Malaysia Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)

On September 1st, 2022, Malaysia introduced a Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) to attract foreigners to invest in Malaysia and reside in the country for a period of 20 years with a renewal option for a further 20 years.

Similar to that of the Golden Visa initiatives available in Thailand, Singapore, and Portugal. Affluent individuals from countries with diplomatic ties to Malaysia will be able to lodge an application if they meet the programme requirements. Applications are capped at 1% of Malaysia’s population.

This “Residency Through Investment” programme, the first of its kind introduced by the government to drive the country’s economic growth, would be open for applications from October 1st, 2022 through authorised agents.

Why Malaysia

Malaysia is an upper middle-income developing country with:

  • Affordable cosmopolitan and comfortable cost of living
  • Access to modern lifestyle ammenities, technologies and infrastructures
  • Strong stable growing economy with minimal capital flow restrictions
  • Competitive and business friendly market conditions
  • Relaxed property ownership rules for foreigners
  • Regional hub for affordable world-class healthcare and education
  • Strategic geographical location with great connectivity for business and leisure travels
  • Year round warm tropical weather and no natural disasters
  • Friendly multicultural and multi-lingual local population where various Malay, Chinese, and Indian languages are spoken, while practising English as the official business language
  • Large and vibrant expatriate and foreign national community

Malaysia also provides tax advantages such as:

  • Non-taxable offshore income
  • Double taxation treaties with many countries
  • No inheritance tax
  • Offshore tax haven of Labuan

Attractive Features of PVIP

  • There are no age restrictions for PVIP Participants.
  • PVIP Participants are approved for long term residency of 20 years with an option to extend for a further 20 years before expiry (20+20 years).
  • There are no physical presence or minimum stay requirements for PVIP Participants.
  • PVIP Participants are allowed to work and carry out legal business activities in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.
  • PVIP Participants are allowed to study.
  • PVIP Participants are allowed to purchase real estate for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes (subject to state laws) with no distinction from Malaysian citizens.
  • PVIP Participants are allowed to conduct active investments in permitted fields.
  • PVIP Participants can be accompanied by dependants such as spouse(s), child(ren), parent(s), in-law(s), and one foreign domestic helper subject to existing immigration laws.