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 launched its Golden Visa programme in 2024 to attract high-net-worth individuals, investors, and global talent with 5 or 10-year stay permits granted in exchange for qualifying investments. Individual investors must place a minimum of $350,000 USD in Indonesian government bonds, stocks, or business ventures; company founders and directors face higher thresholds. The programme signals Indonesia's growing ambition to position Bali and other regions as world-class international lifestyle and business destinations.
Full Indonesia Golden Visa profile →About Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
Malaysia's My Second Home (MM2H) program grants a 5-year renewable multiple-entry visa to retirees and high-net-worth individuals, requiring a fixed deposit and offshore income. The program was revamped in 2021 with significantly higher thresholds, making it more exclusive than earlier iterations.
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.