Malta Citizenship 2024 | How do you qualify for residency in Malta?

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.

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