My wife and I plan to move to Malaysia in about 3-4 years (meeting MM2H conditions for over 50s). Should we wait until we are more or less ready before applying or do it much sooner. One consideration is if the conditions become more onerous in future. Overall is there any benefits in doing this and would it be allowed? In the interim we would be visiting Malaysia once a year to holiday with my wife's family.

Thanks in anticiaption.

As you rightly say, the rules may change in the future. They do get tweaked from time to time. Probably the only current consideration is that, if you want to buy a tax free car in Malaysia OR bring in your own car tax free, you can only do this within 12 months of getting the visa (I think).

There is no problem in obtaining the visa then not moving for some time (or ever). In fact, a lot of people don't live in Malaysia full-time anyway.

You can find a lot of info here

http://www.my2home.info/index.php

and on the government website http://www.mm2h.gov.my/

http://www.mm2h.gov.my/

I believe the approval will only last for 1 year and no point if you plan to move there 3-4 years later. If you plan to go to Malaysia once awhile, I reckon you just stay in Malaysia with the tourist visa which should allow you to stay without exit for 3 months, so you can save the money to park it in Malaysia. The conditions can change in favour or against you, it all depend how desperate Malaysia government need foreigner spending and deposits.

Thank you for these replies. Happy to hear any further thoughts on this, although I will re-look at the Malaysian Immigatration Dept conditions.

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Once you get conditional approval from the government in the form of a Conditional Approval Letter you then have 6 months to meet the final requirements (put fixed deposit(s) in place, get medical insurance or waiver, and medical report RBII) then go to KL and get the Visa stamped up in passport. At this stage, you have MM2H and a 10 year renewable visa (or however long your passport is valid for). You can come and go as you please, move to Malaysia, or not move to Malaysia. It's up to you.

I've just gone through the procedure myself so this comes from the horse's mouth so to speak and I'm not currently living in Malaysia (yet).

I am saying "I believe the approval letter will only valid for 1 year" but after I checked the letter of approval given to my parent-in-law in year 2006, the approval letter only valid for 6 months and not 1 year.

As PK is planning to go to Malaysia 3-4 years later, therefore I suggest him/her to apply it later so PK will not need to place the fixed deposit & other requirements unnecessary.

I am giving PK advise based on my own experience, as my parent in law had granted approval in 2006 but later they decide not to stay in Malaysia and I had placed the fixed deposit unnecessary.

So I advise PK not to apply MM2H now if you are not 100% sure you are going to stay in Malaysia permanently.

Furthermore, MM2H provide no special advantage other than the 10 years visa and the tax exempt vehicle (which only useful for those want to stay in Malaysia permanently).

Bakedbean, one question, why you don't want to stay in Malaysia even after you had obtained the approval?

bakedbean - this clarifies my original question very well. Thanks

tkbwong - as suggested, I was concerned about the possibility of changing conditions for the scheme at a later date.

We are certain we want to go ahead with this. The timing of the move depends on our job/financial circumstances. So if, as bakedbean has confirmed, it it perfectly in order to get everything set up, then the issue is- is there anything to be gained from doing so now, notwithstanding locking up the fixed deposit.

Thanks both.

You missed the "yet" in my response. I shall be moving this year . You need the visa first in order to import all your personal effects tax-free - and moving/selling up takes some time unfortunately. I'd move right now if I could.

tkb - you've got some good points there IMO but my thoughts are that I think it's a personal thing and really it's a gamble on whether to apply early or wait. The rules could change in your favour OR against. Certainly the world has changed a lot since 2006 - and the MM2H rules have changed too. I wouldn't advise PK either way but you have to look at your own circumstances and income.

As PKfromUK is presumably in the UK, maybe the GBP to RM conversion needs consideration? Sterling is going through a very bad patch at the moment and some say UK will go the same way as Greece. One of the newer MM2H rules is that you must show income of equivalent RM 10,000 per month. If GBP really starts plummeting, that's going to take a lot of GBP income to achieve that. The RM fixed deposit generates around 2.5 percent. I don't know what GBP generates now - half a percent? Just something to consider.

One thing I do like about MM2H is that you renew "on the same terms that you went in on" so you know where you stand for the future. Anyway just my 2 ringgits-worth.

Happy to know that you like to stay in Malaysia. I asked the question is because I know numbers of friends and friends of friend had not been staying in Malaysia or just stayed for a short period of time after they got their MM2H approvals which include my parent-in-law.

Is true that like and dislike is personal preference. I sincerely hope PK & bakedbean will enjoy your stay in Malaysia. All the best.

Sorry to hijack, but a quick question or five:

To summarise, if UK passport holder, with -
150000 ringits (£30k approx) "fixed deposit"
10000 ringits a month income (UK based income I assume?)

then you can (effectively) get a 10 year Malaysian visa?

What happens at the end of the 10 years, easy renewel? And what happens to the "fixed deposit" - does it gain any interest? If you decide to return to UK can you take it with you (at the cost of losing your visa)?

I guess you can't work on the visa?

I think different limits depending on your age, and you can get some of the deposit back if you buy a property. Suggest you look at the government website - see 2nd posting of this thread.

It doesn't have to be UK based income, just needs to be income from outside Malaysia.

The fixed deposit attracts interest and that can be taken out.

If you leave MM2H, you get your fixed deposit monies back.

Renewal seems to be relatively easy but rules change from time to time. If you're serious about doing it, take a look at the government website and keep an eye on the forum I mentioned in my posting. Changes are notified and discussed by forum members.

Work - you'll have to read up on the various websites. I'm retired.

thanks for this.

if you are over 50 you do not need the income just the 150k deposit, up to 50k can be used against property or health insurance

You also need to show proof of income as below.

quote
ii. Applicants aged 50 and above may comply with the financial proof of RM350,000 in liquid assets and off shore income of RM10,000 per month. For those who have retired, they are required to show proof of receiving pension from government approved funds of RM 10,000 per month.
unquote

http://www.mm2h.gov.my/conditions.php

Once the approval is complete and you have your Conditional Approval Letter from MoTour, you can then go on to making the Fixed Deposit(s) of RM 150,000 and complete the process.

But if you read down the page a bit you get the following which has OR between the deposit and the income...

Upon Approval : Aged 50 years and above


* Can either choose to:
- Open a fixed deposit account of RM150,000.00 ; OR
- Show proof of government approved pension funds of RM10,000

* After a period of one year, participant who fulfills the fixed deposit criterion can withdraw up to RM50,000.00 for approved expenses relating to house purchase, education for children in Malaysia and medical purposes.

* Participant must maintain a minimum balance of RM100,000.00 from the second year onwards and throughout his/her stay in Malaysia under this programme.

Approved participants who have purchased and owned property which were bought at RM1 million and above in Malaysia may comply with the basic fixed deposit requirement of RM 100,000, on condition that the property has been fully paid and ownership documents such as grant and land title have already been issued.This amount may not be withdrawn until the participant decides to terminate his participation in MM2H programme.