Malaysia

South-eastern Asia

Asia

An Asian country with widely spoken English, strong universities and residence by investment, but a long 12-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

Overall score

Good · 98% data coverage

Language

Malay

Currency

MYR

Citizenship

10 of the previous 12 years

Personal tax

Progressive, up to 30%

Cost of living

$1,100 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

61Residence12%

29Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

70Salary and work12%

79Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

64Taxes7%

73Business8%

62Investment5%

Daily life

25%

74Quality of life18%

62Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

56Freedom6%

62Rule of law7%

Pros

Widely spoken English
Strong universities
Residence by investment

Cons

A long 12-year naturalisation wait
No dual citizenship

Best for

Remote workersInvestorsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Moderate

Migrant stock10.7% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality0.68 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Low

Years required	10 of the previous 12 years
Dual allowed	No
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 10 of the previous 12 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Excellent

174 / 198

Mobility

#19

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free122
On arrival48
eTA4
Visa required24

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Good

Output per worker$68,622 PPP (2024)

Unemployment3.8% (2025)

Participation66.1% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)	Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$40,070 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$22,518 PPP (2024)

Price level33 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality40.7 Gini (2021)

Inflation1.4% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

Price level33 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$1,100 / mo (single)
Cities	Kuala Lumpur, George Town, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu

Economy

Economic strength

Excellent

Output & income

GDP$472.2B (2025)

GDP / person$13,125 (2025)

GNI / person$40,070 PPP (2025)

GDP growth5.1% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation1.4% / yr (2025)

Unemployment3.8% (2025)

Output per worker$68,622 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture8.2% of GDP (2025)

Industry35.7% of GDP (2025)

Services54.8% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Electronics & semiconductorsPalm oilPetroleum & gasMachineryTourism

Top exports

Electronics & semiconductorsPalm oilPetroleum & LNGMachinery

Type	Upper-middle-income, manufacturing- and export-led
Key sectors	Semiconductor assembly & test, Palm oil, Oil & gas
Summary	A diversified upper-middle-income economy strong in electronics, a key chip packaging hub, plus palm oil and energy.
Currency	Malaysian ringgit

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, up to 30%
Corporate	24%; SME rates may be lower
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, up to 30%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Limited

Corporate	24%; SME rates may be lower
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Good

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality0.68 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness0.91 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Moderate

Market cap103% of GDP (2025)

Private credit118% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Good

Salary & work

Good

Business

Good

Investment

Moderate

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Good

Personal safety

Homicide rate0.7 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption0.50 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability0.38 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Good

Outcomes

Life expectancy76.8 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality8.3 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians2.34 per 1,000 (2023)

Hospital beds1.96 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$1,441 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Excellent

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure15.9 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress3.4% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Good

Digital infrastructure

Internet use98.0% (2024)

Internet resilience71 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed84 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed77 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Grid losses6.9% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality3.60 / 5 (2022)

Rail density5.0 km / 1,000 km² (2021)

Air connectivity9,989 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Moderate

Attainment

Expected schooling12.7 years (2023)

Mean schooling11.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment39% gross (2024)

Education spending3.5% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$4,000-15,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Malay
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Excellent

HDI0.819 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy76.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling12.7 years (2023)

Mean schooling11.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025