A Malta residence permit gives you the right to stay on the island for more than six months and enjoy basic civil rights. To obtain the document, you must have a legitimate reason for immigrating to the state. You must also meet a number of mandatory conditions, among which are law-abiding, financial security, satisfactory health condition. Residency status is mainly granted for economic and family reasons, such as establishing a startup, employment, buying real estate, reunification with children and spouses.

The Republic of Malta is an economically developed island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea. Those who want to live in a warm, sunny climate near popular resorts often move here. The country is a member of a number of important international associations, including the European Union, WTO and Schengen Area. Immigrants choose Malta because of its English-speaking environment, attractive residency programs for financially independent individuals, low cost of living, and high level of personal and public safety.

Get a step-by-step plan for moving to Malta from the international law experts at Immigrantinlaw. Schedule a free legal consultation at your convenience to get it.

Benefits of obtaining a Maltese residence permit  

A Malta residence permit gives you many more rights and benefits than being in the country with a visa. For example, you can reside on the island for a long time (on average - from 6 months to 2-3 years), count on extension of stay, as well as arrange residence for family members under the reunification program. Other benefits include:

• travel without a visa to Schengen countries for up to 90 days for a total of 180 consecutive days;
• receiving qualified medical care on the basis of a basic insurance policy;
• participation in grant, scholarship and other similar funding programs from private and public foundations;
• the opportunity to represent commercial interests internationally, including the EU Single Market;
• for most types of residence permits, official work on the island, subject to the general rules applicable to nationals (for example, salary levels and working conditions);
• access to prestigious European education for themselves and their children (from schools and colleges to universities);
• the right to use the services of foreign banks with popular financial instruments (SWIFT, Visa, Mastercard).

Who can apply for a residence permit in Malta and under what conditions?  

The main law that regulates the granting of a Maltese residence permit is the Immigration Act of September 21, 1970. The authorities also rely on other official documents, depending on the situation, such as the Geneva Convention on the Rights of Refugees. In general, the country's policy towards foreigners is rather soft. The state actively encourages the inflow of well-off immigrants, including granting them residence permits and citizenship under accelerated procedures. Laws are periodically changed, for example, in 2024 the entry threshold for potential resident investors increased.

The general list of requirements for those wishing to establish residency in Malta is as follows:

• possession of a valid travel document (passport) and medical insurance;
• passing a background check and providing information about criminal records in your home country;
• having the financial resources to support yourself and your dependents (for example, child or spouse);
• not posing a threat to national security or the public interest;
• no history of violation of Maltese and European Union migration laws;
• having a place to live on the island, for example, rented, purchased or provided accommodation.

In any case, you must have a legitimate reason for long-term residence in Malta and document it. The following are popular reasons for local residency.

Employment

Malta grants the right of residence to foreigners who have received a job offer from a local company. It is important that you have specialized education and/or experience in the relevant field. The single work and residence permit procedure is initiated by the employer, who must be registered with Jobsplus (Jobcenter) and apply online. The organization assesses whether there are suitable applicants from among the islanders for the applied vacancy, and in case of their absence can approve the registration of a foreigner.

Self-employment

It is possible to move to Malta to be self-employment within the scope of one's profession. You must first obtain a self-employment license, which is issued by Jobsplus. A residence permit is also granted to self-employed persons, provided they are registered with the local tax office. Jobsplus assesses the prospects of your occupation and the potential benefits for the Republic and then decides whether to approve or reject the application.

Highly skilled professional

Malta residency is granted to workers from outside the EU who enter into an employment contract with a local company for a period of 6 months or more. You must have a high professional qualification and receive from one and a half average salaries in the country, i.e., about 27 000 EUR per year. You also need to document your higher education. If your request is approved, you will receive an EU Blue Card - a document with special privileges such as simplified family immigration and labor mobility within the EU.

Startup establishment

The state supports the immigration of businessmen who plan to develop innovative projects in Malta. You can establish a new company or expand an existing successful startup. The Startup Residence program has restrictions on the nationality of participants, in particular, it does not apply to residents of some countries in Africa and the Middle East. You will need to have a share capital of 25,000 EUR (plus 10,000 EUR for each co-founder, but no more than 6 people are allowed). Taxes for the startup will have to be paid on the island as well.

