Can a foreigner buy property in Malaysia?

Foreigners may buy, but with permission, zones or type limits

Malaysia lets foreigners buy property only with the approval of the state authority, and each state sets its own conditions, including a minimum price. Malay reserved land is closed.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the structure of the rule, not prices, taxes or quotas. Confirm the current position with the official source listed below, and with a lawyer in the country, before you pay anything. This is general information, not legal advice.

Land

Land is a state matter. A foreigner needs the approval of the state authority to buy land.

Houses and flats

Foreigners may buy flats and houses above a minimum price that each state sets, with state approval.

Buying through a company

A company with foreign shareholders is treated as foreign for this purpose, depending on its ownership.

Limits and closed zones

Land reserved for Malays and certain categories such as low-cost housing are closed to foreigners.

What to watch for

The minimum prices and conditions differ by state and change. Check the current rule in the state where the property lies.

Understand the legal system first

Malaysia belongs to the Religious (Islamic) law is a leading source family. Property is registered and transferred differently in different traditions, so it helps to know how the system works.

Read the Malaysia legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Malaysia with another country →

Official sources

Department of Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG)

TheLawToKnow Tools’s guide to foreign property ownership is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the official source or a lawyer in the country. Report a mistake.