I though I'd post an Independent Thread on the Sarawak version of the Malaysia My Second Home Program which is different in several ways from the version in the Peninsular Malaysian States. Why you ask? Well, when Malaysia formed Sarawak and Sabah were British Colonies while Malaya had been independent several years. The new members insisted on some conditions as part of the union, including an Independent State Bureaucracy (including Immigration and Tourism) and maintaining their own Constitutional protections from the Rajah Brooke-era.
[Note: This report was written four years ago and there has since been some small revisions in the program that are posted on the Official Sarawak MM2H website, along with a list of agents and application forms]
https://mtcp.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-179- … Forms.html
I just completed the process on February 1st 2018, on my own, without an agent and from arrival/submission of documents it took almost precisely TWO MONTHS. That also included some shut down time in government offices for Christmas and New Years holidays. This would be record time on the Peninsula. I suspect that a well-prepared individual could do it in a month.
It's IMPERATIVE that anyone intending to [live in] Sarawak or Sabah do so at the Immigration offices in those States. You cannot convert your Peninsular MM2H to those states, you would have to reapply in full. Although you cannot transfer your MM2H to Sarawak or Sabah, you CAN do the opposite. For example, someone on the MM2H (Peninsular) cannot buy property in Sarawak. But a Sarawak M2H can do so in the Peninsula. They can reside their whole time in Penang if they so wish, or move to Sabah.
[Correction- December 2019: Sabah appears to be denying Sabah MM2H recipients the privilege of living in the Peninsula. In fact they expect them to establish either a long-term lease or purchase property in the State. They do not allow Sarawak MM2H or Peninsular MM2H to reside long-term in Sabah, either.]
It's difficult to find out information about the Sabah Program, though my understanding is that it largely is the same in terms of requirements and benefits [except one cannot live in other Malaysian states and must reside long-term in Sabah] as the Peninsular programs. One does have to submit all the documents to the Immigration Department for Sabah. One can apply on your own. They have a number of agents that are authorized as well. One benefit...The minimum floor for purchasing a condominium or home is lower than in most of the peninsula.
I can tell you in detail about the Sarawak version...in reality. Some things are different that what they advertise, however.
Unlike the Peninsular version it's definitely a RETIREMENT visa program. With one or two exceptions (if you have school age children in school) it's for a primary applicant 50 years of age or above. As well, with rare exceptions (e.g. a government consultancy) you cannot work in Sarawak.
This was surprising to me as I came entirely decked out with bank slips and 401K forms...UNLIKE the PENINSULA Sarawak doesn't require that you demonstrate proof of ANY liquid assets abroad at ALL.
]FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS]
EITHER OPTION 1] (Pension/Off-Shore Income Option)]
I simply had to show them was 3 months worth of monthly off-shore income (mine were pension warrant slips to my bank, but ANY Pay Slip/Warrant Slip will do). So if you have a Private Pension/Annuity or Off-Shore Salary it is acceptable.
If you are SINGLE the amount of pension/income is RM 7,000 (For married couples RM 10,000). If you take this option you must have 3 Months of payment slips to demonstrate you are already receiving that income. Couples may combine sources of off-shore income to reach RM10.000.
CURRENTLY RM7000 = US$1800 RM10,000 = US$2560
]OR Option 2 (Fixed Deposit Option) ]
This is for people who cannot demonstrate the minimum pension/offshore income levels for Option 1.
Sarawak requires applicants in this path to establish a Fixed Deposit (refundable upon termination of the program) of RM 100,000 for a SINGLE and RM150,000 for a couple.
[Revision: Since September 2020 the Deposits have increased to RM 150,000 for a SINGLE and RM300,000 for a couple]]
CURRENTLY RM 150K = US$38,600 RM300K = US$77,000
Similar rules about the withdrawal as on the peninsula. One can withdraw up to RM80K (single ~ $20,000) or RM160K (couple ~ US$40,000 ) after the second year for housing/apartment purchase, Malaysian-built car (the status of this is unknown), or Medical/Educational purposes. Afterwards one must retain RM70,000/RM140,000 in the account for the time you remain.
If one applies under Option 2 one must specify which local bank branch you are intending to submit the FD. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture will then compose a letter to that bank approving the deposit. You establish the account and then submit the document showing the account has been completed to the Sarawak Ministry of Immigration as part of your application package.
This is different than on the peninsula where one obtains a Letter of Conditional Approval from Immigration first and then makes the Health Exam and FD.
