PVIP Malaysia: the 20-year visa that high earners from the UK and Australia are choosing in 2026

Published by Lugen MM2H | Reading time: 6 minutes | Updated April 2026

You have probably been reading about Malaysia for a while. Maybe a colleague moved there. Maybe you did the maths on your UK tax bill versus living somewhere with no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and a cost of living that is genuinely half of London. And now you are wondering: is there a proper, government-backed visa that makes this work long term?

There is. It is called PVIP. And it was built specifically for people like you.

What is PVIP?

PVIP stands for Malaysia Premium Visa Programme. The Malaysian government launched it in 2022 to attract high-net-worth individuals, investors, and senior professionals who want a long-term base in Malaysia with none of the restrictions that come with a standard visa.

The simplest way to think about it: PVIP is Malaysia saying to successful people around the world, ‘come live here, bring your money, bring your family, work if you want, and we will give you 20 years of certainty.’

PVIP at a glance

Here are the numbers you actually need, converted into currencies that make sense for UK and Australian readers:

Why are UK and Australian professionals choosing Malaysia right now?

We speak to people from the UK and Australia at Lugen. The conversations always start with lifestyle, children’s education and end it with tax. Here is what drives the decision:

The tax situation

Malaysia only taxes income that is earned in Malaysia. If your income comes from outside Malaysia — your UK pension, Australian investments, freelance clients in Europe, dividends from overseas companies — none of that is taxed in Malaysia. For a high earner, this alone can be worth six figures a year.

No minimum stay means real flexibility

This is the part that surprises most people. PVIP has no minimum number of days you must spend in Malaysia. You can be in Kuala Lumpur for three months, fly to London for a project, spend Christmas in Sydney, and come back in February. Your visa stays valid.

This is completely different from MM2H, which requires 90 days per year. For busy professionals who still travel constantly, PVIP is the only visa that actually fits their life.

You can actually work

Most long-term visas in Southeast Asia stop you from working. PVIP does not. You can be employed, run a company, take on clients, and make active investments in Malaysia. All of it is legal under PVIP. This makes it the right choice for anyone who is not fully retired and still earns an active income.

The lifestyle is genuinely excellent

Kuala Lumpur has world-class restaurants, private hospitals that match anything in London or Sydney, fast internet, and a huge English-speaking expat community. For UK and Australian families, the adjustment is far smaller than most people expect. The schools are excellent. The food is extraordinary. And the weather, for most Europeans, is a serious upgrade.

What does the RM 1 million fixed deposit actually mean?

A lot of people see that number and assume they are handing over a million ringgit to the government. That is not what happens.

The money sits in your own account, in your own name, at a licensed Malaysian bank. The government cannot touch it. You earn interest on it every year. After six months, you can withdraw up to 50 percent of it for approved expenses like buying a property, paying medical bills, or funding your children’s education in Malaysia.

Think of it as moving part of your savings from a bank in London or Sydney to a bank in Kuala Lumpur. It is still your money.

Can I bring my family?

Yes. Under PVIP you can include:

• Your spouse
• Your children who are unmarried and under 25 years old
• Your parents and parents-in-law
• One foreign domestic helper

Each dependent requires a one-off fee of RM 100,000. That sounds significant, but compared to the cost of UK school fees or a second visa application in another country, most families see it as reasonable.

PVIP or MM2H: which one is right for you?

This is the question we get asked most at Lugen, and the honest answer depends on two things: how much you earn, and whether you need to work.

• If your offshore income is above RM 40,000 a month or RM480,00 per year and you want to work or run a business in Malaysia, PVIP is for you.
• If you are fully retired and your monthly income is lower, MM2H Silver is simpler and more affordable.
• If you are not sure where you land, talk to us. That conversation is free and takes 20 minutes.

Heads up: We cover the full MM2H vs PVIP comparison in Day 3 of this blog series with a side-by-side breakdown. If you are deciding between the two, read that post before you do anything else.

How does the application process work?

You cannot apply for PVIP directly. All applications must go through a government-authorised agent. This is not just a technicality. The government put this rule in place because PVIP applications that are poorly prepared get rejected, and a rejection wastes months of your time and money.

At Lugen, here is how we handle it:

• First call: we check your eligibility honestly. If PVIP is not the right fit, we tell you straight away.
• Document preparation: we tell you exactly what you need and review everything before submission. No surprises at the counter.
• Submission and follow-up: we submit on your behalf and chase the government for updates so you do not have to.
• Endorsement in Malaysia: you fly in for three to five days once conditional approval is granted. We arrange everything on the ground.

The whole process from first conversation to visa stamp typically takes three to six months.

Is PVIP worth it?

For a high-income professional from the UK or Australia who wants long-term flexibility, low taxes on overseas income, and the ability to keep working, PVIP is one of the most powerful long-term visa options available anywhere in Southeast Asia right now.

The numbers work. The lifestyle is there. And unlike some other countries that offer similar programmes, Malaysia has a large, established English-speaking expat community that makes the transition genuinely straightforward.

The question is not really whether PVIP is worth it. The question is whether you are ready to make the move.

Thinking about PVIP? Book a free 20-minute call with the Lugen team. We will tell you honestly whether you qualify, what it will cost, and how long it will take. No pressure, no jargon.