The Republic of Malta is a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, 80 km from Sicily. Malta has been an independent member of the European Union since 2004 and has been part of the Schengen Area since 2007.
Anyone planning to stay in the country for longer than three months will need resident status. It is important to understand that a Maltese residence permit is not a second passport; foreign nationals retain their own citizenship. However, long-term residence eventually paves the way for naturalisation and European citizenship.
Malta’s immigration legislation provides for several routes to obtaining resident status, each with its own requirements. Your residence visa must be suited to your objectives, financial circumstances and family situation – otherwise, there is a risk of your application being refused. A thorough preliminary analysis enables the specialists at Imperial & Legal to select the most suitable route.
What benefits do participants in Malta’s immigration programmes receive?
1.Freedom of movement within Europe
A valid Maltese residence permit allows you to travel to other Schengen Area countries without applying for a separate visa and to stay there for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. You must carry a valid passport and your residence card with you when travelling.
2.Relatively short processing times for residence permits
Thanks to the digitisation of processes, applications for Maltese residency are processed more quickly than in many other European jurisdictions — the exact processing times for each programme are set out below.
3.The option to bring your family
Most programmes allow you to include your spouse or partner, minor children and, subject to certain conditions, adult dependent children in your application. Participants in the investment programme may also bring dependent parents – either their own or their spouse’s.
4.Favourable tax regime
Participants in the Global Residence Programme can benefit from a special tax regime: a 15% rate on foreign income transferred to Malta. Local income is taxed according to the standard scale.
Participants in the Retirement Programme pay the same 15 per cent on their pension income, whereas the standard income tax scale in the country is progressive and can reach 35 per cent.
Digital nomads are exempt from tax on income earned and retained abroad during their first year. Once they become tax residents, they are entitled to a reduced rate of 10 per cent.
The country has also concluded double taxation agreements with more than 70 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and China.
5.English as an official language
English is an official language on a par with Maltese: it is used for official correspondence, in the drafting of most contracts and in education. According to 2024 figures, 96 per cent of the population speak it.
Unlike in many other EU countries, the process of obtaining a residence permit in the Republic of Malta does not require passing a language proficiency test.
Main immigration routes to Malta
The Republic of Malta offers a wide range of ways to move to the country legally. The most popular immigration routes are:
Malta permanent residence programme / MPRP. This programme grants permanent resident status upon fulfilment of investment, property and administrative requirements.
Participants in the MPRP pay a government contribution and an administrative fee, purchase or rent residential property of a specified value, and make a charitable donation.
Global residence programme / GRP – an immigration programme inextricably linked to a special tax regime, which is granted alongside a residence card to foreign nationals with a steady income from abroad. To participate, an expat must purchase or rent property in Malta for a long-term period.
Nomad residence permit. A residence permit designed for digital nomads. This term is used to refer to remote employees of foreign companies and freelancers who work remotely using modern computer technology.
Retirement programme – this route enables pensioners from third countries with a stable passive income abroad to obtain a residence permit.
Start-Up residence programme. A relatively new route to immigration in Malta, available to founders of promising technology projects. It allows applicants to obtain a residence permit in the country through a simplified procedure.
Work visa / Temporary residence permit for employment – a residence permit for foreign specialists who have received an offer of long-term employment from a Maltese employer.
The validity of the residence card usually coincides with the term of the employment contract. After 5 years of residence on a work visa, you can apply for a permanent residence permit; after 7 years, you can apply for naturalisation.
Student visa / Study residence permit. This is a residence permit for students at accredited educational institutions in Malta. It is valid for the entire duration of their studies and is renewed provided student status is maintained; the years spent studying count towards the qualifying period for permanent residence and citizenship.
Family reunification residence Permit: This is intended for spouses, minor children and, in certain cases, the parents of a Maltese resident. Holders of this permit may later apply for permanent residence by providing evidence of their length of residence, income and accommodation.
The marriage residence permit is a residence permit for persons lawfully married to a Maltese citizen. It grants the right to live in the country and offers a fast-track route to citizenship: an application for naturalisation can be made after five years of marriage and cohabitation.
