Property
Malaysia — Property: Can Foreigners Buy?
Foreigners can buy property in Malaysia but face restrictions and state-specific minimum purchase prices under the National Land Code 1965. Foreigners cannot buy agricultural land, Malay Reserved Land, low-cost/medium-cost housing, or Bumiputera-quota units. Minimum purchase price thresholds vary widely by state: Melaka and Sarawak set RM500,000 for high-rise units, while Selangor requires RM2 million in Zone 1 — most states set a floor of RM1 million or higher for residential property. Every foreign purchase requires State Authority consent before completion. From 1 January 2026, foreign buyers (non-citizens/non-PRs) pay a flat 8% stamp duty on the full value of any residential property, up sharply from the previous 4% flat rate.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceNational Land Code 1965 / State Authority regulationsLast reviewed: 2026-07-19
Key facts
- Foreigners cannot buy agricultural land, Malay Reserved Land, low/medium-cost housing, or Bumiputera-quota units.
- Minimum purchase price varies by state: RM500,000 (Melaka/Sarawak high-rise) up to RM2 million (Selangor Zone 1); most states floor at RM1 million+.
- State Authority consent is mandatory for every foreign purchase.
- From 1 Jan 2026: flat 8% stamp duty for foreign buyers on residential property (up from 4%).
Costs
- Foreign buyer stamp duty (from 2026): flat 8% of property value
Required documents
- State Authority consent
Common mistakes
- Assuming minimum purchase price thresholds are uniform nationally — they vary significantly by state (RM500,000 to RM2 million+).
- Overlooking the 2026 stamp duty hike to 8% for foreign buyers, doubling the previous 4% rate.