MM2H Updates: Thailand Could Absorb Tens of Billions at Malaysia’s Expense – IMI

The Edge Markets today has an in-depth analysis of the MM2H program’s competitively weakened position relative to the residence by investment programs of Thailand and (in what’s arguably a somewhat apples-to-oranges comparison) Portugal.

The paper points out that the tightening of financial and physical presence requirements in Malaysia has coincided with reforms in the opposite direction for Thailand’s Elite visa program. The conclusions reached in the comparison are not in Malaysia’s favor:

One of the most popular options is the Elite Easy Access. Similar to the new rules under MM2H, the Elite Easy Access has a validity of five years and is renewable for another five years. However, there is no minimum stay requirement unlike MM2H, where applicants now have to reside in Malaysia for at least 90 days in a year.

There is no income requirement to hold the Thai…