SBH-MM2H — Sabah My Second Home Programme

A long-term residency pass for Sabah, Malaysia — administered independently by the Sabah state government with its own Silver, Gold and Platinum categories, separate from the federal MM2H programme and from Sarawak's S-MM2H.

Age 25+

Minimum age to apply

30 Days/Year

Minimum cumulative stay in Sabah

3 Tiers

Silver (5+5 yrs), Gold (15 yrs), Platinum (20 yrs)

Sabah Only

Residency restricted to Sabah state

RM600K+

Minimum property purchase (Silver tier)

Sabah-MM2H (also written SBH-MM2H or Sabah MM2H) is Sabah's own long-stay visa programme for foreign retirees and long-term residents. Because Sabah holds its own autonomy over immigration and border control, this programme runs independently from Malaysia's federal MM2H (Peninsular Malaysia) and from Sarawak's S-MM2H — with its own three-tier Silver, Gold and Platinum structure, financial requirements, and property rules specific to Sabah.

Turquoise water chalets in Sabah, Malaysia — Sabah's coastline — turquoise waters and overwater chalets off Borneo

Mount Kinabalu summit, Sabah — Mount Kinabalu — Malaysia's highest peak

Bornean orangutans in Sabah — Bornean orangutans, native to Sabah's rainforests

Rafflesia flower, Sabah — Rafflesia — the world's largest flower

Proboscis monkey, Sabah Borneo — Proboscis monkey, found only on Borneo

Known as "Land Below the Wind" for sitting south of the East Asian typhoon belt, Sabah occupies the northern tip of Borneo and is home to the island's iconic wildlife — among many reasons long-stay applicants are drawn to the state beyond the programme's financial terms.

Important notes before you apply

Sabah-MM2H holders may only reside in Sabah. Travelling to Peninsular Malaysia requires prior approval from Sabah Immigration — though this is a simple, same-day approval process in practice.
Applicants are permitted to bring a domestic helper (maid), based on current practice.
Selling your property is not allowed within the first 10 years. However, it may be sold after 5 years, provided a new property of equivalent or higher value than the original minimum requirement is purchased.

01Eligibility & Who Can Apply

The programme is open to individuals from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Malaysia, with the exception of Israel, Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Applicants must be at least 25 years old, and must maintain a minimum cumulative stay of 30 days per year in Sabah across all three categories.

Dependents may include a spouse, parents, parents-in-law, and children under 21 years old (or older if still a full-time student with no employment). Medical insurance is required for the principal applicant and dependents alike.

The Sabah-MM2H pass is transferable to the surviving spouse, who may continue holding it until the end of the original programme term — 5+5 years for Silver, 15 years for Gold, or 20 years for Platinum.

02Silver Category

A one-off processing fee of RM3,000 (non-refundable), with RM1,500 for subsequent renewals. Applicants must show proof of monthly income of RM10,000 (single applicant) or RM15,000 (with dependents).

A Fixed Deposit of RM500,000 placed with a Sabah-MM2H panel bank in Sabah, with 50% withdrawal allowed after one year for residence purchase, education, or medical expenses. Applicants must also purchase and own a high-rise property in Sabah worth at least RM600,000. Employment is not permitted under this category. The Multiple Entry Visa is valid for 5+5 years and is renewable.

03Gold Category

The same RM3,000 processing fee (RM1,500 for renewal) applies. Applicants must place a Fixed Deposit of USD 500,000 with a Sabah-MM2H panel bank, and purchase a residence in Sabah worth at least RM1,000,000. As with Silver, employment is not permitted, and the pass is valid for 15 years, renewable.

04Platinum Category

Platinum carries a higher one-off processing fee of RM200,000 (RM1,500 for renewal), a Fixed Deposit of USD 1 million with a Sabah-MM2H panel bank, and a minimum property purchase of RM2,000,000 in Sabah. Unlike Silver and Gold, employment is permissible under Platinum. The Multiple Entry Visa is valid for 20 years and is renewable.

05Property & Financial Rules

Yes, across all three categories, a maximum withdrawal of 50% of the principal Fixed Deposit value is allowed after one year of participation, for the purpose of purchasing a residence, education, or medical expenses in Malaysia.

Selling is not permitted within the first 10 years of ownership. From year 5 onward, a sale is allowed only if you purchase a replacement property of equivalent or greater value than the minimum required for your category.

06Renewal & Existing Holders

Existing MM2H holders whose pass indicates Sabah are restricted to residing in Sabah only, the same as new Sabah-MM2H applicants. Renewals for existing holders are assessed based on the criteria that applied at the time of their original approval.

Sabah-MM2H Categories at a Glance

Category	Processing Fee	Fixed Deposit	Min. Property	Visa Validity	Employment
Silver	RM 3,000 (RM1,500 renewal)	RM 500,000	RM 600,000	5+5 years	Not allowed
Gold	RM 3,000 (RM1,500 renewal)	USD 500,000	RM 1,000,000	15 years	Not allowed
Platinum	RM 200,000 (RM1,500 renewal)	USD 1,000,000	RM 2,000,000	20 years	Permissible

This page summarises the official Sabah-MM2H requirements. Visit the Sabah Tourism Board Sabah-MM2H portal → or the official Sabah state government site → for further verification.

Considering Sabah as your second home?