Investment

You can move to Malta if you are ready to invest in its economy from 600 000 EUR. In this case, you will receive residency, and after 3 years you can apply for citizenship. With investments from 750 thousand EUR the period of residence before the passport issuance is only 12 months. In addition to investments in the economy, you will definitely need to buy housing on the island (minimum price of the object - 700 thousand EUR) or rent it for at least five years with an annual payment of 16 000 EUR. In addition, you donate from 10 000 EUR to charity - you can fund sports, culture and other similar areas.

Purchase of real estate

Malta immediately grants a long-term residence permit (permanent residence) to those who buy a residential or commercial property on the island. The minimum amount of real estate - from 375 000 EUR. Alternatively, you can rent an object with an annual payment of 14 000 EUR for a minimum of five years. You must be financially secure, i.e., have from half a million EUR in monetary assets. In addition, a non-refundable administrative fee for participation in the program (50,000 EUR), a charitable donation of 2000 EUR and a fee of 30,000 EUR for the purchase of real estate or 60,000 EUR for its rental.

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Educational purposes

Maltese residence permit is granted for the purpose of study, research, internships and voluntary service (within the framework of mobility projects for young people). Planned activities need to be supported by documents such as a certificate of enrollment at a university. Your host institution must be licensed by the National Commission for Higher Education, and your studies must be full-time. A residence permit can also be granted to participants of preparatory programs and advanced training courses.

Residence permit for digital nomads

Malta grants residency status to foreigners who have a permanent remote job in telecommunications. Digital nomads must be officially employed and have a minimum gross annual income of 42,000 EUR. To apply for a residence permit, you need to prove with documents that you provide freelance or consulting services to foreign clients. Malta is one of the few EU states that allows digital nomads to repeatedly renew their residence permit, but the decision on this issue is left to the discretion of the authorities.

Financial independence

Living in Malta is open to foreigners who support themselves from their own passive income. You can receive the necessary funds, for example, as pension payments or dividends from shares. The main thing is that the incoming financial resources should be equivalent to the minimum amount of social assistance on the island according to your status. For example, the minimum wage in the country is about 1000 EUR.

Family reunification

You can move to Malta if you have a relative living here for at least 12 months. Family reunification is possible with spouses over the age of 21 (only monogamous marriages are recognized), unmarried children under the age of 18 (including adopted children and/or a child of the spouse). The authorities may approve a residence permit for other relatives if the host party supports them financially or will provide the necessary care. The sponsor from among the islanders must have an income not lower than the average annual salary in the country (from 19 thousand EUR) and another 20% of the specified amount for each family member.

Other reasons

Maltese residence permits are also granted for less common reasons, such as:

• intra-corporate transfer;
• business trips from abroad;
• seasonal work;
• humanitarian circumstances;
• medical assistance.

In any of the cases, the legality of moving to Malta must be proved with appropriate documents.

The easiest way to immigrate to Malta is to obtain a passport from any of the European Union countries. EU citizens are free to come to the island and reside here legally without any additional conditions or time limits. Find out about your chances of acquiring a second passport at a free consultation with Immigrantinlaw international law specialist.

The process of obtaining a residence permit in Malta

The procedure for obtaining a Maltese residence permit depends on the basis on which you are applying for it. For example, in the case of employment, the request is submitted by the host company through a special portal Single Permit Online. In case of family reunification, the sponsor from among the residents or citizens of Malta sends the relevant application through the official website of the Identità Agency. Prospective students, interns and researchers register their application on the Expatriates Unit portal. If the authorized agency has approved your request, the following will need to be done:

1. Obtain a national visa.
   This is issued for entry into Malta and on the same basis as a residence permit. It can be applied for through the consulate/embassy in your country of residence or through a visa application center (VAC). You submit the required documents including a letter of approval from the authorized body for the opening of a residence permit. On average, the request is considered within a month, after which your passport with a visa sticker is returned to you.
2. Move to Malta and apply for a residence permit.
   You get to Malta with an entry permit and until it expires, apply for a temporary resident card at the Identita Agency. Admission is by appointment via the online booking system. You will need to be fingerprinted, have your photo taken and pay an administration fee. The average processing time for a residence permit is about 10 days. While your application is being processed, you may be granted a document for temporary legal stay in the country.

