Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B) 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 Second Home Visa (B211B) is faster: 2 months vs 3 months for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H).
- ›Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B) leads to citizenship (~10 yrs); Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) does not.
- ›Lower capital: Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B) (130,000 USD) vs 150,000 for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H).
- ›Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) uses territorial taxation; Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B) taxes worldwide income.
Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B) Indonesia · retirement | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Malaysia · retirement | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Malaysia |
| Category | Retirement | Retirement |
| Application Fee | $200 | $4,300 |
| Minimum Income | — | $9,100 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | $130,000 | $150,000 |
| Processing Time | 2 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | Spouse and dependent children may be included on the principal's permit; parents not eligible | Spouse and unmarried children under 34 may be included as dependents; dependent pass fee of ~MYR 500 per person |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | No |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 10 years | No |
| Physical Presence | Visa is valid for 5 or 10 years (multi-entry). No minimum presence requirement. | Under revised 2023 rules: minimum 90 days per year in Malaysia |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Tax residency triggers at 183+ days physical presence in any 12-month period. Indonesian tax residents pay progressive PIT up to 35%; foreign-source income is taxable. The Second Home Visa does not confer any special tax exemption — applicants spending less than 183 days in Indonesia avoid Indonesian tax residency entirely. | 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 | $200 | $1,100 |
About Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B)
Indonesia's Second Home Visa (introduced October 2022 under Regulation 22/2022, refined by 2024 amendments) grants a 5-year or 10-year multi-entry residence visa to foreign nationals depositing IDR 2 billion (~USD 130,000) in an Indonesian state bank for the duration of the visa. The visa does NOT require minimum income, employment, or physical presence and may be used as a base for visiting Indonesia (especially Bali) without becoming a tax resident. The deposit may be used to purchase property or held as a savings deposit. After 5 years of legal residence with continuous physical presence, the visa-holder may apply for permanent residency (KITAP) and after 10 years, naturalisation — though Indonesia generally does not permit dual citizenship and naturalisation requires renunciation.
Full Indonesia Second Home Visa (B211B) 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 Second Home Visa (B211B)
- ⚠IDR 2B is a deposit, not a fee — but the funds are locked for the visa duration (5 or 10 years)
- ⚠Indonesia does NOT permit dual citizenship — naturalisation requires renunciation of original citizenship
- ⚠Tax residency at 183+ days; visa doesn't confer special tax treatment
- ⚠Bali property purchase by foreigners has additional restrictions (HGB / Hak Pakai title structures rather than freehold Hak Milik)
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.