Malaysia
Malaysia · Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia blends low living costs, widespread English and a tropical lifestyle with two headline routes: the Employment Pass for professionals and the MM2H long-stay programme for those with means. New digital-nomad and tech-talent pathways are widening access for remote and skilled workers.
Migration statistics
Who is arriving
Top source countries and the make-up of recent arrivals into Malaysia.
Policy overview
6 visa routes into Malaysia
Eligibility, fees, processing times and whether each route leads to permanent residence.
Employment Pass
SkilledEP
Employer-sponsored pass for skilled professionals. From 1 June 2026 the salary floors rose sharply: Category III RM 5,000 a month (RM 7,000 in manufacturing), Category II RM 10,000-19,999, Category I RM 20,000+.
Eligibility
- Job offer from a Malaysian employer
- Basic salary of at least RM 5,000 a month (Category III, up to 5 years with one employer)
- Relevant qualifications/experience
Document checklist (10 items)
Core
Professional
Background
Malaysia My Second Home
InvestorMM2H
A renewable long-stay visa for financially independent foreigners. Since June 2024 there are Silver (5 years), Gold (15 years) and Platinum (20 years) tiers, plus a cheaper Special Economic Zone tier in Johor.
Eligibility
- Silver: USD 150,000 fixed deposit and a property of RM 600,000+
- Gold: USD 500,000 and RM 1M property; Platinum: USD 1M and RM 2M property
- Aged 25+ (21+ for the SEZ tier)
- Clean background
Document checklist (10 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
DE Rantau
A digital-nomad pass for remote tech professionals and freelancers working for foreign clients.
Eligibility
- Remote work for non-Malaysian clients or employers
- Income above USD 24,000 a year (tech roles) or USD 60,000 (non-tech roles, added in 2024)
- Active contracts or employment
Document checklist (8 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
PVP
Short-term pass for foreign professionals providing services to a Malaysian company while remaining overseas-employed.
Eligibility
- Engaged by a Malaysian company
- Specialist or expert services
- Remains employed abroad
Document checklist (8 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Student Pass
StudentStudent
Study at a Malaysian institution, many international branch campuses, with limited part-time work rights.
Eligibility
- Offer from a registered institution
- Proof of funds
- Health screening
Document checklist (9 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Dependant Pass / Spouse
FamilyMY-DP
Join a spouse, partner or close family member who is a citizen or resident.
Eligibility
- Genuine relationship to a citizen/resident
- Sponsor meets income/housing rules
- Relationship evidence
Document checklist (9 items)
Core
Professional
Financial
Background
Economic context
The numbers behind the move
Pay reflects the local market in Malaysia, what you'd typically earn there, not your current salary.
Skill shortages
Sectors actively recruiting from abroad
Where Malaysia needs foreign talent most, and what those roles pay.
Technology
KL's MSC and shared-services hubs hire tech talent affordably.
Electronics & semiconductors
Penang's chip assembly/test cluster faces an engineering crunch.
Oil, gas & energy
Petronas and the energy sector recruit specialists.
Healthcare
Medical tourism and private hospitals sustain demand.
Recent changes
What's changed lately
Recent policy changes that affect migrants, newest first.
No policy changes recorded in the last 90 days. The intelligence agent is monitoring.
Quality of life
What living there feels like
Kuala Lumpur
Affordable capitalA modern, very affordable capital with strong infrastructure and a big expat community.
- Cost index
- 48
- 1-bed rent
- $700
- Quality
- 78
Penang (George Town)
Food & heritageA UNESCO heritage island famed for food and a long-established retiree and MM2H community.
- Cost index
- 44
- 1-bed rent
- $550
- Quality
- 80
Johor Bahru
Gateway to SingaporeBooming on its Singapore border location, offering far cheaper living for cross-border workers.
- Cost index
- 42
- 1-bed rent
- $500
- Quality
- 75
Petaling Jaya
Tech & suburbsA leafy, well-serviced tech and business suburb of Kuala Lumpur popular with families.
- Cost index
- 48
- 1-bed rent
- $650
- Quality
- 78
Kota Kinabalu
Beaches & divingA relaxed Borneo coastal city with beaches and diving, growing with remote workers.
- Cost index
- 42
- 1-bed rent
- $500
- Quality
- 78
Kuching
Safe & affordableOne of Malaysia's safest, cleanest and most affordable cities, on the island of Borneo.
- Cost index
- 40
- 1-bed rent
- $450
- Quality
- 78
Living essentials
The practical day-to-day of settling in Malaysia.
Excellent affordable private care; a medical-tourism hub.
Wide choice of international schools and branch-campus universities at low cost.
Low, one of the best value-for-quality destinations in Asia.
Good in cities (KL, Penang); fine for remote work.
Tropical, hot, humid and rainy year-round.
Safety & climate
The reception you can expect
How welcoming the public and political mood is, how safe it is, and how geopolitically stable the country is right now.
Anti-migrant sentiment
trendWelcoming to skilled migrants and retirees; multicultural society.
Higher = more hostile public/political climate.
Geopolitical stability
A composite of governance, security and regional-risk signals. Higher means a more predictable environment for settling long term.
Higher = more stable.
Safety
Petty theft and scams in KL; improving overall.
Higher = safer (crime index 42/100).
Where to live
Which Malaysia city fits you?
Cities matched to who you are, career, family, retirement, study or remote work. We flag the ones to consider and the ones to approach with care.
Penang (George Town)
Island culture hub
A UNESCO heritage island famed for food and a long-established retiree and MM2H community.
Kuala Lumpur
Modern and multicultural
A modern, very affordable capital with strong infrastructure and a big expat community.
Kuching
Easygoing river city
One of Malaysia's safest, cleanest and most affordable cities, on the island of Borneo.
Kota Kinabalu
Borneo coastal gateway
A relaxed Borneo coastal city with beaches and diving, growing with remote workers.
Petaling Jaya
KL's tech suburb
A leafy, well-serviced tech and business suburb of Kuala Lumpur popular with families.
Johor Bahru
Border boomtown
Booming on its Singapore border location, offering far cheaper living for cross-border workers.
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