Malaysia’s Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme has recorded 744 completed residential property purchases as of the end of 2025, with the majority of buyers originating from China, Taiwan and Singapore.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing disclosed the figures during a Dewan Rakyat session, noting that an additional 2,637 MM2H participants are currently in the process of acquiring homes, including the finalisation of sale and purchase agreements.
The data reflects ongoing foreign interest in Malaysia’s residential market under the revised MM2H framework, which was relaunched with tiered participation categories and revised financial requirements.
Top nationalities among MM2H property buyers
As of Dec 31, 2025, the top 10 nationalities purchasing property under the new phase of MM2H were:
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China: 304 buyers
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Taiwan: 91
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Singapore: 63
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United States: 41
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United Kingdom: 40
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Hong Kong: 34
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Australia: 29
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Bangladesh: 19
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South Korea: 15
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Indonesia: 14
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Japan: 14
The figures were provided in response to a parliamentary question from Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN-Dungun), who sought clarification on the number of homes sold to foreigners under MM2H between 2023 and 2025, as well as the number of participants granted citizenship.
MM2H does not grant citizenship
Tiong clarified that the MM2H programme does not confer Malaysian citizenship or permanent resident status.
Instead, MM2H participants are issued long-term social visit passes with multiple-entry visa privileges, allowing them to reside in Malaysia for extended periods subject to compliance with programme conditions.
The revised MM2H framework offers four participation tiers:
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Platinum: 20 years
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Gold: 15 years
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Silver: 5 years
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Special Economic Zone (SEZ): 10 years
All categories operate on five-year validity cycles, with participants permitted to renew their passes until the maximum duration for their respective tier is reached.
Property ownership and MM2H
Under existing rules, MM2H participants may purchase residential properties that meet minimum price thresholds set by individual state governments. Ownership is subject to prevailing foreign purchase regulations, including restrictions on certain land types and minimum value requirements.
The latest figures suggest that property acquisition remains an important component of MM2H participation, though a significant number of approved participants have yet to complete purchases.
The 2,637 participants currently in the acquisition process indicate a potential pipeline of future transactions, depending on market conditions, financing availability and individual residency plans.
Diversifying MM2H participation
Responding to a separate question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) on whether the government intends to broaden participation beyond China and Taiwan, Tiong said the programme is open to applicants from all countries.
He added that applicants from Arab nations and other regions have been accepted, although current participation numbers from those markets remain relatively small.
“We will further intensify promotional efforts,” he said, while cautioning against politicising nationality breakdowns within the programme.
Policy implications
The updated data provides a clearer picture of MM2H participation patterns following the programme’s restructuring. While East Asian applicants continue to dominate property purchases, the government has signalled its intention to maintain the programme’s global orientation.
From a policy perspective, the figures also reinforce the distinction between long-term residency incentives and immigration outcomes. MM2H remains positioned as a lifestyle and long-stay programme rather than a pathway to citizenship.
As Malaysia continues refining its approach to foreign participation in housing and long-term residency, the performance of MM2H — including take-up rates, property acquisition trends and geographic diversity — is likely to remain under close scrutiny.
