🇲🇾 Asia-Pacific

Malaysia business pathways

MTEP for tech founders & investors (MDEC); MM2H for long-stay residence (MOTAC) — MM2H is not a work-rights founder pass.

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Not legal advice

Immigration, tax, and investment rules change. Use this guide to compare pathways, then verify amounts and procedures on official government sites and with qualified counsel. Content reviewed: 2026-08

At a glance

Decision signals for founders and investors considering Malaysia.

Best for

Tech founders, senior tech talent & high-net-worth residents

Founder track

MTEP (MDEC) — New / Experienced / Investor / Senior Mgmt

Tech Investor

RM 10 million via SC-registered VCMC (per MDEC)

Senior management

≥ RM 180,000 base salary + experience (per MDEC)

MM2H

Fixed deposit tiers (USD) — residence, not day-to-day work rights

Citizenship

Not a standard outcome of MTEP/MM2H

Which path fits you?

I am founding / scaling a tech venture

MTEP New (1-year PVP) or Experienced (5-year RP) via MDEC.

Jump to pathway

I will invest RM 10 million in Malaysian tech

MTEP Tech Investor — SC-registered venture capital management company route.

Jump to pathway

I want long-stay residence without founding day-to-day

MM2H — fixed deposits and property conditions; clarify work restrictions.

Jump to pathway

Visa pathways

Focused on startup, investor, and self-employment routes - not study or tourism visas.

MDEC core track

Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) — founders & talent

MDEC’s Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) supports tech entrepreneurs and talent. Official MDEC materials describe a New category (typically a 1-year Pass with Visit Pass / PVP framing for newer founders) and an Experienced category (longer residence pass — commonly cited as 5 years for qualifying experienced entrepreneurs). Senior management roles may qualify with base salary ≥ RM 180,000 and substantial experience (MDEC cites ≥7 years in published materials). Always verify current categories, documents, and pass names on mdec.my/mtep — programme details change.

Min. capital

Category-dependent (no single universal founder FD)

Best for: Tech founders and senior tech management who need Malaysia residence tied to building or operating a tech business, not a lifestyle FD programme.

MTEP founder/talent tracks are assessed on tech profile, company, and category rules — not one MM2H-style FD for all. Senior management: MDEC materials cite ≥ RM 180,000 base salary. Confirm exact capital/equity expectations for your MTEP category on mdec.my.

Investment options

  • New entrepreneur category — build/operate a tech venture under MTEP (verify current PVP duration)
  • Experienced entrepreneur category — longer residence pass when you meet MDEC experience criteria
  • Senior management — ≥ RM 180,000 base salary + experience (per MDEC published guidance)
  • Company and product must fit MDEC tech focus areas — confirm eligibility list

Eligibility

  • Fit an MTEP category (New / Experienced / Senior Management or other current streams)
  • Tech business or role aligned with MDEC programme scope
  • Meet salary/experience bars where published for your category
  • Passport, medical, and Immigration Department requirements after MDEC endorsement

Process timeline

  1. 1

    Choose MTEP category

    New vs Experienced vs Senior Management — match your track record and role.

  2. 2

    Apply via MDEC

    Submit MTEP application with company/product evidence per current checklist.

  3. 3

    Immigration pass

    After endorsement, complete Immigration Department pass issuance steps.

  4. 4

    Operate & renew

    Build the venture; track renewal/progress conditions on MDEC/Immigration pages.

Family

Dependent options may be available under Immigration rules for qualifying pass holders — confirm spouse/child work and study rights for your pass type.

Work rights

MTEP-linked passes are intended for building/operating the approved tech activity or role. Do not assume unrestricted employment elsewhere — verify endorsement conditions.

Route to PR

Permanent residence is a separate Immigration process and is not automatic with MTEP. Verify current PR pathways on official Immigration portals.

Route to citizenship

Malaysian citizenship is not a standard MTEP outcome. Naturalisation rules are strict; verify dual-nationality implications.

