How To Become A Malaysian Permanent Resident (PR)?
Malaysia’s PR system is strict with approvals; granted on a case-by-case basis by the Immigration Department. There is no automatic right to PR, even after many years in Malaysia. However, certain pathways increase your chances.
1. Eligibility Pathways for Malaysian PR
A. Long-Term Residents (5+ Years on a Valid Pass)
- Must have lived in Malaysia legally for at least 5 years under a long-term pass e.g. Employment Pass, Dependent Pass, Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)
- Must not have violated immigration laws.
- Must show financial stability (consistent income, tax payments).
- Must have good conduct (no criminal record).
B. Marriage to a Malaysian Citizen
- Must be legally married to a Malaysian for at least 5 years.
- Must have been living in Malaysia on a ‘Spouse Visa’ or LTSVP.
- Must prove a genuine marriage (joint bank accounts, property, children’s birth certificates).
C. Professionals & Highly Skilled Workers
- Experts in key fields (e.g., IT, medicine, engineering) may qualify under:
- Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) – for top professionals.
- Professional Visit Pass (PVP) – for specialists.
- Must have a job offer from a Malaysian company with high salary (usually RM 15,000+ per month).
D. Investors & Business Owners
- Must invest at least RM 2 million (+- USD 470,000 as at June 3,2025) in Malaysia.
E. Children & Former Malaysians
- Children born in Malaysia to at least one PR/citizen parent may qualify.
- Stateless children born in Malaysia may apply under special programs.
- Former Malaysian citizens who renounced citizenship can reapply for PR.
2. Approval Chances & Key Factors
a) Low Approval Rate: Only a few numbers of PRs are approved yearly.
(i) Factors That Help:
- Long-term stay (10+ years).
- Strong financial standing (property, investments).
- Family ties (Malaysian spouse/children).
- Professional expertise (doctors, engineers, scientists).
(ii) Reasons for Rejection:
- Criminal record.
- Incomplete documents.
- Short stay duration.
- Lack of strong ties to Malaysia.
3. After Getting PR
(a) Rights:
- Live in Malaysia indefinitely.
- Work without an Employment Pass.
- Buy property (some restrictions apply).
(b) Limitations:
- Cannot vote in elections.
- Not eligible for Bumiputera privileges (e.g. discounted housing).
- Must renew MyPR card every 5 years.
4. Final Tips to Increase Approval Chances
- Maintain a clean record (no overstaying, legal issues).
- Show strong ties (buy property, invest, have Malaysian family).
- Apply after 10+ years (longer stays improve chances).
5. Opportunity, Development and Alternative
In short, despite it’s low approval rate, once the PR holder has reached 10–12 years as a PR, you may have an opportunity to apply for citizenship. In a latest development (as at January 2025), foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens will now only have to wait three (3) years before being eligible to apply for PR, down from the earlier five (5) years requirement. Further, the Home Ministry said that it would take six (6) months to process new PR applications.
Alternatively, you may also opt for Malaysia Premium Visa Program (PVIP); a 20-year residency with renewal of another 20-year residency. It’s not PR, but can lead to it. Effectively, with 40-year residency in Malaysia, it’s ‘feel’ like PR (though officially not). Besides PVIP, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa holders may also have a considerable chance for PR. While MM2H is not a direct PR pathway, long-term residents may apply PR after many years of reside in Malaysia i.e lived in Malaysia for 10+ years under MM2H and show strong ties (property ownership, investments, family in Malaysia etc).
Would you need to know further on a specific visa/pass type and which one suits you the best? Let’s reach our immigration team today!