The Premium Visa, explained properly
Twenty years, full work rights, and no minimum stay, for about USD 267,000 — roughly a fifth of MM2H Platinum. The sting is a RM 200,000 fee you never see again.
What you need
- RM 1,000,000 savings deposit. Half comes out after six months, reduced from a year in the March 2026 changes.
- RM 40,000 a month income — RM 480,000 a year. Since March 2026 you can also satisfy this with onshore income or net worth rather than income from overseas alone.
- RM 200,000 fee for you, RM 100,000 per dependant. Dependants can take a ten-year pass at RM 50,000 since March 2026.
- Minimum age 18, no upper limit.
- No minimum stay. No compulsory property. Buy any type if you want to.
Why almost nobody talks about it
The RM 200,000 fee is real, you never see it again, and it looms very large. Take-up was dismal at first — around 57 applications by December 2023. So it gets dismissed early in most people's research and never revisited.
But look at what you actually tie up:
| Premium Visa | MM2H Platinum | MM2H Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total tied up | ~USD 267,000 | ~USD 1.44M | ~USD 722,000 |
| Money gone for good | ~USD 44,000 | ~USD 444,000 | ~USD 222,000 |
| How long | 20 years | 20 years | 15 years |
| Can you work? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Days here a year | None | 90 if under 50 | 90 if under 50 |
| Must buy a home? | No | RM 2,000,000 | RM 1,000,000 |
Same term as Platinum. Same work rights. No forced house. No minimum stay. Roughly a fifth of the money. The one thing Platinum has that this doesn't is the absence of an income test.
The no-minimum-stay point matters more than it looks
Because there's no required number of days, you can choose to spend fewer than 182 days a year here and stay non-resident for Malaysian tax. Every MM2H tier under 50 forces you to 90 days, which is fine, but PVIP gives you the choice outright. How the 182-day line works.
Who it suits
High earners who want flexibility. Work rights, no property you must buy, no days you must be here, and full control over your tax position. If you can evidence RM 40,000 a month, price this before you look at Platinum — the difference is over a million dollars.
Who should look elsewhere
- You can't show RM 40,000 a month. This is the one hard gate. Look at Silver or Gold, which don't test income.
- You're keeping costs down. RM 200,000 gone forever is more than Sabah's entire deposit, which you get back.
- You work online for foreign clients. DE Rantau costs RM 1,080.
Common questions
What are the PVIP Malaysia requirements?
A RM 1,000,000 savings deposit, proof of RM 40,000 a month in income, and a RM 200,000 non refundable participation fee for the main applicant. It grants a twenty year visa with full work and business rights, no minimum stay requirement and no compulsory property purchase. The minimum age is 18 with no upper limit.
Is PVIP cheaper than MM2H?
It is dramatically cheaper than MM2H Platinum for the same rights: around USD 267,000 tied up against USD 1.44 million, with no minimum stay and no forced property purchase. It is more expensive than MM2H Silver, but Silver grants only five years and no work rights.
Does PVIP have a minimum stay requirement?
No. There is no minimum number of days. That also means holders can choose to spend fewer than 182 days a year in Malaysia and remain non resident for Malaysian tax purposes, which no MM2H tier under 50 allows.
Can PVIP holders work in Malaysia?
Yes, full work and business rights. Along with MM2H Platinum it is one of only two long stay visas that permit it, and it does so for roughly a fifth of Platinum's total capital commitment.
Is the RM 200,000 PVIP fee refundable?
No. The RM 200,000 government fee is not refundable, and neither is the RM 100,000 per dependant. The RM 1,000,000 savings deposit is returned, with half withdrawable after six months since the March 2026 changes.
What changed for PVIP in March 2026?
Three things. Half the deposit became withdrawable after six months rather than a year, the income requirement can now be satisfied with onshore income or net worth rather than income from overseas alone, and dependants became able to take a ten year pass at RM 50,000.
Checked in July 2026 against the official MM2H portal and state programme rules. Ringgit converted at USD 1 = RM 4.50, which moves. Rules change — check before you commit any money.