Immigration to Malaysia for Ukrainians

Another type of residence permit in Malaysia is the Malaysian ‘My Second Home’ (MM2H) program, which offers accommodation and free travel to the holder and their family members for up to ten years.

You are eligible for the MM2H program if you can show that you have sufficient independent financial resources to cover your stay.

If you are under 50, you must have:

• Access to assets of at least 135,000 American dollars; or at least 10,000 American dollars per month from a non-Malaysian source

If you are over 50, you must have:

• Access to assets of at least 95,000 American dollars; or at least 3,000 American dollarsper month from pension/other income
• You must also open a Malaysian bank account and deposit at least 40,000 American dollars. After one year, you can withdraw 13,000 dollars for usage in Malaysia, but must keep 27,000 dollars in the account at all times.

The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) residence permit program has been working since 2002. Subject to compliance with all requirements, applicants and their family members receive a multiple-entry resident visa for 10 years. In fact, this visa is a type of residence that entitles the applicant and his family to reside in Malaysia.

Main advantages

• Residence in Malaysia for 10 years (can be extended).
• Possibility to include spouse(s) and unmarried children under 21 in the application.
• Opening and registering your own business in the country.
• Ability to purchase any number of residential properties starting at MYR 1 million (USD 235,000).
• Taxes are levied only on income earned in Malaysia.
• Absence of a mandatory requirement for residence in the country of PMP support.

Conditions for obtaining PMP Malaysia

A visa issued under the MM2H program does not provide for employment in the country and is not a basis for obtaining permanent residence and citizenship

Applicants aged 35 and above must prove their financial ability to live in Malaysia without employment.

Before submitting an application

Applicants must demonstrate assets of at least MYR 1.5 million (USD 350,000) and provide proof of monthly income of at least MYR 40,000 (USD 10,000).

After pre-approval of the application, the candidate must:

• Open a bank account.
• Get a medical certificate from any private hospital or clinic.
• Purchase a health insurance policy from any licensed insurance company in Malaysia.

The main applicant must open a fixed deposit account and invest at least MYR 1 million (USD 235,000) plus MYR 50,000 (USD 12,000) for each dependent family member.

After the end of the year of deposit, MYR 500,000 (USD 115,000) can be withdrawn from the account to cover agreed expenses for property purchase, children's education or medical services in Malaysia only.

A minimum balance of MYR 500,000 (USD 115,000) must be maintained in the account during the entire stay in Malaysia under the MM2H program.

After receiving the conditional visa approval letter, the applicant must come to Malaysia to open an account, undergo a medical examination and purchase health insurance. The cost of a medical examination is approximately MYR 200 (USD 50) and the cost of health insurance is MYR 1,500 (USD 350) per year.

After providing a deposit certificate, a health insurance policy and a medical report, the applicant receives a residence visa.

A long-term social visit pass to Malaysia is issued to foreigners who wish to stay in Malaysia for more than six months.

It is issued to family members of Employment Pass holders or spouses of Malaysian citizens, as well as foreigners who need medical treatment in Malaysia.

However, the long-term social visit pass to Malaysia is most often issued to spouses/family members of Malaysians or foreign residents of Malaysia, hence it is known as the Malaysia Spouse Visa.

The Malaysian Long Term Social Visit (Spousal Visa) is available for:

• Foreign citizens who are spouses of Malaysian citizens
• Family members of Malaysian employment passport holders: common-law spouse, children over 21 (they must not be married), parents or in-laws
• Foreign nationals seeking medical care in Malaysia and 1 accompanying person

Requirements to Malaysia for a long-term social visit

When applying for a long-term social visit pass to Malaysia, applicants must submit the following documents to the Immigration Department of Malaysia:

• Two copies of visa application forms IMM.12, IMM.55 and IMM.38
• Complete copies of the applicant's passport, including personal information pages, previous visas and cover.

Documents required for the spouse of a Malaysian citizen:

• Photocopy of the marriage certificate
• Malaysian Sponsor Application Form
• Security Bond with a revenue stamp of 10.00 ringgits
• 2 passport-size photographs of the spouses
• Statutory declaration of marital status (proof that it is still valid)
• Photocopies of children's birth certificates (if any)
• Photocopy of the birth certificate
• Photocopy of an ID card
• Wedding photos
• Residential address of a Malaysian citizen
• If a Malaysian citizen is employed: a cover letter from the employer of the Malaysian citizen
• If the Malaysian citizen is self-employed (one of the following):
• Trade license
• ROC form
• Form J
• Certificates of income of a Malaysian citizen.

Documents required for family members of Employ Pass holders:

• A cover letter from the Employ Pass holder's employer
• Letter of permission from the Employ Pass holder's employer
• 2 recent passport size photographs of the applicant
• Marriage certificate (if any)
• Children's birth certificates or adoption documents
• Documents for storage, if any
• Complete photocopies of passports of all applicants
• Employ Pass owner approval letter
• For elderly parents who cannot take care of them in their home country:
• Personal Bond Badge with 10.00 ringgits revenue stamp
• Statutory declaration from a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident
• Identity card of the sponsor
• Security Bond with a revenue stamp of 10.00 ringgits

The long-term social visit pass is issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

A Malaysian citizen/Employment Pass owner must submit an application along with the required documents to the Immigration Department or a Malaysian Immigration Office prior to the foreigner's arrival.

If the applicant is the spouse of a Malaysian citizen, they must be present with the Malaysian when applying for a long-term social visit at the Immigration Department.

Visa to Malaysia with reference to long-term social visit

Before a foreigner can travel to Malaysia, they must obtain a Visa with a Reference (VDR) from the nearest Malaysian Embassy/Consulate.

