Malta offers residency to qualified foreign applicants. The goal
of Malta's Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is to attract foreign
investment to support the Malta economy.
Malta is a vibrant
country located south of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. Residency
is offered to foreign investors, freelancers, founders, and retirees.
Maltese residents may live in Malta as long as they maintain their
residency status. Malta residents may also apply for a Malta work
permit and participate in the social services system.
International
business people, investors, freelancers and retirees worldwide consider
Malta permanent residency a powerful asset and/or safety net should
the living conditions at home become undesirable.
Foreign
applicants for Malta permanent residency must meet the following
criteria:
- Buy or rent real estate in Malta or Gozo
- Pay the government application fee and contribution
- Make a philanthropic donation
- Pass a stringent due diligence process
- Have a clean criminal record
- Have a valid health insurance policy
- Pose no political or medical health risk to Malta
Malta offers different residency programs to EU and non-EU nationals
who wish to become residents of the country. The main residency
programs available include the following:
- Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
The Malta
MPRP program is a permanent residency program for non-EU nationals.
It requires a one-time investment, and provides a permanent
residency certificate which is valid for life. This program
does not lead to Malta (EU) citizenship / the Malta (EU) passport.
- Malta Global Residence Programme (GRP)
The Malta GRP
program is a renewable 1-year residency visa for non-EU nationals
that offers visa-free Schengen travel benefits and special tax
advantages. This program does not lead to Malta (EU) citizenship
/ the Malta (EU) passport.
- Malta Ordinary Residence (OR)
The Malta OR program is
only available for EU nationals (citizens of the EU including
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland) who want to
live in Malta 183 days per year or longer. This program does
not lead to Malta (EU) citizenship / the Malta (EU) passport.
- Malta Tax Residence Programme (TRP)
The Malta tax residency
program for EU citizens requires applicants to declare they
do not spend more than 183 days in any other jurisdiction outside
of Malta, but there is no requirement to spend 183 days inside
Malta. The special tax rate on income brought into Malta is
15% (annual minimum tax: EUR 15,000). This program does not
lead to Malta (EU) citizenship / the Malta (EU) passport.
- Malta Retirement Programme (MRP)
The Malta retirement
program is targeted at retirees (EU and non-EU nationals) who
receive a pension to be transmitted to Malta. The amount of
the pension must equal at least 75% of the applicant’s total
annual income. This program does not lead to Malta (EU) citizenship
/ the Malta (EU) passport.
- Malta Nomad Residence Permit (MNRP)
The Malta Nomad Residence
Permit ("Digital Nomad Visa") is a renewable 1-year visa available
to applicants who are not citizens of an EU member country.
Applicants must be able to work independent of location for
companies or clients which must be located outside of Malta.
The Nomad Residence Permit does not entitle the holder to social
benefits in Malta, and it does not lead to Malta (EU) residency
or citizenship / the Malta (EU) passport.
- Malta Startup Residence Programme (MSRP)
The Malta Startup
Residence program is available to startup founders, co-founders,
and their core employees and families who are of non-EU nationality
and who register their venture in Malta at a minimum EUR 25,000
capital investment. The startup must be younger than 7 years
and must not yet have distributed a profit. Applicants are required
to be financially self-sufficient, move to Malta, and pay taxes
here. This program does not lead to Malta (EU) citizenship /
the Malta (EU) passport.
Malta also offers a
citizenship by investment program that confers the Malta citizenship
and passport to applicants who meet the application requirements.
Benefits of holding Maltese citizenship include living /working/retiring
in a safe European country with a warm climate, access to first-class
healthcare and education, and the right to travel freely across
Europe and over 180 destinations. The Malta (EU) passport is considered
one of the most valuable passports in the world. English is spoken
widely, and applicants are allowed to keep their original citizenship
/ passports because Malta allows dual citizenship status.
Summary:
How do you qualify for permanent residency in Malta? To be eligible
for permanent residency under the Malta MPRP Permanent Residence
Programme, foreign applicants must successfully pass all due diligence
checks, fulfill the required investment in Malta real estate, make
a donation to a Malta-based NGO, and cover all application and legal
fees. The processing time for MPRP typically ranges from three to
six months, depending on the applicant's promptness in providing
any necessary supplementary information, such as a clean police
record. Other residency programs in Malta include the 1-year GRP
residency, tax residency, retirement residency, digital nomad residency,
and startup residency program. It is important to note that participation
in these Malta residency programs does not automatically grant Maltese
citizenship or a Maltese passport. Investors interested in Malta
citizenship by investment may apply under the
Granting
of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations (CES/MEIN).
Main Points: Malta MPRP residency
- Permanent residency program
- Processing time of 3-6 months
- Requires Malta real estate rental or purchase
- Applicants must pass due diligence checks
- Be at least 18 years old
- Requires a clean criminal record
- Requires health insurance
- Does not lead to Malta citizenship/passport
Because immigration by investment programs can change over time
please
contact us to speak with an advisor or to receive a preliminary
quotation. The information provided in this blog post is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal or financial advice.
Everything you need to know about Malta citizenship,
residency, and real estate.
Malta Citizenship
Malta Residency
Malta Real Estate
Click here for the
Malta citizenship by investment program.
Click here for the
Malta residency programs.
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