MM2H Platinum and PVIP: the property requirement decides it
These are separate programmes run by separate ministries, and only MM2H Platinum is a fair comparison, because it is the only MM2H category that permits employment.
The deciding difference is not the deposit. It is that PVIP requires no property purchase, while MM2H Platinum compels a residence of RM2 million or more that may not be sold for ten years. PVIP instead requires proof of income, which MM2H does not ask for in any category.
| MM2H Platinum | PVIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture | Immigration Department, Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Fixed deposit | USD1 million | RM1,000,000 with a licensed bank in Malaysia |
| Income requirement | None stated | RM40,000 per month, or RM480,000 annually |
| Property purchase | Compulsory, RM2 million or above, no sale for 10 years | None |
| Participation fee | RM200,000 principal; no fee for dependants | RM200,000 principal; RM100,000 per dependant |
| Deposit withdrawal | 50% after approval | 50% after six months |
| Pass | 20 years, multiple entry | Up to 20 years, multiple entry |
| Employment | Permissible | Allowed to be employed and to study |
| Age | 25 and above | All age categories |
| Lodged through | An MM2H licensed company | An Authorised PVIP Application Agency |
MM2H figures read from the MOTAC Platinum category page; PVIP figures read from the Immigration Department's official PVIP FAQ, both on 2026-08-24. The PVIP FAQ also states a net-worth alternative to cash-based proof; we have not reproduced that figure here because it does not read consistently in the source, and quoting a threshold we cannot state with confidence is the error this site exists to correct. Check the FAQ directly.
Who each one suits
PVIP suits high earners who do not want Malaysian property. The income test is demanding at RM40,000 a month, but nothing forces you to buy a house or to keep it for a decade, and the deposit unlocks halfway after six months rather than on approval.
MM2H Platinum suits capital holders who want the property anyway. If you intended to buy a Malaysian home regardless, the compulsory purchase stops being a cost and starts being a plan you were making. Dependants are also materially cheaper: PVIP charges RM100,000 each, MM2H charges nothing.
Common questions
- What is the difference between MM2H and PVIP?
- The decisive difference is property. MM2H Platinum makes you buy a residence worth RM2 million or more and forbids selling it for ten years. PVIP has no property purchase requirement at all. PVIP instead asks for proof of income of RM40,000 a month, which MM2H does not ask for in any category.
- Is PVIP cheaper than MM2H Platinum?
- On locked capital, yes. PVIP asks for a RM1 million fixed deposit; MM2H Platinum asks for USD1 million plus an RM2 million property. The participation fee is RM200,000 on both, but PVIP charges a further RM100,000 for each dependant while MM2H charges nothing for dependants.
- Can I work on PVIP?
- PVIP pass holders are allowed to be employed and to study in Malaysia. On the MM2H side only the Platinum category permits employment or business, which is why Platinum is the only fair comparison against PVIP.
- Which programme has an age limit?
- PVIP is open to all age categories. MM2H requires applicants to be 25 or above for Silver, Gold and Platinum, and 21 or above for the SEZ category.
- How do I apply for PVIP?
- Through an Authorised PVIP Application Agency appointed by the Government of Malaysia. There is no direct submission to Immigration offices. The Immigration Department states that a decision typically takes 30 working days where the documents are complete.
Full detail on MM2H Platinum, the step up from Gold, or what MM2H is if you are starting from scratch. MM2H applications go through one of the 242 licensed companies; PVIP does not use them.