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There are two difficulties in the Sarawak program.
1) One is that one will only be given a maximum of a FIVE-YEAR renewable visa...not 10-Years as advertised. This is supposedly because the Immigration office wants a re-applicant to undergo another health check in 5 years to examine for any communicable diseases and drug abuse.
[Also at the Five-Year extension point the passport will be checked to examine if the Individual is Resident for 15 Days per Year]
I was assured that other ailments would not disqualify the re-applicant. For everyone else it's a formality. "We have never rejected a reapplicant" according to the Asst. Director of Sarawak Immigration. Talking with a few expats on the program they have said it's just a matter of filling out
the forms, giving them another health checkup (which must include blood and urine tests and a
Chest X-Ray @ RM150 signed by a DOCTOR).
Oh and paying the RM90/year visa fee. EXPAT Friends here told me, "Look on the bright side, IF you
had gotten a 10-Year Visa and hate it and leave after 3 years...you'd be out RM630."
The Immigration officer in charge of Sarawak M2H stated that provided one passes the health check and have appropriate FD (if that option is required) "Renewal is just a formality".
2) The second and more tangible problem is that one MUST have a Sarawakian sponsor willing to sign a PROMISSARY document (Stamp Fee of RM10 at the Tax Office) to provide for cover the Security Bond IF the applicant (YOU) is for some reason thrown off the program (for secretly working, dealing drugs, establishing a covert political party, etc.) [/b][This restriction has changed since September 2020- Sarawakian-based Agents are now allowed][/b]
The bond PROMISE varies...from RM300 for Americans and Canadians (along with Colombia nad much of Sub-Saharan Africa)...down to RM200 for Singaporeans.
http://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main … rates.html
I quizzed the Asst. Director of Immigration who stated that they had no issue if a landlord acted as the sponsor and took a deposit for the bond, or if there was a contract between the sponsor and applicant.
AGENTS:Sarawak Immigration clearly states "Agents and Middlemen are not allowed". But apparently there are four "approved agents" on the Federal government website. Several of these are actually defunct in Sarawak and their businesses have now drifted into other areas. These seem to be from a time when the Silver-Hair program existed and Sarawak barred agents sometime afterwards
http://www.mm2h.gov.my/index.php/en/our … red-agents [Insert Sarawak into the State window]
Why this restriction exists isn't clear, but there are several "underground agents" out there...and they charge a substantial fee for simply making an introduction to a "sponsor".
But you can do the ENTIRE APPLICATION on your own, IF you can find a Sarawakian sponsor. In my view you are largely going to provide all the same information to an agent as you would if you were filling out the paperwork yourself. The only benefit is that they will find you a sponsor, who will likely get a small percentage of the fee that you pay. Since the sponsor exists to provide a layer of security "this person knows the applicant and votes for their good behaviour" a sponsor acquired through an agent doesn't really do this.
Personally I think that the sponsor requirement doesn't do what it is supposed to do (more security in the process) and simply increases the level of criminality, and embezzlement of applicants.
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Another oddity is that while you have to be PRESENT in Sarawak to complete the process, you cannot come in on a TOURIST PASS. This apparently applies only to some countries (I believe Commonwealth are exempt). You must actually have a Single-Entry Visa issued from the consulate/embassy in your home country (Cost there US$6). Oh dear, does that mean I have to fly back to the USA for a six dollar visa and fly back again? No, there was a "fix"...I could buy a $6 Single-Entry Visa at the immigration office (Hooray!!!). The problem is that there is something called the "Journey-Performed Fee" in addition. That was a whopping RM500. (Boo...US$130). My advice is to get the regular Single Entry Visa With Reference (VDR) before you come. You may need to submit your sponsor letter and explain why you can't enter on a tourist pass. BTW This applies on the peninsula as well if you apply internally. But there may not be anyway around it.
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As I mentioned it's a 5 Year Multi-Entry Visa awarded.
My total cost was RM 150 for Health Check-Up, RM 50 for various notarizations/legal affidavits, RM10 for the stamp tax, RM480 for the Social Visit/ME Visa (5 Years), and RM500 for the darned Journey-Performed FEE.
Total cost @RM1200 (US$300) plus some Uber fares for me and my sponsor. Half of that was the avoidable JP Fee. Done in 2 months. You could knock RM500 ($130) off that if you can somehow avoid the JP fees.