Johor State Consent Fee for Foreign Property Buyers: How Much Does It Cost?
You’re in the midst of applying for MM2H and found that Johor is a viable place to live – close proximity to Singapore, great international schools, healthcare and easily accessible via Senai/ Changi Airport. So you’re looking to lock in a property in Johor and as a foreign purchaser, there is another cost you need to budget for, the Johor state consent fee.
- So, what exactly is this Johor State Consent fee and how much do you need to pay?
In simple terms, state consent is the approval required for certain property acquisitions by foreign interests by the state government. Under the National Land Code, a non-citizen or foreign company requires prior approval from the State Authority for the acquisition, whereby the State Authority may impose terms and a levy as part of that approval.
In Johor, the application is handled through the Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Johor (PTG Johor). So, when people refer to the state consent fee, they are generally referring to the payment required to obtain the State’s approval for the foreign acquisition.
- How much is the state consent fee in Johor?
From 1 July 2025, Johor revised the rates for the acquisition of property by foreign interests under PTG Johor Circular No. 3 of 2025. The current PTG Johor information states the following:
| Property Category | State Consent / Approval Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential | 3% of property value, minimum RM30,000 |
| Commercial | 3% of property value, minimum RM30,000 |
| Service Apartment / SOHO | 3% of property value, minimum RM50,000 for properties sold below RM1 million with State approval |
| Industrial | 4% of property value |
| Application Fee | RM2,000 per title |
Do take note that for a subsale, PTG Johor states that the calculation may be based on the JPPH valuation or the properly stamped sale and purchase agreement value, with the applicable higher-value rule.
- Why should foreign buyers check this before buying?
The state consent fee can be a significant part of the acquisition cost. For example, a buyer looking at a RM1 million property may initially budget for the purchase price, legal fees and stamp duty, but the RM30,000 minimum state approval fee plus RM2,000 application fee also needs to be considered. There are also Johor rules on the types of property that foreign interests can acquire and the applicable minimum purchase prices. PTG Johor currently states a general RM1 million minimum for several residential, commercial and industrial categories, subject to the specific property type and applicable rules.
Knowing this, as a foreign purchaser, for most residential and commercial property, the current approval charge is 3% of the applicable property value, subject to a minimum of RM30,000, following the rate revision effective 1 July 2025. Please consult your agent and solicitor accordingly for their advise on the total entry cost of acquiring a property as a foreigner.
Hafiz Noor
