Residence by Investment in South East Asia: Choose the Route That Fits Your Money and Your Plans
You want a base in South East Asia, and you want a route that is open today and fits your funds. Six routes in five countries are checked against official government pages, from a USD 15,000 deposit to S$25 million. Each gives you residence or a long stay, not a passport.
Six routes, six ways to be wrong
Choosing a South East Asia route feels like comparing brochures that disagree. One country asks for a deposit, another for an investment, and another for proof of funds. Official pages and old guides give different amounts, and some pages are years out of date.
What it looks like from the outside:
- Guides that mix investment routes with income-based routes under one label.
- Old figures that are still online, such as older Malaysian and Philippine deposits.
- Official pages that disagree with each other, as with Indonesia's Second Home Visa.
How it feels:
- You worry about picking the wrong country and losing time and money.
- You feel unsure whom to trust when every source gives a different number.
- You fear moving funds on a rule that has already changed.
You do not have to compare five countries alone
We know how hard it is to tell one route from another. You want someone who has read each official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays your point of contact from first question to filing.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure here comes from an official source and carries a date.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe a plan to live abroad should rest on a rule you have checked, not a brochure you have read.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Six routes checked on official pages | You compare routes that exist, not routes from an old guide | You stop worrying about a closed door |
| A dated status board | You see what changed and when | You decide on current facts |
| Verified government fees | You see the government's own fees for each route we have read | You plan a real budget |
| Plain route labels | You see whether a route is an investment or an income test | You do not confuse residence with an investment you cannot recover |
| Family rules on each page | You see who can be included | Everyone you worry about is accounted for |
| One point of contact | You deal with us, and we bring in a local partner when your case is qualified | You never chase several firms in several countries |
Which route suits you?
Choose by your goal first, then by your funds. The table sorts the six routes by what you put in and what the official page says you must do.
| Route | Type | Entry amount | What counts | One rule to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia MM2H | Income-based | Fixed deposit from USD 150,000 (USD 32,000 in the SEZ tier) plus a home from RM600,000 | A deposit and a home you buy | Filed only through a Ministry-licensed tour operator |
| Thailand Long-Term Resident visa | Investment residence | USD 500,000 invested and USD 1 million in assets | Thai government bonds, Thai companies or Thai property | The investment is made before you apply |
| Philippines SRRV | Income-based | Deposit of USD 15,000 to USD 50,000 | A visa deposit, set by age and pension | You must be 40 or older |
| Singapore Global Investor Programme | Investment residence | S$10 million, S$25 million or a S$200 million family office | A business, a GIP-select fund or a family office | A company turnover or asset test applies first |
| Indonesia Golden Visa | Investment residence | US$350,000 (5 years) or US$700,000 (10 years) | Government bonds, listed shares or deposits | More is required if you found a company |
| Indonesia Second Home Visa | Income-based | IDR 2 billion in funds | Proof of funds in a bank account | No employment in Indonesia |
Not every route is an investment. Income-based routes depend on money shown or held on deposit, so each carries its own label.
Two route types.
- Investment residence is a visa or status you earn by putting money into something the rules list. Thailand, Singapore and the Indonesia Golden Visa work this way.
- Income-based residence is a visa you earn by showing steady money or placing a deposit. Malaysia's MM2H, the Philippines SRRV and Indonesia's Second Home Visa fit here.
By country.
- Malaysia: the MM2H long-stay pass.
- Thailand: the Long-Term Resident visa for Wealthy Global Citizens.
- Philippines: the SRRV Classic retiree visa.
- Singapore: the Global Investor Programme.
- Indonesia: the Golden Visa and the Second Home Visa.
Is South East Asia right for you? Residence is not citizenship
A good fit if you want a long-stay base and can document your funds. These routes let you live in a country. They do not give you a passport.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You want to live in South East Asia for years and keep your first passport | You want a second passport within a few years |
| You can show where your funds come from | Your funds cannot be documented |
| You can keep a deposit or an investment for the period the route needs | You need your money back on a fixed date |
For a passport route, read Citizenship by investment. For the full comparison, read Citizenship vs residency by investment.
Risks to read before you move any money
Every route has a rule that can end it or stop it before it starts.
- Funds that cannot be documented. A file without clean proof of where the money came from fails.
- Investments and deposits you must keep. Thailand asks you to keep every condition for the visa length, and Singapore sets conditions that run to the fifth year.
- Rules about the stay and about work. Malaysia asks principals under 50 to stay 90 days a year, and Indonesia's Second Home Visa bans employment.
- Rules that differ by source. Indonesia's official pages disagree on the Second Home Visa stay and fee, and older Philippine pages show old deposits.
- No guarantee. None of these routes promises a result. We give no investment or tax advice.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
The deposit or investment is the larger cost, and the fees below sit on top. Set both against the cost of a wrong start: a file on a route that has changed, repeated fees and a delayed move. These are the government's own fees, not the investment and not professional fees.
| Route | Government fees we have verified |
|---|---|
| Malaysia MM2H | RM5,000 processing for the principal and RM2,500 for each dependant; participation fee from RM1,000 (Silver) to RM200,000 (Platinum); RM500 annual pass fee |
| Thailand Long-Term Resident visa | 50,000 baht per person for the 10-year visa, collected in Thailand |
| Philippines SRRV | USD 1,500 processing for the principal, USD 300 per joining dependant, USD 360 a year |
| Singapore Global Investor Programme | S$20,000 application fee and S$100 entry permit processing per applicant |
| Indonesia Second Home Visa | IDR 21,000,000 on the eVisa page, including stay and entry permit fees |
| Indonesia Golden Visa | No separate fee stated in the official source |
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your visa.
- Step 1: Find your route. Use Find my program. You get a shortlist of routes and a cost view for your family in a few minutes.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We qualify your case and check your funds, family and documents. When your case is qualified, we bring in the right local partner in the country you chose. In Malaysia that partner is a Ministry-licensed tour operator.
- Step 3: Your visa in hand. The authority decides, you keep the conditions, and you renew on time.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026 on official government pages. Every route on this page is checked on an official source.
| Programme | Status | What the official source says |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia MM2H | Open | Four tiers on the ministry pages, last updated 10 February 2026 |
| Thailand Long-Term Resident visa | Open | The LTR service centre opened on 17 March 2025. No income test is listed for Wealthy Global Citizens |
| Philippines SRRV | Open | Current table sets deposits by age and pension. Older Authority documents show old figures |
| Singapore Global Investor Programme | Listed | Factsheet updated 5 May 2025. The page states no deadline and says availability is not guaranteed |
| Indonesia Golden Visa | Open | Officially launched on 25 July 2024 |
| Indonesia Second Home Visa | Open | The eVisa page says up to 5 years. A 2022 circular says 5 or 10 years |
What could change: thresholds, fees and stay rules. What we do about it: we re-read the official page before each update and show the date.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing five countries while the rules shift. You hold several brochures and no date on any of them.
Or your family has a visa in the country that fit, your route is one that exists, and your file went in clean. You feel relieved, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Relieved: your family has a base in South East Asia
- Confident: you chose a route that is open today
- Protected: your family is covered together
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
What is residence by investment in South East Asia?
Residence by investment is a visa or residence status granted because you invest in the country, place a deposit, or show steady money. In South East Asia it gives you a long stay, and in Singapore permanent residence. It does not make you a citizen.
Which South East Asia route costs least to enter?
The Philippines SRRV Classic starts at a USD 15,000 deposit for a pensioner aged 50 or over. Malaysia’s SEZ tier starts at a USD 32,000 deposit, and Silver at USD 150,000. You also pay the government fees and, in Malaysia, you buy a home.
Which route is best for retirees?
The Philippines SRRV Classic is built for people aged 40 or older, with lower deposits if you have a pension. Malaysia’s MM2H also suits people who want a long stay, with a deposit and a home purchase.
Is there a route for people who want to keep working abroad?
Not on the routes we list. Indonesia’s Second Home Visa bans employment. Your partner checks the work rules before you commit.
Do I need to buy property?
Only in Malaysia, where MM2H requires a home purchase from RM600,000 after approval. Thailand accepts property as one of three investment options, and the other routes do not ask for property.
Can my family come with me?
Yes, on most routes, with different rules for each. Malaysia includes your spouse, children and parents. The Philippines includes a spouse and unmarried children under 21. Thailand allows up to four dependants.
Is a residence visa the same as citizenship?
No. A visa lets you live in the country. None of these routes gives you a passport.
How long does it take?
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is. Singapore says about 12 months from a complete file. We walk you through each step and its timing before you commit funds.
Will my application be approved?
No route promises approval, and we make no approval claims. What we control is the file: a route that exists, documented funds and clean documents. We tell you before you pay if your case does not fit.
What do you do, and what does the local partner do?
We qualify your case, check your documents and stay your point of contact. When your case is qualified, we bring in a local partner in the country, who files your application. In Malaysia the ministry requires a licensed tour operator to file.
Can you help with property, a company or a bank account?
Yes, through local partners. For the property routes we introduce you to local property partners, and we arrange a company, a corporate bank account and tax registration with partners, so you deal with one point of contact. We give no investment advice and quote no returns, and local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
Why are some South East Asia programmes not listed?
Every route we list is checked on an official government page, and we add others as they pass that check.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
