Western Muslims Look Into Moving To Malaysia Through MM2H - An interview with Nikkei Asia.

LONDON -- British Mortgage broker-turned-social media influencer Saira Hayati appeared settled in England, where she had her own company and property interests. But as a Muslim, she had long considered relocating to a more halal-friendly environment, provided it offered stability and decent infrastructure.

She became more determined in October 2023, when the war in Gaza prompted global protests and deepened her disenchantment with the West.

Someone recommended Malaysia; by December, she was visiting and in February 2024, she moved to the Southeast Asian nation. As she documented her journey, others got in touch and followed.

"Everybody thought it was coconuts and palm trees, like I did. Then we get there and you hit [Kuala Lumpur], and it's like, 'wow,'" Hayati told Nikkei Asia, explaining how she found everything relatable.

What began as one or two enquiries a month soon turned into weekly queries and meet- and-greets in her mosque with people visiting from overseas and wanting to find out more about living in Malaysia.

Hayati has since packaged her experience into an ebook, linking readers to visa specialists, property agents and company-formation lawyers. Around 70% of the hundreds of enquiries she has had came from Muslims in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. who resonate with her content. However, she added that as her influence has spread, more non-Muslims are getting in touch.

"People want just peace and happiness and sunshine and nice people around," she offered, adding that the lower cost of living and taxes, and family-oriented culture serve as additional pulls.

Hayati's experience reflects a broader shift, several relocation and visa firms told Nikkei.

The businesses said interest in relocating to Malaysia has surged, particularly over the last two years, among people in the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Australia and some European countries, and particularly among their Muslim residents. Reasons include the political and economic situation in their countries of origin as well as the lure of Malaysia's amenable infrastructure.

"Earlier, Malaysia was often explored alongside other Southeast Asian retirement options. More recently, it's been evaluated more deliberately as a long-term relocation base, including by working professionals and families, not just retirees," explained Mark Damsgaard, founder of Ireland-based Global Residence Index, which specializes in golden visas worldwide.

"It's about optionality. Malaysia's appeal, especially to professionals, lies in its ability to combine affordability, infrastructure and cultural familiarity in a way that feels stable and predictable. In uncertain global environments, that combination carries weight."

Faraz Khanji, a visa agent for Malaysia-based AIMS Consulting, describes a dramatic increase in Muslim clientele from Europe and the U.S. seeking property ownership in Malaysia.

Since 2024, roughly 80%-85% of his enquiries, which now number 15-20 a week, have come from Europe and the U.S. and have come from Muslims. Before that, the proportion was closer to 40%-50%. Khanji says he frequently hears concerns from clients about growing far-right extremism and the need for a more religious environment, especially for those with children.

Travelers pass through immigration at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. © AP

Ismail Mussa from the Malaysia-based visa agency My Expat MM2H said that in his 17 years of doing this business, Muslim families coming from the U.K., U.S., Canada and France had been very few but now they are seeing a surge.

"Now, young Muslim families want to move, since COVID, but [we] have seen an exceptional increase in the last two years since the war in Palestine started," he said, noting that people were probably disappointed in their own governments.

Mussa estimated that in 2024 and 2025, around 80% of queries -- which now number 20-30 a day -- came from Western countries and three in five of them cited religious or cultural reasons for moving. Over 2022 and 2023, about 60%-70% were from Western countries with roughly a fifth of these citing religious reasons.

Khanji and Mussa's conclusions are not at odds with other findings; in particular, discrimination, hate crimes and far-right protests against rising immigration have prompted Muslims in France and the U.K. to leave or consider leaving, according to academic studies and opinion polls.

A similar sentiment could be bubbling in the U.S. According to Mussa, whereas his firm used to receive 20-30 enquiries from the country's nationals per year they are now seeing around 20 per week.

While religion isn't tracked for visa enquiries or applications by the agencies, several other relocation-supporting businesses -- including Exodus MM2H & PVIP, Nomadic Expert, 1Achieverse, Jasajutera Development, and Asia Home MM2H -- said the increase in the last few years from "Western" countries is notable, although the patterns differ. All agreed there was growing interest from people seeking more religious or cultural alignment.

Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs did not respond to requests for comment.

There are various long-term stay routes for non-Malaysians. The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) scheme and the Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) require the involvement of an agency and significant investment, offering visa options lasting up to 20 years, with the option to renew, similar to golden visa initiatives seen in Thailand and Singapore.

Recent reforms to the MM2H scheme, including tiered options and reduced minimum stay requirements, have made relocation more flexible, lowering the psychological and financial barrier for families testing a move.

For Hayati, her mind is made up.

"What I would like is a visa, a permanent one," she says, although permanent residency is reserved for exceptional cases. "I think I'd have to do something quite a bit more than what I have done, and have it traceable and trackable to say that I know I've had an impact on [them]."

Original News : https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/immigration/more-western-muslims-look-into-moving-to-malaysia-agents-say Page 1 of 6

More Western Muslims look into moving to Malaysia, agents say - Nikkei Asia 16/04/2026, 8:29 AM