Can Foreigners Buy Property in Malaysia?
Yes. Foreigners can buy most homes in Malaysia, as long as the price meets the state's minimum and the state approves the purchase. If you only have a minute, these are the rules that matter most; the rest of this guide explains each one.
- No visa needed. You don't need MM2H or any long-stay visa to buy.
- Your own name or a company. Both work, and every purchase needs its own approval from the state.
- What you can buy: condos, serviced apartments and landed homes (some states restrict landed).
- What you can't: Bumiputera-reserved units (set aside for Malaysians of Malay and indigenous heritage), Malay reserve land, and low- and low-medium-cost housing.
- Minimum prices differ by state: RM1 million in Kuala Lumpur, RM2 million in Selangor's main areas.
- Approval takes time: usually weeks to a few months.
- Stamp duty on the transfer is a flat 8% for foreign buyers. On a new launch it's only due at handover.
- Selling later: the buyer usually holds back 7% of the price from your sale proceeds for the tax office, and you can claim back any excess.
- A home isn't a visa. Owning property doesn't give you the right to live here; that's a separate application.
Worth saving: this list is the whole guide in one place. Everything below is the detail behind it.
Do Foreigners Need MM2H to Buy Property?
No. MM2H is a long-stay visa, not a condition for buying. This is the most common misunderstanding we hear, and it stops a lot of people before they even start. MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) is a long-stay visa. It isn't a condition for buying property. A foreigner can buy on a normal passport, as long as the property meets the state's rules and the state approves the purchase.
The reverse is also true: buying a home doesn't come with the right to live in Malaysia. If you'd like to stay long-term, you apply for a long-stay pass such as MM2H separately. Many families do both, but they're two different processes.
Can I Buy in My Own Name or Through a Company?
You can buy as an individual or through a company. Either way, each purchase needs its own approval from the state authority. There's no one-time licence that covers future purchases.
One detail catches people out: a foreign-controlled company counts as a foreign buyer, even if it's registered in Malaysia. Setting up a local company doesn't get you around the approval or the minimum price.
What Can Foreigners Buy, and What Can't They?
Most condos, serviced apartments and landed homes. Not Bumiputera-reserved units, Malay reserve land or low-cost housing.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| You can buy | Condos and serviced apartments; landed homes such as terraces and bungalows (some states restrict these). Freehold and leasehold are both fine. |
| You can't buy | Bumiputera-reserved units; Malay reserve land; low-cost and low-medium-cost housing; agricultural land (generally not approved). |
In a new condo, a share of units is usually reserved for Bumiputera buyers. Those units aren't available to foreigners, so when you're shortlisting, it's worth asking which units are open to you.
What Is the Minimum Price for Foreigners in Each State?
It depends on the state: RM1 million in Kuala Lumpur, RM2 million in Selangor's main areas, and as low as RM500,000 for condos in Melaka and Seberang Perai. These are thresholds for foreign buyers, not the price of any particular project.
| State | Minimum price for foreigners |
|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | RM1 million (condos and landed homes alike) |
| Selangor (Zones 1 and 2, the main areas) | RM2 million; individual-title landed homes aren't open to foreigners |
| Penang Island | RM1 million for strata (condos); RM3 million for landed |
| Seberang Perai (Penang mainland) | RM500,000 for strata; RM1 million for landed |
| Johor | RM1 million |
| Melaka | RM500,000 for strata; RM1 million for landed |
We've only listed states where our sources agree. For states such as Kedah, Kelantan, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak, the published figures conflict, so please check the current rule with a lawyer before you commit. State rules also change from time to time; always go by the latest official guideline.
How Does the Buying Process Work?
- View and reserve. Choose your unit and pay the booking fee to hold it.
- Sign the Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA). Your lawyer handles the contract and the paperwork that follows.
- Apply for the state's consent. Your lawyer submits the foreign-buyer application. On a new launch, the developer provides the documents and supports the process.
- Wait for approval. This usually takes weeks to a few months, and the application fee differs by state.
- Loan and payments. Foreign buyers can usually borrow up to 80% of the price, depending on the bank and your income documents. On a new launch, you pay in stages as construction progresses.
- Transfer and handover. Stamp duty on the transfer (the memorandum of transfer, or MOT) is a flat 8% for foreign buyers, whatever the price. On a new launch it's only due at handover, which can be years after you sign.
For the full cost picture, see how much cash a foreigner needs to buy in Malaysia. If you're buying from abroad, this guide covers which steps you can do remotely. Our stamp duty guide explains how Malaysians are taxed by comparison (progressive rates up to 4%).
Can I Take My Money Home When I Sell?
Yes. After tax, you can send the sale proceeds home through a licensed bank; Bank Negara Malaysia places essentially no limits on this. Here's how money moves at each stage.
When you buy: send the purchase money through proper banking channels and keep a record of every transfer. Please also follow the foreign-exchange rules of the country you're sending from; some, including mainland China, limit how much can leave each year.
When you sell: if the seller isn't a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident, the buyer usually holds back 7% of the price from the seller's proceeds and pays it to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). If your actual Real Property Gains Tax is lower, you can apply to get the difference back. For foreign owners who aren't Malaysian permanent residents, the tax is 30% of the gain if you sell within five years, and 10% from the sixth year.
After the sale: the proceeds, after tax, can be sent home through a licensed bank. Bank Negara Malaysia places essentially no limits on non-residents taking their money out.
Three Common Myths
"Buying a home gives me residency." It doesn't. To live here long-term, you apply for a long-stay pass such as MM2H separately.
"I need MM2H before I can buy." You don't. MM2H is a visa, not a condition for buying.
"If I buy through a company, I skip the approval." A foreign-controlled company, even one registered in Malaysia, is treated as a foreign buyer and needs approval too.
FAQ
No. MM2H is a long-stay visa, not a condition for buying. A foreigner can buy on a normal passport, as long as the property meets the state's rules and the state approves the purchase.
RM1 million, for condos and landed homes alike, and each purchase needs approval from the state. Other states set their own thresholds; Selangor's main areas, for example, require RM2 million.
Usually up to 80% of the price, depending on the bank and your income documents. Banks revise their foreign-buyer policies often, so get a loan pre-approval before you commit.
A flat 8% on the transfer document (the MOT), whatever the property value, under the 2026 budget. On a new launch, it's only due when the unit is handed over and transferred. Malaysians pay progressive rates of up to 4%.
No. A foreign-controlled company, even one registered in Malaysia, is treated as a foreign buyer and needs the same approval and minimum price.
No. Owning a home doesn't give you the right to live here. For that, apply separately for a long-stay pass such as MM2H.
Yes. After tax, the sale proceeds can be sent abroad through a licensed bank; Bank Negara Malaysia places essentially no limits on non-residents repatriating funds. The buyer usually holds back 7% of the price from your sale proceeds for the tax office, and you can claim back any amount above your actual tax.
Updated September 2026. Rules, bank policies and fees change, and every purchase is different. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice, so please check the details with your lawyer and bank before you sign.