Imperial & Legal supports applicants at every stage: helping them choose the right route, prepare documents and liaise with the relevant authorities. This reduces the risk of delays caused by errors in forms, documents or the order of submission.
What requirements must a prospective resident of Malta meet?
1. Age
The main applicant must be over 18 years of age. There is no upper age limit. Minor children are included in their parents’ application. To do this, the child’s passport and birth certificate are required, confirming their relationship to the parents and their age.
2. Reputation
A prospective Maltese resident must provide certificates of good conduct not only from the country of their first citizenship, but also from all jurisdictions where they have resided for more than 6 months over the last 10 years.
Police documents must be submitted alongside the application to the relevant agency — the IMA or RMA — which conducts its own background check on the applicant. This may include:
- enquiries to national police registers;
- cross-referencing the information provided against the international databases of Europol and Interpol;
- identifying any breaches of immigration law by the applicant in other countries;
- establishing whether the applicant has links to terrorist organisations or to individuals subject to international sanctions.
If an application for a residence permit is submitted by the holder of a spousal visa, the Maltese immigration authorities verify the authenticity of the marriage.
A more thorough check is carried out when a residence card is to be issued to participants in the Malta permanent residence and Global Residence programmes.
3. Financial requirements
The level of income, the amount of savings and, in some cases, the size of the investment are determined by the chosen immigration route.
| Income and savings | Investment commitments |
| Verified assets totalling €500,000, including €150,000 in liquid financial instruments – such as deposit accounts, shares and bonds. The second option requires capital of €650,000 or more, of which at least €75,000 must be in liquid instruments. The funds of the main applicant and their spouse are taken into account. | It is mandatory to purchase residential property worth at least €375,000, or to rent such property for a period of at least 5 years with an annual rent of at least €14,000. State fee: €37,000. Administrative fee: €60,000. Charitable contribution: €2,000. |
- Global residence programme
| Income and savings | Investment commitments |
| Regular income from foreign sources or the applicant’s personal savings. There is no minimum requirement; decisions are made on a case-by-case basis based on contracts, tax returns and bank statements for the previous 1–2 years. Indicative figures based on RMA administrative practice:
A combination of income and savings is permitted. | You must purchase or rent residential property in Malta for a period of 5 years. The minimum purchase price is €275,000. The minimum annual rent is €9,600. Reduced thresholds apply to southern Malta and the island of Gozo. The minimum value of the property to be purchased is from €220,000, and the annual rent is from €8,750. The administrative fee is €5,500–6,000. |
- Nomad residence permit
Digital nomads have no investment obligations — they simply need to prove their financial solvency through an employment contract, contracts with foreign clients or bank statements. A mandatory requirement is a regular income of €3,500 per month (€42,000 per year).
If moving with a family, the income threshold increases: for each dependant listed on the application, 20 per cent – or €8,400 – is added to the €42,000.
- Retirement programme
| Income and savings | Investment requirements |
| Annual income of €13,000, of which at least 75% must come from a state or private pension. The shortfall may be made up with personal savings, but the 75% pension requirement remains unchanged. | Purchase of a property in Malta worth at least €275,000 or a five-year tenancy with an annual rent of at least €9,600. The minimum thresholds for purchasing and renting residential property in southern Malta and Gozo are €220,000 and €8,750 respectively. Administrative fee: €2,500. |
- Start-Up residence programme
The business plan must include the business idea, a financial forecast and sources of funding – a grant, own funds or investment. Most importantly: documentary evidence of funds sufficient to cover the launch and development of the start-up.
One participant must invest at least €25,000 in the start-up. This route is also suitable for teams – up to six applicants per start-up, with an additional €10,000 required for each extra participant.
You will also need to provide proof of personal funds to cover the initial period after relocation. The exact amount is not specified by law; our specialists recommend demonstrating to the authorities that you have €10,000–15,000.
- Work visa
A foreign specialist invited to work must have personal savings to cover the initial period — these must be confirmed by a bank statement covering the 3–6 months prior to submitting the application.
The future salary specified in the employment contract confirms that the applicant will be able to support themselves whilst living in Malta.
