The short version
- Malaysia has the lower entry bar: €1,725 per month versus €2,660 for Grenada.
- Tax treatment differs: Grenada — foreign income exempt; Malaysia — territorial taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Grenada Remote-Work Permit | Malaysia DE Rantau |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €2,660 | €1,725 (better) |
| Income basis | Salary / employment contract | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | 2 years |
| Path to permanent residence | No | No |
| Path to citizenship | No | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Remote Employment Act tax exemption (s.9) + statutory non-residence (s.10)) | Territorial taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Not specified |
| Application fee | ≈ €1,292 | ≈ €202 (better) |
| Where to apply | Embassy / consulate, Online | Online |
| Processing time | 2–4 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Grenada Remote-Work Permit →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Malaysia DE Rantau →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Official gazette Remote Employment Act, 2021 (Act No. 3 of 2021) - full text incl. Schedule II Fees and Schedule III duties exemptions (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Remote Employment Act 2021 s.4(1)(c) and s.6(1)(c) - EC$100,000 annual foreign income requirement (application and renewal) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Remote Employment Act 2021 s.3(2)(c), s.4(1)(d), s.6(1)(d) - mandatory health insurance for the permit period (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Remote Employment Act 2021 s.9 (no income tax on foreign income) and s.10 (presumption of non-residence) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Remote Employment Act 2021 Schedule II - application and renewal fees (US$/EC$), and s.3(3)/s.6 one-year renewable validity (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Grenada Tourism Authority - Remote Employment Act overview (confirms EC$100,000 income, 1-year validity, US$1,500 individual fee, insurance & police certificate) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media NOW Grenada - Grenada approves remote-working legislation (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Citizen Remote - Grenada Digital Nomad Visa (indicative processing time and practical application steps; tier-3, not government) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Expat Exchange - Understanding the Health System in Grenada (public/private healthcare, General Hospital) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media USD to EUR exchange-rate history 2026 (FX basis for EUR conversions; 0.8612 on 15 Jun 2026) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government DE Rantau | MDEC (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government DE Rantau Nomad Pass FAQ V8 (MDEC) — payments, tax (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Mandatory Documents for Remote Worker (MDEC) — Medical Insurance (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15