MM2H vs Sarawak MM2H vs Sabah MM2H: Which One Makes More Sense?

MM2H vs Sarawak MM2H vs Sabah MM2H: Which One Makes More Sense?

Malaysia is actually a pretty interesting place for someone who wants to retire here.

I have always thought that.

We have good food, relatively affordable living costs, decent healthcare, beaches, mountains, cities, small towns and, perhaps most importantly, people who are generally quite friendly.

Want shopping? We have it.

Want nature? We have it.

Want a quiet weekend somewhere? Drive a few hours and you can find it.

So when someone tells me they want to retire in Malaysia, I understand why.

But then comes the more interesting question:

Where in Malaysia?

Because today, someone looking at Malaysia as a retirement destination has more than one option.

There is the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

Then there is Sarawak-MM2H.

And there is Sabah-MM2H.

And after looking at the latest requirements, I think the answer is not simply about which programme is “cheaper”.

It is really about:

Where do you actually want to live?

#1 – The Federal MM2H has become much more expensive

Let’s start with the Federal MM2H.

The programme was changed substantially in 2024, and the current requirements remain quite different from the MM2H many people remember.

There are now several categories.

For the normal Silver, Gold and Platinum categories, the fixed deposit requirements are:

• Silver: USD150,000
• Gold: USD500,000
• Platinum: USD1 million

And there is also a compulsory property purchase.

Silver requires a residence of at least RM600,000.

Gold requires at least RM1 million.

Platinum requires at least RM2 million. 

There are also one-off participation fees. Silver is RM1,000. Gold is RM3,000.

Platinum is a rather different story at RM200,000.

So if someone tells you:

“MM2H is just put some money in the bank and retire in Malaysia.”

That is no longer an accurate description.

The current programme is considerably more demanding.

#2 – But there is another MM2H option

This is where it gets interesting. Sarawak and Sabah have their own programmes. And their requirements are different.

For me, this is exactly why someone considering MM2H should not simply compare Malaysia against another country. You should also compare:

Peninsular Malaysia vs Sarawak vs Sabah.

Because the lifestyle is different. The rules are different. The property requirements are different. And the amount of money required can also be very different.

A simple comparison

	Federal MM2H	Sarawak-MM2H	Sabah-MM2H
Minimum stay	90 days/year*	30 days/year	30 days/year
Pass	5–20 years depending category	5 + 5 years	5+5 / 10 / 15 years depending category
FD	USD150k–USD1m	Current rules require substantial FD/financial proof	RM500k–USD1m depending category
Property	RM600k–RM2m depending category	Different state requirements	RM600k–RM2m depending category
Business	Limited; Platinum has broader business rights	Check current state rules	Permitted for investors subject to conditions
Location	Malaysia, subject to programme rules	Sarawak	Sabah

*For Federal MM2H participants aged 25–49, the 90-day requirement can be fulfilled by the principal and/or dependants. 

Important: The programmes change from time to time, and some requirements depend on age, category and whether the applicant has dependants. Anyone seriously considering an application should verify the latest requirements directly with the relevant state or federal authority before making financial commitments.

#3 – Sarawak-MM2H is particularly interesting

This is probably the one I would pay more attention to if I were looking at MM2H purely from a retirement perspective.

Why?

30 days.

That is a very different commitment from 90 days.

The current Sarawak programme requires approved participants to stay at least 30 days every year in Sarawak as a condition for extension and renewal. The programme is structured as 5 + 5 years. 

And Sarawak has something that I think many retirees actually want. Space. Nature. A slower pace.

Kuching is a proper city, but it doesn’t feel like Kuala Lumpur. You can have good food. You can have shopping. You can have hospitals and other urban facilities.

But you can also get out of the city relatively quickly.

For someone who doesn’t need to commute to work every day, that can be quite attractive.

The current Sarawak application information also shows that applicants need to demonstrate financial capability through fixed deposits or other accepted financial means, with the exact requirements depending on the applicant’s circumstances. 

So again, don’t simply look at one number from an old article.

The rules have evolved.

#4 – Sabah is a different proposition altogether

Then we have Sabah.

And I think Sabah is potentially very attractive for someone who wants a retirement lifestyle that is more closely connected to the sea and nature. Imagine living in Kota Kinabalu.

You have a proper city.

You have restaurants.

You have shopping.

You have healthcare.

And then you have the sea.

And islands.

And mountains.

And nature.

For someone who is retiring, that combination can be quite powerful.

The current Sabah-MM2H programme requires a minimum cumulative stay of 30 days per year in Sabah. It has Silver, Gold and Platinum categories, with property requirements of RM600,000, RM1 million and RM2 million respectively. Financial requirements range from RM500,000 for Silver to USD1 million for Platinum. 

The Gold category, for example, requires a minimum RM1 million residence and provides a 15-year multiple-entry visa that is renewable. 

#5 – So which one is better?

Now we come to the question everyone wants answered.

Which one should I choose?

My answer? It depends.

If I want maximum flexibility to live around Malaysia and I have substantial financial resources, Federal MM2H gives me a broader framework.

