This site is focused on providing information for expats looking for information about living in, or buying real estate in, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Given that focus it seems sensible to provide some information on visas available to expats.

Work visa are available for those working full time for a company with operations in Malaysia. Malaysia is also pursuing for talent with a new visa program that isn’t fully up and running yet but will provide the opportunity for a work visa not connected to a single employer for those with desired skills – which has many benefits.

Malaysia has distinguished itself with the Make Malaysia my 2nd Home (MM2H) visa with provide expats the opportunity to get a long term visa while in retirement or even before retirement. You can apply for the MM@H yourself or you can hire a firm to help deal with the details. Joy-stay, located in Kuala Lumpur, is a firm that gets high marks from many people. The cost seems to be RM 3,600 plus various potential fees (and more for additional family members).

The closest embassy for most countries is in Singapore. In Malaysia most embassies are in Kuala Lumpur.

The MM2H forum had lots of advice and helpful members to answer your questions but it closed down in 2014 and is no longer available.