Information, not advice: Second Home Visa Indonesia is an independent editorial guide — not the Government of Indonesia, not the Directorate General of Immigration, and not a law firm or licensed adviser. The Second Home Visa is a non-working visa; the IDR 2 billion deposit is IDR-set and FX-exposed, rules change by regulation, and figures are "last verified June 2026" — confirm at the e-Visa portal (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) and with licensed Indonesian immigration/tax counsel before acting. We never promise approval. If you engage a partner we introduce, that partner may pay us a referral fee at no cost to you.
Indonesia second home visa vs Malaysia MM2H is a straight trade-off between cost, commitment and how “settled” you want to become in each country. Both are long-stay visas; both need proof of wealth; both restrict work more than glossy marketing suggests.
This guide walks through the core facts on Indonesia’s Second Home Visa and Malaysia’s Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) schemes, using official regulations and public program rules, not agent sales copy. It’s information, not advice; no one can pay to change what we publish; if you proceed with our partner they may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.
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## Indonesia Second Home Visa vs Malaysia MM2H: quick definition
**Indonesia Second Home Visa (SHV)**
A 5-year or 10-year limited stay visa for foreigners with at least **IDR 2,000,000,000 [VERIFY]** (about USD 130k–140k; last formally confirmed in late 2023) in an Indonesian bank **OR** qualifying luxury property in Indonesia. Created by **Permenkumham 22/2023** and related circulars, it is a *residence* visa with **no general right to work** in Indonesia.
**Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)**
A long-stay program that offers a renewable 5–10 year social visit pass to foreigners meeting higher liquid asset and income thresholds, plus a fixed deposit in a Malaysian bank. Program rules changed significantly in 2021 and again via state-level variants (e.g. Sarawak, Sabah) with different thresholds. MM2H is usually classed as *residence* with limited or conditional economic activities, not an open work visa.
Both are often used by retirees, remote earners and families comparing **Indonesia vs Malaysia long stay visa** options.
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## Atomic facts: MM2H vs Second Home Visa side by side
Regulations change; always re-check close to application. Deposit and income figures for MM2H are rounded ranges from official and government-affiliated sources, last broadly consistent through early 2026.
| Feature | Indonesia Second Home Visa | Malaysia MM2H (national) |
|---|---|---|
| Core legal basis | Permenkumham 22/2023 + Circular SE-IMI-0740.GR.01.01/2022 | Federal MM2H guidelines (rev. 2021) + state variants |
| Stay length | 5 or 10 years | Up to 5–10 years (pass duration and renewal vary incl. by state) |
| Proof of funds / deposit | IDR 2,000,000,000 [VERIFY] term deposit in Indonesian bank OR qualifying property ownership/use | Fixed deposit in Malaysian bank; currently typically RM 500k–1m range, plus liquid assets and income tests |
| Age requirement | No formal minimum age in the regulation | Historically 35+ for federal program; some state variants differ |
| Work rights | No right to work or run a business that generates Indonesian-source income without a separate permit/KITAS | No general work right; limited options (e.g. some part-time or directorships) under specific conditions only |
| Dependants | Spouse and children can join on dependent stay permits | Spouse and children generally allowed as dependants, subject to rules |
| Tax residence trigger | 183+ days in Indonesia in any 12-month period risks Indonesian tax residency under general rules | 183+ days in Malaysia in a year typically triggers Malaysian tax residency |
| Immigration category | Limited stay visa (Izin Tinggal Terbatas) | Social Visit Pass with long-stay features |
| Property purchase link | Yes: certain property ownership can substitute for cash deposit (subject to value/type rules) | Historically some incentives to buy property; not a formal substitute for financial conditions |
| Target groups | Long-stay foreigners with wealth: retirees, global professionals, long-stay Bali/Lombok/Jakarta residents | Retirees and higher-net-worth long-stayers wanting Malaysia as a base |
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## Who the Indonesia Second Home Visa suits best
Indonesia’s Second Home Visa is regulated to attract **wealthy long-stay foreigners**, not budget nomads.
### Typical profiles
– **Retirees** wanting 5–10 year stability in Bali, Jakarta, Bandung, Lombok, etc., and who already have (or can place) **IDR 2bn [VERIFY]** in an Indonesian bank or qualifying property.
