification for Mixed Zone for residential purpose only. The value of the house plus land must be RM600,000
Sarawak offers a lower cost of living, better standard of living, and lower property purchase prices for foreigners.
J. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
A. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
a. Applicant must be 50 years old and above while spouse (if any) did not have an age limit;
OR
b. Applicants who are 30-49 years old who are:
Children must study in Sarawak if the applicant applies under the condition of having children study here.
B. SUBMISSION
Applicants can submit the application at MTCP office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur II, Petrajaya Sarawak.
The applicant must attend physically to submit the application or can appoint a registered agent to submit on their behalf.
No, all applications must be submitted physically. Applications by mail will not be accepted to prevent unlicensed agents from submitting on your behalf.
Processing takes 90 WORKING DAYS. The duration might be longer due to background and security checks by relevant authorities.
C. S-MM2H PASS
10-year program, renewable for a total of 10 years.
S-MM2H pass follows the passport expiry date. For example, the passport is only valid for 30 months, the S-MM2H pass given would be for 30 months only. The applicant needs to renew their pass once he/she receives his/her new passport.
Pass holders must fulfil a minimum stay of 30 days a year in Sarawak. Pass holders must renew their pass at the immigration office.
Minimum stay of 30 days per year in Sarawak required. Failure to do so may result in the termination of your pass.
D. FINANCIAL PROOF
Property and other liquid assets are not accepted as financial proof for SMM2H.
Any banks in Sarawak as long as the FD account is opened in any bank branch located in Sarawak.
Yes, pass holders need to
E. MEDICAL CHECK-UP
Certified medical institutions in Sarawak. For private institutions, the applicant needs to have their medical exam form and results certified by a government doctor at any public hospital or polyclinic.
No, only medical exams done in Sarawak are accepted.
F. DEPENDENTS
a. Parents of the principal applicant
b. Children under 21.
No. Dependents will only receive a yearly social pass. For children, he/she/they will still be under student pass or yearly social pass if he/she/they are not studying in Sarawak.
Children over 18 years of age who have finished their studies will be under yearly social pass until they reach 21 years old.
Required for all except children 7 years old and below.
G. BUYING PROPERTY
Yes, providing the pass holder follows the requirement set by the Sarawak Land and Survey Department under the Sarawak Land Code (last reviewed 2019)
H. EDUCATION
No. The children must already be registered and studying in Sarawak to be eligible for the programme.
I. INVESTMENT
Yes, under Section 13 of the Sarawak Land Code, for the Property for Foreign Acquisition (last amendment: May 2019), foreigners can only own the land under the land classification for Mixed Zone for residential purpose only. The value of the house plus land must be RM600,000
Sarawak offers a lower cost of living, better standard of living, and lower property purchase prices for foreigners.
J. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
Direct Submission
a. All applicants must be bonded to a sponsor who is of Sarawakian origin and is currently residing in Sarawak
b. Each sponsor can only sponsor a maximum of one (1) applicant.
Assisted submission
a. Submission of applications by third parties is only authorized to licensed MM2H agents
b. All applications must be bonded to a Sarawakian-registered MM2H licensed agent
List of licensed S-MM2H agents
From the Sarawak Tourism Board’s official guidelines, which can also be found on https://smm2h.sarawaktourism.com/