To apply for a Malaysian visa with background information, they will need a visa approval letter from the Immigration Department in advance.

All foreign nationals traveling to Malaysia for non-tourism purposes must apply for a VDR.

Necessary documents for obtaining a visa to Malaysia with a certificate:

• Visa application forms IMM.12, IMM.55 and IMM.38 Visa With Reference application form Two recent photographs of both spouses/applicants Copies of passports of both applicants and spouses Identity card of Malaysian sponsor/spouse A copy of the marriage certificate Legal declaration of marital status Security bond with 10.00 ringgits revenue stamp Children's birth certificate, if available Confirmation of the sponsor's financial income
• Visa application forms IMM.12, IMM.55 and IMM.38
• Visa With Reference application form
• Two recent photographs of both spouses/applicants
• Copies of passports of both applicants and spouses
• Identity card of Malaysian sponsor/spouse
• A copy of the marriage certificate
• Legal declaration of marital status
• Security bond with 10.00 ringgits revenue stamp
• Children's birth certificate, if available
• Confirmation of the sponsor's financial income

Spouse’s visa validity period in Malaysia.

A long-term social visa is issued for a period of at least six months and a maximum of five years. It can be extended until the expiration date.

Working with a long-term social visa of Malaysia

Family members of Employment Pass owners cannot work only on a long-term social pass. If they find an employer, they must apply for their own employment permit.

Work permit for a spouse of a Malaysian citizen

Spouses of Malaysian citizens can work in Malaysia without having to change their long-term social pass to an employment pass.

Instead, they must obtain an employment permit in their passport from the Immigration Department of Malaysia, which is issued free of charge.

To obtain an employment  permit, a spouse must submit an application together with a letter of appointment or company registration certificate, a marriage certificate and a valid long-term social pass to the Visas, Passes and Permits Department of the Immigration Service or to the nearest state immigration office.

If the owner of a long-term social passport of Malaysia obtains a work permit, he is allowed to work in his profession.

Permanent residence in Malaysia can be obtained through an entry permit to Malaysia.

The Malaysian government issues entry permit (PR Malaysia) to certain categories of foreign nationals.

If you are granted permanent residence in Malaysia, you will receive an Entry Permit and Identity Card (MyPR).

The following categories are eligible for an entry permit (Malaysia PR):

Investors

If you are a high net worth individual, you can obtain a PR in Malaysia by depositing at least USD 2 million in a Malaysian bank. However, you will not be able to withdraw the money for at least five years.

In addition, your spouse and minor children will also be eligible for permanent residence in Malaysia after five years.

Professionals

If you are a highly qualified professional, you may be eligible for PR in Malaysia if you also meet the following requirements:

• You have worked for at least three years in a Malaysian government agency or private company.
• You are recommended by a reputable Malaysian agency related to your field of work.
• You receive a certificate of good conduct in Ukraine.

Experts

If you are an individual with skills and talents recognized as "world-class" by any international organization, you are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Malaysia if you are as well:

• Get a recommendation from a reputable Malaysian agency relevant to your industry.
• Get a certificate of good conduct in Ukraine.

Wife of a Malaysian citizen

If you are married to a Malaysian citizen, you may be eligible for permanent residence in Malaysia if you have been residing in Malaysia with a Long Term Social Visit Pass for at least five years.

Through a point system

Malaysia also offers foreign nationals an alternative path to permanent residence if they do not meet any of the above categories.

If you have been living in Malaysia with a Malaysian work permit for several years and meet some other conditions to qualify.

Malaysia's point-based system for Malaysian PR adds your points through how high you score in the following categories:

• Age
• Your qualifications
• Length of your stay in Malaysia
• How familiar are you with the Malaysian Institute
• The value of your investment
• Your work experience in Malaysia
• Your knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia

To apply, you must score at least 65 points out of 120.

For example, you will get a higher score if you are between 36 and 60 years old than if you are younger or older.

PhD scores are higher than master's or bachelor's degrees, etc.

You can calculate your points using the Entry Clearance Point System calculator on the website of the Malaysian Immigration Department.

Requirements for PR in Malaysia

If you decide to apply for permanent residence in Malaysia, you must go to the Malaysian Immigration Department in Putrajaya and inform them. They will give you all the necessary forms and a list of documents that you have to collect.

Once you have all the necessary documents from the checklist, you must submit them to the Department of Immigration.

The required documents may vary depending on your specific case, but include:

• Application form (form IMM.4)
• Two passport-size photos of you
• Two passport-size photos of your sponsor
• Personal cover letter
• Recommendation of the relevant agency in Malaysia (for the categories of experts and professionals.
• Marriage decree letter (Surat Akuan Perkahwinan) for spouses of Malaysian citizens
• Photocopies of the employment record book (if available)
• Photocopies of marriage certificate (if available)
• Photocopies of your children's birth certificates (if available)
• A full photocopy of your passport
• Any additional documents that support your application, such as proof of funds, etc.
• In addition, you must also have a sponsor in Malaysia. A sponsor can be any Malaysian citizen over the age of 21. When you apply for your entry permit, both you and your sponsor must be present.

If you intend to apply to PR Malaysia under the Professional or Expert categories, you must obtain a recommendation from one of the following agencies related to your area of expertise:

• For healthcare and medicine: MINISTRY OF HEALTH
• For the industry, services and manufacturing sectors: Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) or Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA)
• For the agricultural sector: Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industry
• For transportation (air, land, sea): Ministry of Transportation
• For the higher education sector: Ministry of Higher Education
• For science, technology and ICT: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
• For sports: Ministry of Youth and Sports or Sports Council of Malaysia
• For banking and finance: Central bank
• For the investment and capital sector: Security Commission
• In the field of information, communication, culture and art: Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture