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🇲🇾  Retiring in Malaysia from the US

What Americans need to know: the visa, how your pensions are taxed, what to do before you leave and every year after.

By the retireacross editorial team · Last reviewed

Visa for Americans

You can visit Malaysia without a visa for 90 days (usually 90 days on arrival for tourism): enough for a trial stay before you apply. To live there you need a residence route:

  • Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H), Silver: a home or investment from 150,000 USD, from age 25. Official page
  • MM2H Special Economic / Financial Zone (age 50+): a home or investment from 32,000 USD, from age 50. Official page

Check your figures in the visa checker

Sources: MM2H (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture): categories and requirements (checked 2026-10-22) · MM2H: Silver category (checked 2026-10-22) · MM2H: Special Economic / Financial Zone (checked 2026-10-22) · UK travel advice: Malaysia, entry requirements (checked 2026-10-22) · Government of Canada: Malaysia entry requirements (checked 2026-10-25)

How your pensions are taxed

The US keeps taxing its citizens; Malaysia adds no tax on foreign income until at least 2036. With no tax treaty, US government pensions (federal, state or local, military) are taxed by the US and possibly by your new country, with relief only through a foreign tax credit.

  • There is no US–Malaysia income tax treaty, but Malaysia exempts foreign income received by residents until 2036, so US Social Security is taxed only by the US.
  • Taxed only by the US while the exemption lasts.

Sources: IRS: US income tax treaties A to Z (checked 2026-10-22) · PwC tax summaries: Malaysia, income determination (foreign-sourced income) (checked 2026-10-22)

United States: The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live: keep filing a US return each year (automatic extension to 15 June abroad) and the FBAR if your foreign accounts exceed $10,000. Official page

Malaysia's own rules: Foreign-source income received in Malaysia by resident individuals is exempt from 2022 to 31 December 2036, subject to conditions (income through a Malaysian partnership excepted). The MM2H programme states "no tax on foreign funds or income". There is no wealth tax and no inheritance tax.

Before you leave the US

  1. Decide about Medicare Part B (US): Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the US. Keeping Part B costs a monthly premium; dropping it and re-enrolling later means a lifetime penalty and enrolling only from January to March. See our Social Security and Medicare guide before you decide. Official page (from age band 65-74)
  2. Tell Social Security your new address and bank: Social Security keeps paying US citizens in our 20 countries: give them your foreign address and choose direct deposit to a local bank (where available) or a US account. Answer the questionnaire they mail abroad, or payments can stop. Official page (from age band 65-74)
  3. Medicare at 65 while you live abroad (US): Medicare does not pay for care outside the US. When you turn 65 abroad you can delay Part B, but if you enrol later (for example when you come back) you pay a lifetime late-enrolment penalty and can only enrol from January to March. Decide before 65 whether to keep Part B; see our Social Security and Medicare guide. Official page (before State Pension or Social Security age)
  4. Social Security later, from abroad (US): You can claim Social Security from abroad from 62. When you do, give the SSA your foreign address and bank, and answer the questionnaire it mails each year or two, or payments stop. Official page (before State Pension or Social Security age)

Every year, from abroad

  • Answer the Social Security questionnaire abroad (when it arrives (usually May or June)): Social Security mails beneficiaries living abroad a questionnaire (form SSA-7162) every year or every other year, usually in May or June. Return it promptly: if it is not returned after a second mailing, payments are suspended.
  • File your US tax return (Form 1040) (by 15 June when you live abroad): US citizens are taxed on their worldwide income wherever they live, so keep filing a US return every year. Living abroad gives an automatic 2-month extension, to 15 June, without asking (interest still runs from 15 April on tax due). Foreign tax credits or the foreign earned income rules prevent paying twice: ask an adviser who knows both countries.
  • Report your foreign accounts (FBAR) (15 April (automatic extension to 15 October)): If your foreign bank and financial accounts together exceeded $10,000 at any time in the year, file the FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) online through FinCEN's BSA E-Filing System, separately from your tax return. It is due 15 April, with an automatic extension to 15 October.

More for Americans

Rules and figures change and we can make mistakes: confirm with the official source or a licensed advisor before acting.