← All Johor projects · Buyer guide for India · Updated October 2026
Indian families and investors are looking at Johor Bahru for its price compared with Singapore, freehold options and easy travel. Buying from India means following two sets of rules: Malaysia’s rules for foreign buyers, and India’s rules for sending money abroad. This page sets out both, with a cost example and the steps for buying remotely.
Prices in rupees: see 170 Malaysian projects Indians can buy, by state, with each price in RM and ₹.
Related: Buying Malaysian property from India: the complete guide, covering the rules and costs across Malaysia.
Malaysia’s rules for foreign buyers in Johor
| Rule | What it means for an Indian buyer |
|---|---|
| Minimum price | Generally RM1 million or more per property in Johor, for both apartments and landed homes. |
| State consent | Johor state approval is needed for every foreign purchase. Your lawyer applies for consent. Since 1 July 2025 Johor’s consent levy for foreign buyers is 3% of the price or RM30,000, whichever is higher (PTG Johor Circular 1/2025), plus application fees. |
| Not open to foreigners | Bumiputera lots, low-cost and affordable units, Malay Reserve land, and single or one-and-a-half-storey terraces. |
| Stamp duty on transfer | 8% of the price for foreign buyers of homes from 1 January 2026. |
| Selling later (RPGT) | 30% of the gain within five years; 10% from the sixth year. |
| Financing | Malaysian banks lend to some foreigners, usually at lower margins than for locals and mostly to buyers with verifiable income abroad. |
India’s rules if you live in India (LRS)
- Remittance limit. Under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme, each resident individual can send up to USD 250,000 abroad per financial year, for all purposes combined.
- Family pooling. Family members can combine their limits for one property only if each of them is a co-owner on the title.
- TCS. Remittances above ₹10 lakh in a financial year attract 20% tax collected at source. It is not an extra cost: it is credited against your income tax when you file, and any excess is refunded.
- Funding. The purchase is generally paid from your own remitted funds; borrowing for it, in India or abroad, is generally not permitted under LRS.
- Reporting. The property must be declared every year in Schedule FA of your income tax return. Rental income is taxable in India, with credit for Malaysian tax under the India–Malaysia tax treaty.
These are India’s rules, not Malaysia’s, and they change. Jason works with your Malaysian lawyer on the purchase; please confirm the remittance and tax side with your chartered accountant before you pay.
If you are an NRI in Singapore or the Gulf
Non-resident Indians who earn and hold money abroad are not buying under LRS. Many Indian professionals in Singapore buy in Johor because it is close, and some Malaysian banks will consider a loan based on Singapore income. Ask Jason for a bank pre-assessment before you choose a unit.
What it costs: a worked example
Work out your own numbers: my property cost calculator in rupees shows the upfront cash, the monthly loan and the TCS on your LRS transfer in RM and ₹.
| Item | RM1,000,000 unit | How it is worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Down payment | RM100,000 or more | 10% at the SPA; more if you pay without a Malaysian loan |
| Stamp duty on the transfer | RM80,000 | 8% for foreign home buyers from 2026 |
| Lawyer’s fee, SPA and transfer | About RM11,250 plus SST | 1.25% of the first RM500,000 and 1% of the next RM500,000 |
| State consent fee | Quoted by your lawyer | Varies by district and price |
| Disbursements | About RM2,000 to RM4,000 | Searches, registration, consent application and copying |
Buying remotely: the steps
Prefer to see units in person? See my guide to visiting Johor Bahru from India: I meet you at JB Sentral, Senai Airport or your hotel.
- Shortlist on a video call. Jason walks you through projects above RM1 million that foreigners can buy, with the fact sheet for each.
- Visit if you can. Indian passport holders can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026; submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card at least three days before you travel.
- Book the unit. Pay the booking fee and sign the booking form. Keep the developer’s or seller’s receipt for your Indian bank.
- Sign the SPA. The SPA can be signed in Malaysia or, if your lawyer arranges it, signed and attested abroad.
- Remit the funds. Send money from your Indian bank under LRS, with Form A2 and the SPA as supporting documents, to the lawyer’s or developer’s account.
- State consent and completion. Your lawyer obtains Johor state consent, then completes the purchase and the transfer.
- Keys and rental. Jason can arrange handover, defect checks and a tenant if you plan to rent the unit out.
Buying in Johor from India: quick answers
Can an Indian citizen buy property in Johor Bahru?
Yes. Foreigners, including Indian citizens, can buy freehold or leasehold property in Johor priced at RM1 million or more, with state consent. Bumiputera, low-cost and certain landed units are not open to foreigners.
How much money can I send from India to buy property abroad?
Under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, up to USD 250,000 per resident individual per financial year, for all purposes combined. Family members can pool their limits if they are all co-owners.
Is TCS a cost when buying property in Malaysia from India?
TCS of 20% applies to remittances above ₹10 lakh a year, but it is a prepayment of tax: it is credited against your income tax when you file your return, and any excess is refunded.
Do I need a visa to view property in Johor?
Indian passport holders can visit Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026. Submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card at least three days before arrival.
क्या भारतीय नागरिक जोहोर बाहरू में प्रॉपर्टी खरीद सकते हैं?
हाँ। विदेशी खरीदार, जिनमें भारतीय नागरिक भी शामिल हैं, जोहोर में RM1 million (10 लाख रिंगित) या उससे अधिक कीमत की प्रॉपर्टी राज्य की अनुमति के साथ खरीद सकते हैं। भारत से पैसे LRS के तहत भेजे जाते हैं। सूची और पूरा खर्च जानने के लिए Jason को WhatsApp करें।
Useful tools: buying costs calculator · can a foreigner buy it? · projects for foreign buyers · all Johor projects
Sources: Johor foreign ownership guidelines and Stamp Act 1949 rates as published for 2026; Reserve Bank of India Liberalised Remittance Scheme and Income Tax Act TCS provisions; Malaysia Immigration visa-free arrangements for Indian nationals to 31 December 2026. General information by a registered agent, not legal, tax or foreign exchange advice; confirm with your lawyer and chartered accountant. By Jason Lim (REN 84424, IQI Realty Sdn. Bhd. E (1) 1584/6).