Indonesia Golden Visa vs Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Indonesia Golden Visa is faster: 2 months vs 3 months for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H).
- ›Lower capital: Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) (150,000 USD) vs 350,000 for Indonesia Golden Visa.
- ›Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) uses territorial taxation; Indonesia Golden Visa taxes worldwide income.
Indonesia Golden Visa Indonesia · investment | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Malaysia · retirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Malaysia |
| Category | Investment | Retirement |
| Application Fee | $500 | $4,300 |
| Minimum Income | — | $9,100 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | $350,000 | $150,000 |
| Processing Time | 2 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and dependent children up to 18 years old may be included as dependants at no additional investment requirement | Spouse and unmarried children under 34 may be included as dependents; dependent pass fee of ~MYR 500 per person |
| Path to PR | No | No |
| Path to Citizenship | No | No |
| Physical Presence | No minimum annual stay requirement; visa is valid for multiple entries throughout the 5 or 10-year period | Under revised 2023 rules: minimum 90 days per year in Malaysia |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Staying more than 183 days per year triggers Indonesian tax residency on worldwide income; those spending less time may benefit from Indonesia's territorial-style treatment of non-resident income | Foreign-sourced income is not taxed in Malaysia. MM2H holders are not required to pay Malaysian income tax on income earned abroad. Local income is subject to standard Malaysian income tax. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 182 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Territorial |
| Renewal Cost | $500 | $1,100 |
About Indonesia Golden Visa
Indonesia's Golden Visa, launched in 2023–24, grants 5- or 10-year multi-entry stay permits to investors and high-net-worth individuals. An individual qualifies by placing at least $350,000 (5-year) or $700,000 (10-year) in Indonesian government bonds, listed stocks or a business; company founders and directors face a $2,500,000 company-capital threshold. Investment funds are held in a Bank Indonesia instrument and are not freely accessible during the visa's validity. Beyond the investment, fees run a few thousand dollars; processing takes about two months (10–20 weeks), with BI account setup the critical path. A spouse and children under 18 are included, and there is no minimum annual stay. The visa is not itself a residency or citizenship route: 10-year holders may later apply for e-KITAP (permanent stay), but naturalisation is lengthy, requires renouncing prior nationality, and Indonesia bars adult dual citizenship. Staying 183+ days triggers tax residency on worldwide income, though new residents may elect an Omnibus Law exemption on foreign-source income for their first four years. Foreigners cannot own freehold land.
Full Indonesia Golden Visa profile →About Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
Malaysia's My Second Home (MM2H) programme is a long-stay, multiple-entry visa, typically issued for 5 years and renewable, aimed at financially independent retirees and high-net-worth individuals rather than workers. Since a 2021 overhaul it runs on tiers — roughly Silver (RM 500,000 fixed deposit, ~RM 10,000/month offshore income), Gold, and Platinum (larger deposit, lower ~RM 7,000/month income requirement) — and thresholds have shifted more than once, so applicants should confirm current figures with a licensed MM2H agent, which is mandatory. Spouses and unmarried children under 34 can be added as dependents for a modest fee. Since 2023, holders must spend at least 90 days per year in Malaysia. MM2H grants no right to work locally and does not lead to Malaysian permanent residency or citizenship — Malaysia also bars dual nationality, so naturalisation would mean renouncing prior citizenship, and few MM2H holders pursue it. Malaysia's territorial tax system exempts foreign-sourced pension, dividend, and rental income received offshore, though income routed through a Labuan offshore company faces a 3% corporate rate rather than being fully tax-free.
Full Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Indonesia Golden Visa
- ⚠The USD 350,000 or USD 700,000 is placed in a Bank Indonesia instrument — it earns a modest return but is NOT freely accessible; confirm withdrawal/repatriation conditions before committing
- ⚠Indonesia does not permit dual citizenship for adults — Golden Visa does NOT confer citizenship rights but naturalisation requires renouncing prior citizenship
- ⚠BPJS Kesehatan enrollment is mandatory for KITAS holders — enroll promptly or face compliance issues
- ⚠The Golden Visa launched August 2023 and implementing regulations are still evolving — some aspects of the BI deposit process have changed since launch; verify current procedures with an Indonesian immigration lawyer
- ⚠Indonesia's tax system is complex; the 4-year territorial exemption under the Omnibus Law is valuable but requires formal election — consult an Indonesian tax lawyer before filing your first return
- ⚠KITAS/KITAP must be maintained via annual reporting to immigration — failing to report leads to overstay fines even if the Golden Visa is technically valid
- ⚠Foreigners cannot own Indonesian land (freehold); property investment for SIRV purposes is through leasehold or other structures — verify permitted investment types with BKPM
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
- ⚠MM2H does NOT grant work rights — holders cannot be employed in Malaysia or operate a business without separate work authorization
- ⚠MM2H does NOT lead to PR or citizenship — pure long-stay visa
- ⚠Fixed deposit is substantial: Silver tier RM 500,000 (≈USD 110,000) locked for visa duration
- ⚠2021/2022 MM2H revision dramatically raised thresholds from old RM 300,000 deposit and RM 10,000/mo income — many existing holders faced sudden non-compliance
- ⚠2024 revision added Platinum tier and clarified partial withdrawal rules (up to 50% for approved purposes like property, education, medical)
- ⚠Mandatory licensed agent — cannot self-apply; agent costs RM 5,000-10,000
- ⚠Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship — MM2H is not on a path to citizenship and naturalization requires renouncing
- ⚠Labuan company structure is NOT a tax-free structure for MM2H holders who are Malaysian tax residents — 3% corporate tax applies
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.