Expats On My Second Home Malaysian Visa Still Refused Entry

Retired expats living in Malaysia under the ‘My Second Home” visa who were overseas at the time of the country’s lockdown are still disallowed from returning.

The Malaysian government closed its borders to all foreigners on March 18 at the same time as enforcing the movement control order, and compulsory quarantine was brought in for all returning citizens on April 3. As regards expat retirees on the ‘Malaysia my Second Home’ visa, according to a government spokesperson they are still not to be allowed re-entry at the present time.

According to a senior minister, many of those who were out of the country at the time the lockdown commenced now wish to return, but the government has not yet decided to allow them to enter. When they are allowed entry, they will need to stay in compulsory quarantine at a government-designated centre for 14 days.

When it was first introduced, the MM2H visa programme was welcomed by international retirees as well as entrepreneurs, as its aim was to encourage long-stayers due to its renewable 10-year multi-entry validity. To qualify, applicants over 50 years of age need to purchase a property priced at upwards from RM500,000, maintain a Malaysian bank account with RM150,000 and have a monthly income of no less than RM10,000.

Those expats on the MM2H visa who are now refused entry to the country and have no idea whether or when the ban will be lifted are taking to social media for advice, but it seems the Malaysian government are sticking to their guns on the prohibition. Some 48 thousand expats have received the visa, although it’s not known how many were outside the country when the Residence by Investment visa ban was applied.