Malaysia Relocation Index

How Malaysia scores

Multiple structured long-stay immigration pathways for eligible foreigners | Generally functioning governance and services outside localized risk zones

• Peace and conflict safety71
• Immigrant safety75
• Visa accessibility68
• Residence permit realism63
• Labor market access73
• Healthcare74
• Civil rights62
• Discrimination safety67
• Status security61
• Infrastructure reliability73
• Cost of living sustainability74

Recent news impact

Recent policy messaging from Malaysia’s Immigration Department indicates a tightening of entry/re-entry flexibility via the Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) no longer being available for all nationalities (effective 2026-09-02). This is a negative short-term signal for relocation convenience and migration access (especially for frequent travel or re-entry planning). Other security/border tightening reporting from earlier in the year provides context but is outside the last-45-days window or too weak to score strongly as a short-term relocation shock.

• Residence Policy Change

  Malaysia’s Immigration Department announced that the Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) will no longer be available for all nationalities, reducing re-entry/entry flexibility for some would-be residents and travelers planning relocation timing.

Sources

• Long Term Social Visit Pass – Malaysian Immigration DepartmentJabatan Imigresen Malaysia (Malaysian Immigration Department)
• Residence Pass – Malaysian Immigration DepartmentJabatan Imigresen Malaysia (Malaysian Immigration Department)
• Employment Pass (Expatriate Employment Pass) – Expatriates key services (E-Services Portal)Immigration Department of Malaysia (IMI) ESD portal
• Malaysia Travel Advisory (Terrorism and security risk assessment) – U.S. Department of StateU.S. Department of State
• Malaysia: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise – Auswärtiges Amt (Germany) (terrorism and regional risk notes)Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office)
• WJP Rule of Law Index 2024 (Malaysia PDF download)World Justice Project
• WJP Rule of Law Index 2024 Global Press ReleaseWorld Justice Project
• Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 for Malaysia (score and context) – Transparency InternationalTransparency International