– **Location-independent professionals** who earn abroad (consulting, tech, finance) and want Indonesia as a base but don’t need a local salary.
– **Families long-staying in Indonesia** for international schools or lifestyle, able to meet the deposit/property threshold.
– **Property owners** who already purchased in a qualifying price band and want their real estate to “carry” their immigration status.
### What the regulation actually says (in simple terms)
Pulled from **Permenkumham 22/2023** and immigration circulars (translated to plain English/plain Bahasa):
– You must show:
– **Proof of funds**: term deposit of at least **IDR 2,000,000,000 [VERIFY]** in an Indonesian state-owned or private bank, *or*
– **Property proof**: ownership/use-right of qualifying luxury residential property meeting value criteria set by Ministry of Agrarian Affairs/ATR.
– Visa is multiple-entry, valid **5 or 10 years**.
– You cannot perform activities that generate **Indonesian-source income** unless you separately qualify and obtain a work permit/KITAS under other regulations.
– You can bring dependants (spouse/children) on linked permits.
– Application can be onshore or offshore, using the online immigration system.
Nothing in the law promises approval. Discretion sits with **Ditjen Imigrasi**.
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## Who Malaysia MM2H suits best
Malaysia’s MM2H has gone through several tightening rounds. In broad strokes, it now targets:
– **Upper-middle to high-net-worth individuals** willing to place a sizable **fixed deposit in ringgit**.
– Retirees who prefer English-speaking environments and relatively lower on-the-ground costs (outside KL prime).
– **Long-stay families** prioritising international schools and English-medium universities.
Federal MM2H currently revolves around:
– **Liquid assets and monthly offshore income tests** (public sources cite minimum offshore monthly income in the five-figure RM range).
– **Fixed deposit** in a Malaysian bank (commonly RM 500k–1m depending on age/category).
– A requirement to maintain part of the deposit throughout the stay.
Several **state-level MM2H variants** (Sarawak, Sabah) offer lower thresholds and slightly different rules. Those are still Malaysian immigration, but administered with state conditions layered on top.
Program specifics are subject to revision; MM2H has already seen significant recalibration in 2021–2023.
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## Indonesia vs Malaysia long stay visa: 6 key differences
### 1. Deposit and wealth requirements
**Indonesia Second Home Visa**
– A single, headline figure: **IDR 2,000,000,000 [VERIFY]**.
– Either:
– Term deposit at an Indonesian bank, or
– Qualifying property ownership/use-right (Hak Pakai, etc.) meeting value thresholds.
– Deposit is **tied to the visa**, not a tax or fee. You still own the money/property, but it must remain in place as a condition of stay.
**Malaysia MM2H**
– Typically **three financial tests**:
1. Minimum liquid assets (cash/savings/investments).
2. Minimum offshore monthly income.
3. MM2H **fixed deposit** in a Malaysian bank (RM 500k–1m band in most current references).
– Portions of the deposit may be withdrawable after a set period for house purchase, education or healthcare, while maintaining a minimum balance.
**Takeaway:**
Indonesia’s SHV is simple but chunky: one big number (IDR 2bn [VERIFY]). MM2H is more layered but can be friendlier if most of your wealth/income is already in foreign currency and you’re comfortable parking RM long-term.
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### 2. Duration and travel flexibility
**Indonesia**
– **5-year or 10-year** visa, with multiple entries.
– Can be used as a base for regional travel; you can be outside Indonesia for extended periods as long as the permit remains valid and conditions (deposit/property) are maintained.
– Extensions or conversion paths are regulated but still relatively new; policy practice is evolving.
**Malaysia**
– Federal MM2H typically gives **5–10-year** social visit passes.
– Multiple entries allowed; exit and re-entry are normal.
– You must maintain the MM2H deposit and meet any in-country presence rules if they are introduced in future revisions.
In practice, both programs function as **multi-year, multi-entry** residencies, not permanent residency.
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### 3. Work rights and what “no work” really means
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of **mm2h vs second home visa**.
#### Indonesia Second Home Visa: no Indonesian-source income
Regulations and official Q&A emphasise:
– **No right to be employed** by an Indonesian company under Second Home status.
– **No right to run a business that generates local revenue** (restaurant, shop, local consulting, villa rentals in your own name, etc.) without separate licensing and a different immigration status (e.g. Investor KITAS).