Pros

  • Dedicated tech-founder programme via MDEC
  • Clearer fit for operators than MM2H lifestyle residence
  • ASEAN cost base with growing digital economy

Watch-outs

  • Category names, durations, and checklists change — re-read mdec.my/mtep
  • DE Rantau is a digital nomad / remote-work style track — not a substitute for local founder ops
  • MM2H and MTEP solve different problems — do not conflate them
MDEC — MTEP
RM 10 million

MTEP Tech Investor

MDEC’s MTEP Tech Investor track is aimed at investors deploying significant capital into Malaysia’s tech ecosystem. Published MDEC guidance cites investment of RM 10 million through a Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)–registered Venture Capital Management Company (VCMC). Treat RM 10 million as the official published floor for this track and re-confirm structure, eligible funds, and residence outcomes on mdec.my/mtep before transferring capital.

Min. capital

RM 10,000,000

Best for: Investors who can place RM 10 million via an SC-registered VCMC under MTEP Tech Investor rules.

Per MDEC MTEP Tech Investor materials: RM 10 million via SC-registered VCMC. Confirm eligible vehicles, lock-up, and pass duration on the official MTEP page.

Investment options

  • RM 10 million investment via SC-registered Venture Capital Management Company (VCMC)
  • Follow MDEC / SC documentation for fund recognition
  • Do not invent informal “startup angel” substitutes for this official track

Eligibility

  • Ability to invest RM 10 million under MTEP Tech Investor rules
  • Investment routed through an SC-registered VCMC as required
  • Meet MDEC application and Immigration pass requirements

Process timeline

  1. 1

    Engage SC-registered VCMC

    Confirm the vehicle is eligible under current MTEP Tech Investor rules.

  2. 2

    MDEC application

    Submit Tech Investor documentation per MDEC checklist.

  3. 3

    Deploy capital & obtain pass

    Complete investment evidence and Immigration issuance steps.

Family

Confirm dependent eligibility on MDEC/Immigration guidance for the Tech Investor pass type.

Work rights

Residence is tied to the investor category — clarify whether day-to-day employment or founding ops are allowed on your specific approval.

Route to PR

Not automatic. Verify Immigration PR options separately.

Route to citizenship

Not a standard Tech Investor outcome.

Pros

  • Published capital floor (RM 10M) for a clear investor track
  • Tied to regulated VC management companies

Watch-outs

  • RM 10 million is a high bar — size only if authentic capital is ready
  • Vehicle must be SC-registered VCMC per published guidance
  • Always re-verify before wiring funds
MDEC — MTEP Tech Investor
Residence — not work rights

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

MM2H (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture / MOTAC) is a long-stay residence programme with tiered fixed deposits and compulsory property purchase by tier. Published tiers include Platinum (USD 1 million FD), Gold (USD 500,000 FD), Silver (USD 150,000 FD), and Special Economic Zone / SEZ variants with lower FD thresholds by age band (commonly cited: USD 65,000 for ages 21–49 and USD 32,000 for age 50+ — verify current MOTAC SEZ rules). Property purchase floors are published by tier (commonly RM 2M / RM 1M / RM 600k depending on tier — confirm official table). Critical: MM2H is primarily a residence / lifestyle programme — it is not designed as day-to-day work authorisation to found and run a local business. Founders who need to operate should look at MTEP or Employment Pass routes.

Min. capital

From USD 150,000 FD (Silver) upward by tier; SEZ lower FD bands exist

Best for: High-net-worth individuals seeking long-stay residence who can meet FD and property conditions — not operators needing founder work rights.

Published MOTAC-style tiers: Platinum USD 1M FD; Gold USD 500k FD; Silver USD 150k FD; plus SEZ FD bands and compulsory property by tier (e.g. RM 2M / 1M / 600k — verify exact current MOTAC table). FD and property rules change — only rely on the official MM2H portal.

Investment options

  • Platinum — USD 1,000,000 fixed deposit (+ property condition per official tier)
  • Gold — USD 500,000 fixed deposit (+ property condition)
  • Silver — USD 150,000 fixed deposit (+ property condition)
  • SEZ — lower FD by age band (verify USD 65k / USD 32k and property rules on MOTAC)
  • Compulsory property purchase thresholds by tier (verify RM amounts on official table)

Eligibility

  • Meet FD, offshore income/liquid asset, and property conditions for the chosen tier
  • Age and dependent rules per current MOTAC MM2H guidelines
  • Medical insurance and other MOTAC/Immigration requirements

Process timeline

  1. 1

    Choose tier

    Size FD + property to Platinum/Gold/Silver/SEZ official tables.

