Technical article
What Malaysia's Second Home Programme Asks of Retirees Today
How long could they stay, and what would it ask of them each year?
Picture a couple named Ted and Maria. Both are 58. They read an account of Malaysia's retirement programme written years ago and want to know if it still holds. They ask a simple thing. How long could they stay, and what would it ask of them each year?
I went to the programme's own government site. It was last updated on 10 February 2026, as its footer says.
What the programme is
The programme began in 2002. The site says it has "gone through several facelifts" since then. The current version has four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and one for the Special Economic Zone and Special Financial Zone. The site calls the pass "a renewable social visit pass with multiple entry-visa."
What the text gives
| Item | What the official page says |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 25 for Silver, Gold and Platinum; 21 for the special zone category |
| Length of pass | Renewable "every five years or based on the participant's passport validity" |
| Yearly renewal charge | Visa fee of RM0 to RM50 depending on nationality (MYR); pass fee of RM500 a year |
| Time in Malaysia | Principals under 50 must stay "90 days (cumulative) in one year" |
| Deposit | Up to 50% of the fixed deposit principal may be withdrawn after approval |
| Selling the home | Not allowed for 10 years, unless upgrading to a higher-value property |
| Income test | None mentioned in the text |
The 90-day rule names people under 50. The page text does not say whether older participants have a stay rule.
What is left open
- The fixed deposit amount for each category. The page shows it only as a picture, and it could not be read.
- The one-off participation fee and the length of the first pass for each category. Also pictures.
- What changed between the older version of the programme and today. The official site has no change log. News reports exist, but they are not official pages, so I left them out.
- Whether the programme leads to permanent residence. The pages I read do not say.
You could…
- Ask the Ministry for the deposit table in writing. The site gives the Ministry telephone numbers +603 8891 7568 and +603 8891 7434.
- Count how many days a year you could spend in Malaysia.
- Ask an accountant or lawyer who works with Americans abroad about tax on a deposit held there.
If the deposit table showed an amount that fit your savings, what would you want the pass to do for you?
Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data. Date read: 10 October 2026.
Tell us in the comments