– Indonesia allows:
– Managing **offshore income**: remote consulting clients abroad, investment portfolio, dividends from non-Indonesian companies, etc.
– Passive ownership of certain assets (e.g. shares in an Indonesian company) but **not** actively working in that company without the appropriate work permit.
Plain Bahasa summary:
“Second Home itu izin tinggal, bukan izin kerja. Boleh punya penghasilan dari luar negeri, tapi tidak boleh kerja dan terima gaji di Indonesia tanpa izin kerja terpisah.”
#### Malaysia MM2H: conditional, limited activities
Under MM2H:
– The pass does **not** give a blanket right to work.
– Limited possibilities exist in past/current policy, for example:
– Retirees over a certain age working part-time (e.g. up to 20 hours per week) in approved sectors.
– Serving as a company director or advisor under specific conditions.
– Every such activity is **subject to separate approval** and is not automatic.
If you want full local employment rights, both countries push you toward **employment or investor visas**, not Second Home/MM2H.
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### 4. Tax: 183-day rule and global income
Immigration and tax are separate systems, but they intersect.
#### Indonesia
– General rule: **183+ days** physically in Indonesia during any 12-month period risks making you an **Indonesian tax resident** under Income Tax Law.
– Tax residents are, in principle, taxable on **worldwide income**, with relief via double tax treaties where applicable.
– Indonesia introduced a **“territorial for foreigners” carve-out** for certain new tax residents under specific conditions (e.g. certain foreign-source income may be exempt for a limited period), but the detail is technical and not automatic for every Second Home holder.
#### Malaysia
– 183+ days in a calendar year generally triggers **Malaysian tax residency**.
– Malaysia traditionally taxes **territorial income** (Malaysian-source). Foreign-source income was historically exempt if remitted, though recent policy debates have added nuance and partial clawbacks in certain cases.
– MM2H holders are not automatically tax residents; the trigger is still actual days on the ground.
For both countries, the practical steps are:
1. Track **days present** each year.
2. Speak to a **qualified tax advisor** familiar with Indonesia or Malaysia plus your home-country rules.
3. Avoid assuming “long-stay visa = tax-free.”
We can connect you with vetted tax and immigration partners if you plan your trip and share your situation on WhatsApp.
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### 5. Families, schooling and everyday life
Both programs work for families; the details feel different on the ground.
#### Indonesia SHV for families
– Spouse and children can hold **dependent stay permits** linked to the main Second Home holder.
– Indonesia has:
– International schools in Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya, Bandung and other hubs.
– Lower day-to-day costs in many areas vs. Western capitals, but imported goods and international schools can be expensive.
– Bahasa Indonesia is easy to learn at a basic level; English is widely used in Bali and expat areas, more limited elsewhere.
#### Malaysia MM2H for families
– MM2H historically promotes itself as family-friendly:
– Dependants for spouse, minor children, sometimes parents.
– Good access to international and private schools, especially around Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor and Kota Kinabalu.
– English is widely spoken in business and education.
– Healthcare is often cited as a strong point, with many MM2H families using private hospitals and clinics.
The better fit often comes down to where you already feel “at home” culturally — Bali/Canggu/Ubud vs Penang/KL, for example.
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### 6. Property, investment and “anchor” status
#### Indonesia Second Home Visa tied to property
One design goal of SHV (explicit in policy discussion, implicit in property alternative rules) is to:
> Encourage foreigners to become long-term residents via **high-value property or bank deposits**, not short-term rents.
Highlights:
– You can use **qualifying property** instead of the IDR 2bn [VERIFY] cash deposit, subject to value and title type.
– This is separate from the **Investor KITAS** route, where you invest in a company and work as a director.
– Property markets like Bali, Lombok and parts of Jakarta’s suburbs are common anchors.
#### Malaysia MM2H and property
– MM2H doesn’t replace its fixed deposit with property, but it often includes:
– The ability to **withdraw a portion** of your MM2H deposit for house purchase, while keeping a minimum balance.
– Access to certain **thresholds for foreign property purchase** (price minima differ by state).
– MM2H is often used by people buying condominiums or landed homes in Penang, Johor or around KL.
For pure “asset-parkers”, Indonesia’s direct property-to-visa link can be attractive, while Malaysia’s structure is more “deposit first, property second.”