  2. 2

    Apply via MOTAC process

    Follow current MM2H application agents/process on the official portal.

  3. 3

    Place FD & buy property

    Complete financial conditions only after approval steps require them.

  4. 4

    Reside under MM2H conditions

    Do not assume local employment or founder ops are allowed — verify restrictions.

Family

Dependents may be includable under tier rules — confirm ages, FD top-ups, and schooling rights on MOTAC.

Work rights

MM2H is not a substitute for MTEP/Employment Pass. Assume restricted or no day-to-day local employment/founding rights unless MOTAC/Immigration explicitly allow a specific activity — verify in writing.

Route to PR

MM2H is long-stay residence, not automatic PR/citizenship.

Route to citizenship

Not a citizenship programme.

Pros

  • Published FD tiers for long-stay residence
  • Family-oriented lifestyle option in Malaysia

Watch-outs

  • Not a founder work-rights pathway
  • FD + compulsory property raise total capital well above the FD headline
  • Tiers and SEZ rules change — verify MOTAC only
MM2H official portal

Compare pathways

Scan capital, innovation requirements, and fit in one table.

Pathway Min. capital / bar Work / found? Typical first permit Best if you…
MTEP Founders / talent Category-based (senior mgmt ≥ RM 180k salary) Yes — tech ops / role 1 yr (New) / longer (Experienced) — verify Are building a tech company
MTEP Tech Investor RM 10 million via SC VCMC Investor category — verify activity rights Per MDEC/Immigration Can deploy RM 10M into Malaysian tech
MM2H USD 150k–1M FD + property by tier Residence — not day-to-day founder work Long-stay (tier-dependent) Want lifestyle residence, not ops

Route to PR & citizenship

Malaysia separates temporary passes, permanent residence, and citizenship. MTEP and MM2H do not automatically grant PR or citizenship.

Operate vs reside

Choose MTEP (or Employment Pass) if you need to found/work; choose MM2H if you primarily need long-stay residence and can accept work restrictions.

Permanent residence

PR is a separate Immigration Department process with strict criteria — verify official Immigration Malaysia guidance.

Citizenship

Naturalisation is uncommon and heavily scrutinised. Confirm dual-nationality rules for Pakistan and Malaysia.

After you arrive

Operational checklist once the visa is granted.

  1. 1 Complete Immigration pass endorsement / sticker or card issuance
  2. 2 Open a Malaysian bank account suitable for your pass type
  3. 3 If MTEP: register/operate the company (SSM) and meet tax obligations (LHDN)
  4. 4 If MM2H: place FD and complete compulsory property purchase only as instructed
  5. 5 Arrange medical insurance covering Malaysia stay
  6. 6 Register address and keep passport/pass validity tracked
  7. 7 Engage a licensed adviser familiar with MDEC vs MOTAC (do not mix programme rules)

Living costs & runway

Rough monthly estimates for a relocating founder (excluding FD, property purchase, and major capex).

Kuala Lumpur

MYR 4,500 – MYR 9,000 (est.)

  • Housing (1-bed condo) MYR 2,200 – MYR 5,000
  • Food & groceries MYR 800 – MYR 1,500
  • Transport MYR 200 – MYR 500
  • Utilities & mobile MYR 250 – MYR 450
  • Coworking / misc MYR 400 – MYR 800

Penang / Johor (selected)

MYR 3,500 – MYR 7,000 (est.)

  • Housing MYR 1,600 – MYR 3,800
  • Food & groceries MYR 700 – MYR 1,300
  • Transport MYR 200 – MYR 450
  • Utilities & mobile MYR 220 – MYR 400
  • Misc MYR 350 – MYR 700

Pakistan founder checklist

Practical prep before you book consulate appointments or move capital.

  • Decide MTEP (operate) vs MM2H (reside) before paying any agent fees
  • If Tech Investor: confirm SC-registered VCMC and RM 10M capacity
  • If Senior Management: document ≥ RM 180k base salary eligibility
  • If MM2H: size FD + compulsory property for the exact tier on MOTAC
  • Do not use DE Rantau as a local founder operating pass
  • Map tax residency (Malaysia vs Pakistan) before moving capital
  • Re-read mdec.my/mtep and the official MM2H portal before applying

Official sources

Still building from Pakistan?

Strengthen your local company setup before relocating capital or applying.

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