How much money do you need for MM2H in 2026? 

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

This is the question most people are too nervous to ask their agent directly. They worry the answer will disqualify them, or that the agent will judge them for not knowing. So they Google it at midnight instead.

We are going to answer it properly here. Every number. Every fee. What you get back and what you do not. No surprises.

First, the most important thing to understand

Most people look at the MM2H numbers and think they are spending all that money. They are not. The biggest cost, the fixed deposit, is your own money sitting in your own bank account in Malaysia. It earns interest every year. 

The actual money you spend and do not get back is much smaller than the headline number suggests. We will show you exactly what that is.

The full cost breakdown for all three MM2H tiers

Note: All RM figures are approximate based on current exchange rates. USD fixed deposit amounts are converted at roughly RM 4 per USD. Always confirm current rates before applying.

What do you actually lose, permanently?

Here is the honest answer. The only money you do not get back from MM2H is the professional fee you pay your agent. At Lugen, our fee is all-in. That means one number covers everything: all government visa fees, your medical check-up, and your first year of Malaysian health insurance. Nothing is added on top afterwards.

• Silver tier: RM 40,000 for the principal applicant, all-in.
• Gold tier: RM 55,000 for the principal applicant, all-in.
• Platinum tier: RM 70,000 for the principal applicant, all-in.
• SEZ/SFZ tier: RM 40,000 for the principal applicant, all-in.
• Each dependent (spouse, children, parents): RM 8,000 excl tax per person, all-in. Same coverage included.

The fixed deposit is yours. The property is yours. Those are not costs. They are assets you own in Malaysia. The only money that does not come back is the professional fee above, and from year two onward your annual insurance renewal, which you arrange directly with the insurer.

Why we publish our fees openly: Most agents make you get on a call just to find out what they charge. We think that is a waste of your time. If our numbers work for you, great. If they do not, we will tell you honestly and point you in the right direction.

What about the property? Do I have to buy immediately?

Yes, MM2H requires you to purchase a residential property in Malaysia. But there is a window. You have one year from the date your visa is stamped in your passport to complete the purchase.

That means you can arrive, rent somewhere, get to know the neighbourhoods, decide whether you prefer Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or Johor Bahru, and then buy when you are ready. You do not have to walk off the plane with a property already picked.

Important: Each state in Malaysia sets its own minimum purchase price for foreigners. In Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, the minimum is often RM 1 million and RM 2 million, higher than the national MM2H Silver minimum of RM 600,000. Lugen will tell you the exact figure for the area you want to live in before you apply.

Can I use the fixed deposit for anything?

Yes, partially. You can withdraw up to 50 percent of your fixed deposit for approved expenses. Those are:

• Your property purchase in Malaysia
• Medical expenses in Malaysia
• Your children’s school or university fees in Malaysia
• Tourism in Malaysia

So if you put in USD 150,000 as your Silver fixed deposit, you could withdraw up to USD 75,000 toward your property. The remaining USD 75,000 stays in the account until you leave the programme.

What does the fixed deposit earn in interest?

Malaysian bank fixed deposit rates vary, but as a rough guide they typically sit between 3 and 4 percent per year. On the Silver tier deposit of USD 150,000, that is roughly USD 4,500 to USD 6,000 a year in interest, paid directly to you. You can spend that interest however you like. It is not locked. Have to apply for partial withdrawal.

On the Platinum tier deposit of USD 1,000,000, the annual interest at the same rate would be USD 30,000 to USD 40,000. For some clients, that interest income alone covers a significant portion of their living expenses in Malaysia.

What about bringing my family? Does that cost more?

Good news here. MM2H does not charge extra participatation fee for dependants. Your spouse, children, and parents can be included on your application at no additional government cost. As our fees are inclusive of all the visa fees, medical check-up and first year insurance

An example: what does Silver MM2H actually cost a retired British couple?

Let us go through the options together for a couple from Bristol, both in their early 60s, applying for MM2H Silver in Penang.

Money they place in Malaysia but keep as their own assets

• Fixed deposit: USD 150,000 (roughly GBP 112,000 at current rates). Earns approximately 3.5 percent interest per year.
• Property in Penang: approximately RM 1,000,000 (roughly GBP 187,000). They own this property. It may appreciate in value.

Money they spend and do not get back

• Lugen all-in fee for principal applicant (Silver): RM 40,000 (roughly GBP 7,500). Includes all government visa fees, medical check-up, and first year insurance.
• Participation Fee (One-Off to the government) : RM1,000 (roughly GBP 190)
• Lugen fee for one dependent spouse: RM 8,000 excl tax (roughly GBP 1,500). Same coverage included.
• Rough total fee for the couple: RM 49,000 (roughly GBP 9,200). No hidden extras.
• From year two onward: annual insurance renewal only, arranged directly with the insurer.

So the total rough cost of setting up their MM2H Silver life in Malaysia through Lugen is RM 49,000 for the couple, roughly GBP 9,200. Everything else stays in their name.

What if my budget does not quite reach these numbers?

Be honest with yourself here, and be honest with your agent. If the Silver tier fixed deposit of USD 150,000 is a stretch, MM2H is probably not the right move right now. Trying to squeeze into a programme with money you cannot comfortably commit will cause stress throughout the process and during your time in Malaysia.

There are other options depending on your situation, including the MM2H Special Economic Zone pathway in Johor Bahru, which has lower entry requirements. Talk to us and we will tell you what actually fits.

Our honest advice: Do not apply for MM2H until you have the fixed deposit amount sitting comfortably in your account and you can still pay your bills without touching it. The money is not gone but it is committed. Make sure that commitment feels easy, not tight.

Not sure if the numbers work for your situation?  Book a free call with Lugen. Bring your situation, your questions, your family details. We will give you a straight answer on what actually fits your life.