When deciding on an application, the IMA assesses whether the applicant’s income corresponds to the level of their position: for qualified professionals, this is generally between €1,800 and €2,000 per month.
- Student visa / Study residence permit
A student’s financial eligibility is confirmed by enrolment at an accredited educational institution in Malta and evidence of sufficient funds to cover living costs.
The student must have between €8,400 and €13,200 available for the academic year — evidenced by a bank statement or a letter of guarantee, together with financial documents from the sponsor.
- Family reunification residence permit
Income is usually confirmed by the sponsoring relative: in 2026, this must amount to at least €18,940 per year plus 20% for each invited family member.
Identità accepts employment contracts, contracts with clients, tax returns and bank statements covering the six months prior to the application as proof.
- Spousal visa / Marriage residence permit
The law does not set out specific requirements regarding the foreign spouse’s income or savings. However, the agency must satisfy itself that the family as a whole has sufficient means to live together and will not need to claim social security benefits.
Accommodation
Owned or rented accommodation in Malta is a mandatory requirement for all visa categories under consideration. The resident’s address is registered with the same agency that processes the application for a residence permit.
Holders of a work, family, student, spousal or digital nomad visa must confirm that they have accommodation in Malta. Students may provide a letter from their educational institution or an agreement with a host family.
There are no minimum rent or purchase price requirements for these visa categories. The agency may check that the accommodation meets health and safety standards, and, in the case of family reunification, that the inviting relative’s accommodation is of sufficient size.
Processing times and costs for a Maltese residence permit
The choice of immigration route determines how long the agency takes to process the application and how much will be spent on fees and charges.
| Type of Maltese residence permit | Application processing time at the agency | Fees and charges |
| MPRP | 4–6 months | Government fee – €37,000. Administrative fee – €60,000. Non-refundable portion of the fee – €15,000, payable before submitting the application. |
| Global residence | 2–4 months | Administrative fee – €5,500–6,000 |
| Nomad residence | 2 months | Fee: €300 |
| Retirement | 2–4 months | Administrative fee – €2,500 |
| Start-Up residence | 2–3 months | Fee: €300 |
| Work visa | 2–4 months | Work permit – €600, plus €150 annually for renewal. Fee: €280 |
| Student visa | 2–3 months | Fee: €150 |
| Family reunification | 4–6 months | Fee: €280 |
| Spouse visa | 2–3 months | Fee: €280 |
As third-country nationals will need to obtain a Category D visa, the costs include a consular fee – from €150 per applicant – or a visa centre service fee. Prospective residents of Malta must also take out health insurance, with a minimum annual cost of €300.
The procedure and cost of obtaining a Maltese residence permit for family members depend on the specific visa category. In some immigration programmes, the spouse and children are included in the main applicant’s application for an additional fee. For other routes, a separate application may be required.
If you need precise figures for the administrative costs applicable to your route, book a consultation with a specialist at Imperial & Legal!
Step-by-step guide to obtaining a residence permit in Malta
Legal support from Imperial & Legal saves the applicant time and significantly reduces the risk of a refusal. Our immigration consultants take care of the most complex stages of the process of obtaining a Maltese residence permit, so that the client needs to complete no more than 5 steps to receive their Maltese residence card.
Initial consultation and selection of a suitable programme
Document preparation and visa appointment
Visa processing and travel to Malta
Submitting a residence permit application and providing biometric data
Receiving the residence card
How Imperial & Legal helps you become a Maltese resident
To make the path to a residence permit easier, our specialists guide applicants from the initial consultation right through to receiving their Republic of Malta residence card. In addition to providing legal support for the immigration process itself, Imperial & Legal’s staff successfully handle related tasks:
- find suitable accommodation in Malta that meets the programme’s requirements;
- help secure approval for a start-up from Malta Enterprise;
- open a bank account in Europe or Malta;
- register a company;
- provide advice on tax optimisation.
The specialists at Imperial & Legal take care of all the routine work: completing application forms, liaising with the visa centre, consulate and agency, booking biometric appointments and monitoring deadlines. The prospective Maltese resident is only involved at stages where their personal presence is required. Our approach to the process spares the client the need to navigate the procedures themselves and saves them a significant amount of time and effort.
