Sabah MM2H – Full Visa Overview

Sabah My Second Home

Sabah in Malaysian Borneo has introduced their version of the MM2H program. While Sabah is part of Malaysia, the state retains full independence when it comes to immigration policy. This is why we have multiple versions of the Malaysia My Second Home visa, with Sarawak and of course peninsular Malaysia having their own residency by investment offerings.

In this guide we will cover all of the detail on Sabah’s MM2H program including the eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Why is Malaysia a great location for expats?

Malaysia has many things going for it that attracts people from all around the world. There is the obvious things like warm weather, beautiful beaches and tropical rainforests.

But Malaysia is also a place that Westerners gravitate to because of the high level of English spoken in the country. Being able to converse with locals in your mother tongue is something that is not always appreciated until you have spent extended time in a country where English is not widely spoken.

The main urban centers are highly developed with world class infrastructure. You’ve got everything here – excellent public transport, fast internet, high end shopping malls, an abundance of food choices.

And to top it off, Malaysia is very affordable. You can live a very high standard of life here for a fraction of what it would cost in most Western countries.

Sabah MM2H – What you need to know

The SBH-MM2H visa is a 5 year visa that is renewable for a further 5 years. To have the visa renewal granted, you will have to pass a security check and you must also have satisfied the minimum stay requirements during the previous 5 years.

The minimum stay requirement is 30 days per calendar year. And this is cumulative so it could be 15 days on your first visit and then another 15 days later in the year.

There are no work rights attached to this visa. It only allows you to reside in Malaysia. However, you are eligible to apply for a work permit if you require one. But that would be a stand-alone application separate to your MM2H permit.

Business investors are allowed to apply for the program and won’t need additional permits in most cases.

The visa is open to individuals aged 30 and over. And you can also bring your family with you. This includes your spouse, children below the age of 21, your parents, and parents in law.

What are the Sabah MM2H financial requirements?

The eligibility criteria for this visa are outlined below:

Fixed deposit of RM 150,000 with a Malaysian bank

If you are bringing your family with you, the fixed deposit is RM 300,000

Proof of income over the last 3 months of at least RM 10,000 per month

For families, you must demonstrate a proof of income of RM 15,000 per month

You must purchase a high-rise property for at least RM 600,000

The property has to be held for 5 years. After that time, it can be sold provided you are purchasing a replacement property for at least RM 600,000.

Visa holders are allowed to withdraw 40% of their fixed deposit after a 2 year waiting period. However, the funds must be used for expenses relating to property, a car purchase, education for your children, or medical expenses.

How do you apply for the Sabah MM2H program?

You can’t self-apply for this visa. A registered MM2H agent must be used. Your agent will also act as your sponsor, which is a requirement for the visa. Feel free to get in touch if you would like us to handle your application.

As part of your visa application, you will need to satisfy the below requirements:

Provide a certificate of good conduct from your home country

Obtain medical insurance for the entirety of your stay

Complete a medical assessment after you have received conditional approval

Pay a refundable security bond

Once approved, you will need to pay an annual visa fee of RM 500 for yourself, as well as each dependent who will be joining you in Malaysia.

The great news is that applications are processed quite quickly with an estimated processing time of between 8 and 10 weeks.

How does the Sabah MM2H compare to the other MM2H programs?

The main competition for this visa is MM2H program in neighboring Sarawak.

Both visa programs have similar financial requirements. However, the mandatory property purchase requirement doesn’t exist on the Sarawak MM2H. So if you prefer to rent, take a look at the Sarawak visa.

The property purchase requirement on Sabah’s MM2H will also make it less competitive to the main MM2H program in Western Malaysia, which also has a property purchase requirement. However, the main MM2H program allows visa holders to legally live in Kuala Lumpur.

Although it should be noted that Kuala Lumpur has a higher minimum purchase threshold for foreigners wanting to buy property in Malaysia.

The fast application time will work in this visas favor, with the other MM2H programs having experienced various delays.

Next steps

Malaysia is a wonderful country to live and work from and there are many pathways to obtaining a residency permit.

Check out our other articles on Malaysia or send us an email if you want to learn more.

We can also provide a one-on-one consultation to talk through any issues or questions that you may have in relation to Malaysian residency, taxation, business, investment or related issues.

Thanks for reading.