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## Application experience: centralised vs fragmented
### Indonesia Second Home Visa application
– **Where**: Online via official immigration portal and Indonesian missions, plus onshore conversion routes in some cases.
– **What you’ll need** (high-level; details in our dedicated guide):
– Passport with sufficient validity.
– Bank letter showing **IDR 2bn [VERIFY] deposit** *or* notarised property documents.
– Proof of funds origin if requested (anti–money laundering checks).
– Basic biodata, CV, and supporting documents for dependants.
– **Processing time**: Varies; official targets exist but actual practice depends on workload and completeness. No guarantees.
We cover step-by-step requirements in our main pillar:
Indonesia Second Home Visa: Requirements, Deposit and Process
### Malaysia MM2H application
– Historically handled by:
– MM2H One-Stop Centre and authorised agents.
– For state programs, relevant state tourism/immigration departments.
– Core steps:
– Financial pre-screening (assets, income).
– Security vetting.
– Conditional approval letter, followed by:
– Arrival in Malaysia.
– Opening bank account and depositing the MM2H fixed deposit.
– Processing times have lengthened during some policy shifts, sometimes several months.
In both countries, **agents can help with paperwork, not outcome**. Immigration remains the decision-maker.
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## How to decide: mm2h vs Second Home Visa in plain questions
Ask yourself:
– **Where will you actually spend most of the year?**
– More than 183 days in one country = think tax residency first.
– **Which deposit structure feels safer to you?**
– One big IDR deposit/property vs layered RM deposit and income.
– **Do you plan to work locally?**
– If yes, neither is ideal. Explore **Investor KITAS, Employment KITAS, or other Malaysian work passes**.
– **Do you want to “test” a country before anchoring?**
– Indonesia: some start with a **multiple-entry tourist or social visa**, then upgrade to SHV if they love it.
– Malaysia: some start with repeated visits on regular visit passes, then apply for MM2H.
If Indonesia is on your radar and you meet the deposit/property threshold, we can help you understand the trade-offs and connect you with vetted legal/immigration partners. Use WhatsApp or email via plan your trip.
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## Independence and updates
– All Indonesia numbers here are drawn from **Permenkumham 22/2023**, immigration circulars and publicly available bank/property rules as of **June 2026**.
– The **IDR 2,000,000,000 [VERIFY]** figure is regulation-derived but should be re-confirmed shortly before you apply, as the government can adjust thresholds.
– MM2H details come from current federal/state program outlines and may change; especially financial thresholds and age conditions.
– We do not give personalised legal or tax advice. For that, work with licensed professionals. No one can pay to change what we publish; if you proceed with our partner they may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.
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## FAQs: Indonesia Second Home Visa vs Malaysia MM2H
Can I work remotely on Indonesia’s Second Home Visa or Malaysia’s MM2H?
Both schemes generally allow you to manage foreign income (remote clients, investments) as long as you do not take formal local employment or run a local revenue-generating business without an appropriate work permit. Always check how this interacts with tax residency in each country.
Is the IDR 2 billion deposit for Indonesia’s Second Home Visa fixed forever?
No. IDR 2,000,000,000 [VERIFY] is the formal threshold referenced in the current regulations, last stable through late 2023 and still used in practice into June 2026. The government can change this via new regulations or circulars. Re-check the exact figure before you apply.
Which is cheaper overall, Indonesia Second Home Visa or Malaysia MM2H?
It depends. Indonesia uses a single, high IDR deposit or property value; Malaysia usually requires significant liquid assets, monthly offshore income and a large RM fixed deposit. Day-to-day living costs can be lower in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia compared with Western cities, but international schools, imported goods and healthcare can be substantial in both.
Does either visa lead to permanent residency or citizenship automatically?
No. Neither Indonesia’s Second Home Visa nor Malaysia’s MM2H automatically leads to permanent residency or citizenship. They are long-stay, renewable residence options. Any future path to permanent status would require meeting separate, stricter criteria under each country’s nationality and immigration laws.
How do I start if I’m leaning toward Indonesia’s Second Home Visa?
First, check whether you can meet the IDR 2bn [VERIFY] deposit or qualifying property value, and how many days a year you expect to be in Indonesia from a tax standpoint. Then speak to an immigration and tax professional. If you’d like vetted introductions, you can plan your trip with us via WhatsApp and we’ll connect you to specialists who work with Second Home Visa clients regularly.