Verified 11 September 2026
Sarawak MM2H vs Philippines SRRV: fees and rules
Two routes, side by side. Each name below links to its full requirements page.
- Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) Social Visit Pass (Sarawak MM2H)
- Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) is the Sarawak state government's own long-stay pass, run by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) in Kuching rather than by federal MOTAC, and valid for residence in Sarawak only. Since 1 January 2025 it requires a RM500,000 fixed deposit at a Sarawak panel bank in the main applicant's name plus proof of RM10,000 a month in pension or offshore income (RM15,000 with a dependent), or RM100,000/RM200,000 in savings if you have neither, with a one-time non-refundable RM5,000 processing fee, a minimum age of 30, and Malaysian-valid medical insurance. The pass runs 5 + 5 years, obliges you to spend at least 30 days a year in Sarawak, and requires RM250,000 to stay in the fixed deposit for as long as you hold it.
- Special Resident Retiree's Visa (Philippines SRRV)
- The Philippine Retirement Authority offers the SRRV Classic to principal applicants aged 40 and over. Deposits run from USD 15,000 to USD 50,000 depending on age and pension status, and the visa allows an indefinite stay with multiple entry.
| Sarawak MM2H | SRRV | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | malaysia | philippines |
| Stay per entry | Multiple-entry social visit pass with no per-entry day cap — you come and go for the life of the pass. The binding number runs the other way: you must spend at least 30 days a year in Sarawak, and MTCP treats that as a condition for extension and renewal. | Indefinite |
| Total validity | Ten years in practice, issued as 5 + 5: an initial five-year multiple-entry social visit pass, then an extension covering years 6–10 granted on passport validity and a fresh RB II medical report. Continuing beyond ten years means filing a new application, submitted six months before expiry. | Indefinite while the deposit is maintained |
| Government fee | RM5,000 — One-time, non-refundable processing fee paid to MTCP Sarawak, introduced 1 January 2025. Charged on acknowledgement of the application, before any decision. Excludes the personal/security bond (RM200–RM2,000 depending on nationality, RM2,000 for US and Canadian citizens), agent fees, and the Sarawak medical examination. | $1,500 — PRA processing fee for the principal applicant, payable in USD or the peso equivalent. A USD 360 annual fee also applies (principal plus two dependents) |
| Income required | RM10,000 — Per month. RM10,000 for a single applicant, RM15,000 for an applicant with a dependent. Accepted as either a government-approved pension (pension letter plus three months of payments) or offshore employment income (employment confirmation plus three months of payslips and bank statements). This is required in addition to the RM500,000 fixed deposit, not as an alternative to it. | None |
| Savings required | RM100,000 — Closing balance over the latest three months: RM100,000 for a single applicant, RM200,000 with a dependent. Open only to applicants who have no offshore income or pension, and explicitly 'Subject on Panel Approval' — a discretionary fallback rather than a guaranteed route. Held separately from and in addition to the RM500,000 fixed deposit. | None |
| Deposit required | RM500,000 — RM500,000 fixed deposit in the main applicant's name at an S-MM2H panel bank in Sarawak (Affin, Maybank, Alliance, Hong Leong, UOB, HSBC). One deposit covers the family — it is not doubled for a spouse. After one year you may withdraw up to 50%, and only for a house, a car, medical expenses or children's education in Sarawak; RM250,000 must stay in the account for the life of the pass. | $15,000 — for applicants 50+ with a pension. Four tiers apply: 50+ with pension USD 15,000; 50+ without USD 30,000; aged 40–49 with pension USD 25,000; aged 40–49 without USD 50,000 |
| Minimum age | 30 | 40 |
| Health insurance | Required | Not required |
| Processing time | Around three months from submission to approval when the file is complete, per licensed agents. MTCP publishes no service standard, and the clock only starts once the RM5,000 processing fee is paid and every document is in. | Not published by PRA. Bank certification reaches PRA 3-5 banking days after remittance at a private bank, or 7-10 working days at DBP |
| Apply from | Inside Sarawak, through the S-MM2H Management and Online Application System (MOAS) at service.sarawak.gov.my, submitted by a Sarawak-based personal sponsor or an S-MM2H licensed agent. The medical report must be done at a Sarawak facility and endorsed by a Sarawak government doctor, so an in-person trip is unavoidable. | Through the Philippine Retirement Authority. PRA asks for the original passport with a valid tourist visa, and the deposit must be remitted from a bank abroad to a PRA-accredited bank |
Choose the Sarawak MM2H if
- The presence requirement is 30 days a year in Sarawak, against 90 cumulative days a year for the federal MM2H tiers — the lightest stay obligation of any Malaysian long-stay programme.
- No compulsory property purchase. Federal MM2H Silver forces a RM600,000 buy within a year of endorsement; Sarawak leaves it optional.
- One RM500,000 deposit covers the family unit rather than scaling per person, so a couple pays the same as a single applicant on the deposit line.
- Parents can be brought in as dependants, not just a spouse and children under 21 — and disabled children have no age limit.
- Half the deposit can be recycled into a Sarawak house, car, medical care or school fees after year one, so it is not entirely dead capital.
- Limited part-time work is permitted — up to 20 hours a week in education, banking/securities, manufacturing or medical, with State Authority approval — plus minority (up to 49%) partnership in a joint venture with a local partner.
- Cost of living in Kuching and Miri sits well below Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Johor Bahru.
Choose the SRRV if
- Indefinite residence with unrestricted entry and exit, and no re-entry permits or repeated extension fees.
- Open from age 40, ten years earlier than Thailand's O-A retirement visa.
- No health insurance requirement, in contrast to Thailand's O-A.
Quick answers
- What does each cost, the Sarawak MM2H or the Philippines SRRV?
- The Sarawak MM2H fee on record is RM5,000. The Philippines SRRV fee on record is $1,500. Fees are in each country's own currency or the amount the post quotes, so compare them with that in mind.
- How much money does the Sarawak MM2H need compared with the Philippines SRRV?
- Sarawak MM2H: income RM10,000, savings RM100,000, deposit RM500,000. Philippines SRRV: deposit $15,000.
- Which of the Sarawak MM2H and the Philippines SRRV requires health insurance?
- Sarawak MM2H: required. Philippines SRRV: not required.
- How long can I stay on the Sarawak MM2H and on the Philippines SRRV?
- Sarawak MM2H: stay per entry Multiple-entry social visit pass with no per-entry day cap — you come and go for the life…, total validity Ten years in practice, issued as 5 + 5: an initial five-year multiple-entry social visit…. Philippines SRRV: stay per entry Indefinite, total validity Indefinite while the deposit is maintained.
Keep reading
Sarawak MM2H last checked 11 September 2026; SRRV last checked 3 October 2026. Sources are listed on each visa page.