Malaysia offers some of the simplest short-stay rules in the region for Western passports: 90 days visa-free on arrival for Ireland, UK, US, Germany and France [1]. For long stays, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme was restructured in 2024 into three tiers with significantly higher financial thresholds than before [2].
Visa-free entry for IE, GB, US, DE, FR
Holders of Irish, British, US, German and French ordinary passports enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 90 days for social visits including tourism and business meetings [1]. The 90-day allowance applies on each entry; there is no automatic minimum gap between visits, but immigration officers may refuse entry to obvious back-to-back stays.
All travellers (including the 90-day visa-free group) must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within three days before arrival. The MDAC is free and you file it at imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main [3].
You need a passport valid at least six months beyond the intended stay, an onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds [1].
Tourist visa extension
The 90-day social-visit stamp is, in principle, not extendable; immigration practice is for visitors to leave and re-enter [1]. Genuine emergency extensions you can seek in person at the Putrajaya or state Immigration Department offices, but they grant them at the discretion of the Director General and not as a routine option [1].
For nationalities that do require a visa, Malaysia operates an eVISA system at malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my for single entry (30 days, 50 MYR / about 10 EUR) or multiple entry (30 days per entry, 100 MYR / about 20 EUR), processed in 1 to 3 working days [4]. None of the five passports in scope normally need this.
Long-stay options relevant to 60+ relocators
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), peninsular tiers
Restructured in late 2024. Three tiers apply on peninsular Malaysia, plus a separate Sarawak (S-MM2H) programme. MM2H is administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) [2].
- Silver tier: fixed deposit of 150,000 USD (about 140,000 EUR) in a Malaysian bank, plus purchase of property worth at least 600,000 MYR (about 120,000 EUR). Visa validity 5 years, renewable.
- Gold tier: fixed deposit of 500,000 USD (about 470,000 EUR), property purchase of at least 1,000,000 MYR (about 200,000 EUR). Validity 15 years.
- Platinum tier: fixed deposit of 1,000,000 USD (about 940,000 EUR), property purchase of at least 2,000,000 MYR (about 400,000 EUR). Validity 20 years, plus eligibility to work or run a business [2].
Applicants aged 50 and above have no minimum days-in-country requirement; under 50 must spend at least 90 days per year in Malaysia [2]. After the first year, up to 50 percent of the fixed deposit can typically be withdrawn for approved expenses (property purchase, healthcare, education). You need medical insurance covering Malaysia.
Sarawak MM2H (S-MM2H)
A simpler, cheaper variant run by the Sarawak state government for stays in Sarawak. Financial test is currently 150,000 MYR (about 30,000 EUR) fixed deposit for applicants 50 and over (with 100,000 MYR withdrawable after a year), or 300,000 MYR for those under 50. You also need monthly offshore income proof of 10,000 MYR (about 2,000 EUR). Visa is valid for 5 years renewable, and entitles the holder to live and travel anywhere in Malaysia but tied to a Sarawak address [2].
Special Economic Zone MM2H
A reduced-threshold track tied to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, with a deposit of 32,000 USD for applicants aged 50 and above and 65,000 USD for those aged 21 to 49 [2]. Holders must reside primarily within the SEZ.
Marriage and spouse visas
Foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens can apply for a Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) sponsored by the Malaysian spouse, renewable annually for up to five years, then convertible to a Permanent Residence visa. Filed at any Malaysian Immigration Department state office [1].
E-visa and online services
Malaysia does not have a single unified e-Visa portal for all visa types; instead the Immigration Department runs:
- imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main for the mandatory MDAC, free, all arrivals [3].
- malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my for the eVISA used by nationalities that require a pre-issued visa [4].
- mm2h.gov.my for MM2H applications [2].
Processing times
MDAC: instant submission, no approval delay [3]. eVISA: 1 to 3 working days [4]. MM2H: 90 to 180 working days for conditional approval, plus a further on-arrival step to receive the multiple-entry pass [2]. Endorsement of the LTSVP for spouses: 4 to 8 weeks at a state Immigration office [1].
Overstay penalties
Tourists who overstay are typically fined 100 MYR per day (about 20 EUR) [5]. The Overstay Management Programme introduced for Employment Pass and Dependent Pass holders sets a compound fine of 30 MYR per day for 1 to 30 days (about 6 EUR), 1,000 MYR for 31 to 60 days (about 200 EUR) and 2,000 MYR for 61 to 90 days (about 400 EUR) [6]. Overstays beyond 90 days are not eligible for compound and are referred to the Enforcement Division, where the statutory maximum is a fine of not less than 10,000 MYR (about 2,000 EUR) or imprisonment up to five years [6]. Re-entry bans of one to five years are common for those caught overstaying [5].