But the financial requirements are significantly higher than what many people remember from the old MM2H.

If I want a quieter retirement and genuinely like Sarawak, then Sarawak-MM2H becomes very interesting.

Thirty days a year is also a very manageable requirement for someone who doesn’t want to live there full-time.

If I love beaches, islands, nature and the Kota Kinabalu lifestyle, then Sabah-MM2H deserves a serious look.

I would choose the lifestyle first.

#6 – This is where property becomes interesting

Of course, I cannot write about MM2H without talking about property. Because the two are quite closely connected.

Federal MM2H now requires participants in the Silver, Gold and Platinum categories to purchase and own a residence after approval.

And there is a restriction on selling the residence for 10 years, although upgrading to a higher-value residence is allowed. 

That means an MM2H participant should not look at the property as:

“I need to buy something because the government says so.”

Look at it differently.

“If I have to buy a property anyway, can I buy something I actually want to live in?”

That’s a much better question.

And perhaps this is where someone like me, who has spent years looking at property, would approach it differently.

I wouldn’t just ask: “How much is the minimum?”

I would ask:

“What happens to this property if I decide to leave Malaysia five years later?”

“Can I rent it?”

“Can I resell it?”

“Who would want to buy it?”

“What is the location like?”

“Is there genuine owner-occupier demand?”

Because buying the cheapest property that satisfies an MM2H requirement is not necessarily the smartest decision.

#7 – Don’t forget the reason you came here

This is probably my biggest point. Someone applying for MM2H is usually not doing it simply to obtain a visa.

They want a better lifestyle. Maybe they want to retire. Maybe they want to spend more time with family.

Maybe they want a lower cost of living. Maybe they want better food. Maybe they want to travel around Asia.

Maybe they simply like Malaysia.

So don’t end up spending so much time comparing:

USD150,000 vs USD500,000 vs RM500,000

that you forget to ask:

“Where will I be happy?”

If I am 60 years old and have enough money to retire comfortably, do I really need to live in the most expensive part of Kuala Lumpur?

Maybe. But maybe not. Perhaps Kuching is better. Perhaps Kota Kinabalu is better.

Perhaps Penang is better.

Perhaps Johor is better. Perhaps a smaller town is better. I am from Ipoh…

The beauty of Malaysia is that we have choices.

#8 – And this is why Malaysia remains interesting

When I look at Malaysia as a retirement destination, I don’t think our biggest advantage is simply that we are “cheap”.

That argument is too simplistic. Our bigger advantage is value.

Good food. (REALLY GOOD and not some westerners giving their comments about our food…)

Reasonable healthcare costs compared with many developed countries.

English is widely understood. Modern shopping malls. International schools. (These days, entering a typical international school is like entering some multi-national school…)

Airports. (with lots and lots of connections too). And if you want to travel around Southeast Asia, Malaysia is also reasonably well connected.

Different lifestyles. Different climates and landscapes.

You can have a city lifestyle. Or a beach lifestyle. Or a quieter lifestyle. Or something in between.

That’s quite difficult to beat.

SO, which MM2H would I choose?

If you ask me purely from an investment and lifestyle perspective, I wouldn’t immediately choose one.

I would first shortlist the place. Then I would spend some time there. Not for a three-day holiday.

Maybe one month. Live there. Go to the supermarket. Go to the hospital.

Drive during peak hours. Find out where the nearest good restaurant is. Talk to locals.

Look at properties.

See what the neighbourhood feels like on a Monday morning.

Because retiring somewhere is very different from holidaying there.

A beautiful beach looks wonderful for five days.

But after five years, what matters is:

“Do I actually enjoy living here?”

That is the real test.

And for someone considering Malaysia, I think it is actually a good problem to have.

We now have Federal MM2H, Sarawak-MM2H and Sabah-MM2H, each offering a somewhat different proposition.

So don’t simply ask:

“Which MM2H is the cheapest?”

Ask:

“Which MM2H gives me the lifestyle I actually want?”

Then look at the money.

Then look at the property.

Then look at the visa.

In that order.

Because retirement isn’t about getting the cheapest visa.

It is about getting the best life you can afford.

And if that life happens to include really good Malaysian food every day…

Well…

That’s another bonus lah.

Happy retirement planning.

Happy exploring Malaysia.

And as always, make your own decision yeah.

---

Sources

• Malaysia My Second Home — Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture — current Federal MM2H categories and requirements. 
• Federal MM2H Category Overview — current FD, property, participation-fee, pass and stay requirements.
• Sarawak Ministry of Tourism — New S-MM2H Application — current Sarawak application requirements, updated July 2026.
• Sarawak-MM2H 2025 Guidelines — current 30-day annual stay requirement and 5+5-year pass structure.
• Sabah-MM2H — Categories of Application — current Sabah Silver, Gold and Platinum requirements.
• Sabah-MM2H — Gold Category — Gold category property, stay and pass requirements.
• Original Kopiandproperty article — MM2H: Comparisons between MM2H vs Sarawak MM2H and Sabah MM2H— the original 2024 article and basis for this refresh.