Malaysia digital nomad visa: requirements (2026)

Legal framework

DE Rantau Nomad Pass, administered by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) under Malaysia's Ministry of Digital; immigration passes governed by the Malaysian Immigration Department (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia).

The Malaysia digital nomad visa

Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass lets remote workers live in Malaysia while working for an employer or clients based abroad.

Visa

DE Rantau Nomad Pass

Issued by

MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)

Income requirement

at least US$24,000 per year

Duration

12 months, renewable in 12-month increments

Cost

around MYR 1,060 (~US$225), plus MYR 500 per dependent

Tax

foreign-source income is generally not taxed in Malaysia

Visa rules and thresholds change often; confirm the current figures with the official source before applying.

Key points: digital nomad & residency in Malaysia

1. 01Dedicated nomad visa exists

   The DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a purpose-built digital-nomad visa run by MDEC, allowing foreign remote workers and digital freelancers working for non-Malaysian clients to live in Malaysia.

   mdec.my digital.gov.my

2. 02Income thresholds

   Minimum annual income from non-Malaysian sources is USD 24,000 for IT/digital professionals; eligibility was expanded so non-IT/non-digital talents qualify at USD 60,000 per year (about USD 5,000/month).

   digital.gov.my

3. 03Duration and family

   The pass is issued for up to 12 months initially, is renewable, carries multiple-entry privileges, and allows holders to bring a spouse and dependent children subject to approval.

   mdec.my

4. 04Expanded professional scope (2024)

   From June 2024 eligibility broadened beyond tech to include founders, CEOs/COOs, accountants, legal counsel, technical writers, business development and PR professionals, among others working remotely.

   digital.gov.my

5. 05MM2H residency-by-deposit programme

   The My Second Home (MM2H) programme offers renewable long-stay residency in tiers, Silver (from USD 150,000 fixed deposit, 5 yrs), Gold (from USD 500,000, 15 yrs), Platinum (from USD 1,000,000, 20 yrs), each with minimum property purchase and minimum-stay rules.

   mm2h.gov.my imi.gov.my

6. 06Other employment routes

   Working for a Malaysian employer requires an Employment Pass (up to 60 months, salary-tiered), while the Professional Visit Pass (up to 12 months) covers foreign professionals delivering services for an overseas company.

   imi.gov.my imi.gov.my

Malaysia digital nomad visa: FAQ

Timeline of decisions

1. 1 Feb 2026Decision
   MM2H Approaches US$1 Billion in Fixed-Deposit Inflows

   By February 2026, Malaysia's revamped MM2H had attracted nearly US$1 billion in fixed-deposit and property inflows, with Chinese nationals accounting for more than half of all applicants, validating the June 2024 overhaul as the most successful version of the programme to date.

   CEOWORLD magazine

2. 1 May 2025Guidance · official
   DE Rantau Application Fees Made Non-Refundable

   MDEC updated the DE Rantau Nomad Pass policy so that application fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome, raising the financial risk for prospective applicants; community-reported processing wait times also extended to four to six months despite an official six-to-eight-week window.

   MDEC – DE Rantau

3. 15 Jun 2024Law · official
   MM2H 3.0 Three-Tier Programme Officially Launches

   MOTAC officially launched the restructured MM2H with Silver (USD 150,000 fixed deposit, 10-year visa), Gold (USD 500,000, 15-year visa), and Platinum (USD 1 million, 20-year renewable visa) tiers; all tier holders must also purchase residential property within set thresholds subject to a 10-year lock-in, replacing the 2021 single-tier RM 1 million structure.

   Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) – MM2H

4. 7 Jun 2024Guidance · official
   DE Rantau Eligibility Expanded to Non-Tech Professionals

   At the DE Rantau Elevate 2024 event, Malaysia's digital ministry broadened the nomad pass beyond IT and digital-marketing workers to include CEOs, legal counsel, accountants, HR managers, and other senior business roles at a higher income floor of USD 60,000 per year, roughly doubling the programme's addressable market.

   Malaysia Digital (digital.gov.my)

5. 15 Dec 2023Decision
   MM2H Three-Tier Overhaul Announced (Silver, Gold, Platinum)

   MOTAC Minister Tiong King Sing announced a sweeping restructuring of MM2H: minimum age cut to 30, minimum annual stay reduced to 60 days, and three tiered fixed-deposit brackets replacing the flat RM 1 million requirement, signalling a reversal of the unpopular 2021 tightening and a one-year trial from mid-2024.

   New Straits Times

6. 1 Sept 2022Law
   Home Ministry Launches Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)

   Cabinet approved and the Home Ministry announced the PVIP, a parallel high-net-worth residency route requiring RM 1 million in fixed deposits plus steep agency fees, targeting global tycoons; the programme opened for applications 1 October 2022 but attracted only 47 participants by early 2024, far below the 1,000-applicant first-year target.

   Malay Mail (Home Ministry announcement)

7. 1 Jul 2020Decision · official
   MM2H Programme Suspended for Comprehensive Government Review

   MOTAC suspended all new MM2H applications in July 2020, citing COVID-19 as an opportunity to review approval processes and participant quality; the suspension followed a period (late 2019) in which up to 90% of applications were rejected without explanation, and the review ultimately led to the tightened 2021 relaunch.

   MOTAC

8. 1 Jan 2002Law · official
   Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme Launched

   Malaysia replaced the struggling Silver Hair Programme with the MM2H, offering 10-year renewable multi-entry Social Visit Passes to financially qualifying foreigners of all nationalities and any age; administered by MOTAC with visa issuance by the Immigration Department, it became one of Asia's most popular long-stay residency programmes.

   Malaysia.gov.my

9. 1 Jan 1996Law
   Silver Hair Programme Launched, Malaysia's First Long-Stay Residency Scheme

   Malaysia's Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism launched the Silver Hair Programme to attract foreign retirees aged 50+; the scheme attracted only 828 participants over six years against a target of 20,000, prompting the 2002 rebrand and expansion as MM2H.

   MM2H.com – Programme History

Sources

1. 1.mdec.my/derantau
2. 2.digital.gov.my/en-GB/siaran/DE-Rantau-Nomad-Pass-eligibility-expanded
3. 3.mm2h.gov.my/
4. 4.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/malaysia-my-second-home-mmh2-en/
5. 5.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/pass/employment-pass/
6. 6.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/pass/professional-visitor-pass/