Documents to apply for a residence permit

To open a Maltese temporary residence permit, you will in any case need the following list of documents:

• original and photocopies of a valid ID card (passport for traveling abroad) together with the visa;
• CV application form with personal information filled out in Europass CV format;
• medical insurance, which is valid in the territory of the European Union and covers from 100 000 EUR;
• in case of labor or commercial activity - results of medical examination;
• proof of residence on the island, for example, a real estate contract;
• information on the level of income, such as a bank statement or employment contract;
• a criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship and/or permanent residence;
• a receipt for the payment of the administrative fee for the procedure;
• civil status certificates (birth, marriage or divorce);
• proof of eligibility for immigration, such as proof of family ties to a Maltese or a certificate of university enrolment.

The list of additional documents depends on the way of registration of residence in Malta. For example, students will need a receipt of tuition fees, highly qualified specialists - a diploma from a higher education institution. Supporting documents must be in Maltese or English or provided with an official translation.

Terms and price of Maltese residence permit processing  

The exact period of consideration of a request for Maltese residency is not regulated by law, but on average it takes up to a month. Additional time will be needed to prepare the documents, and later - to open a visa. The standard term of registration of the residence permit card upon arrival on the island - about 10 days. Separately take into account the waiting time for an appointment. The validity of the residence permit depends on the basis on which you move to the state, but is usually up to 12 months.

To determine how much it costs to acquire a Maltese residence permit, it is necessary to summarize the cost of state fees, notary, translator, international law specialists. Take into account the costs of logistics (visits to the authorities), flight to the island and related costs. The table below summarizes the current administrative fees for 2025.

Extension of status and obtaining a Maltese permanent residence

Your temporary residence permit can be extended if you still have a reason to be in Malta. You will re-apply to the Identita Agency (or other authority responsible for issuing the original residence permit) at least one month before your current residency is expired. You will be required to resubmit your dossier and biometric data, and sometimes (for example, in the case of employment) you will be required to undergo a medical examination.

The Maltese permanent resident card is issued to those who have lived on the island with a residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years. You need to have a stable and legal source of income, housing on the territory of the state, as well as meet the conditions of integration into society. Permanent resident status is granted indefinitely, but the permanent residence card itself will be valid for 5 years with the right to reissue.

It is possible to naturalize and obtain citizenship in Malta after 5 years of cumulative residence from the previous seven-year period. The 12 months preceding the date of your request, you must be in the state without leave. You will need to pass a language test, as well as demonstrate law-abiding behavior and loyalty to the state.

Reasons for refusal and withdrawal of residence permit  

Common reasons for denial of Maltese residency include submitting the wrong set of documents, lack of any of them and failure of the applicant to comply with the requirements of the program. Applications are also rejected for reasons of national security, for example, if the applicant has a history of immigration violations.

Already issued residence permit is canceled if its holder ceases to meet the conditions for granting the status, including the loss of the reason to stay in Malta. This must be reported to the Expatriates Unit Identità (Expatriates Unit Identità), otherwise there is a risk of being forcibly removed from the state by the immigration officer.

Refusal and deprivation of residence permit can be challenged by filing an appeal. This must be done within three working days of receiving the decision from Identità. Applications are considered by a separate Immigration Appeals Board, but in many cases, they are not satisfied.

Contacting Immigrantinlaw migration specialists will help to avoid difficulties with moving to Malta. Step-by-step support of specialized lawyers is a guarantee of quick and easy obtaining your residence or citizenship of the European Union.

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Feedback from immigrants on obtaining residence permit in Malta

According to the observations of immigrants, Maltese migration policy is quite loyal, if compared, for example, with the countries of Western Europe. The country willingly grants residency to wealthy foreigners, whose stay on the island can be economically beneficial for the republic. There are popular types of residence permits for financially independent persons, real estate buyers, digital nomads.

Immigrant reviews mention the pros and cons of residency programs, with a high entry threshold for investment programs among the drawbacks. In fact, relocation with potential naturalization is available only to those who are financially secure, have a sought-after profession or family ties with local citizens and residents. In any case, it is recommended to emigrate with the support of specialists, so as not to make mistakes and denial of residence permit.

Where it is easier to obtain a residence permit: alternatives for immigration

To obtain a Maltese residence permit, a foreigner must meet a wide range of requirements, have a legitimate reason to move and financial means. It is much easier for citizens of the European Union to immigrate to the island. With the support of international law specialists, you can obtain a passport of one of the EU countries in the period from 4 to 12 months. For this purpose, you will not have to pass language and integration exams, provide information on income and previously live in the chosen state with a residence permit.

You can contact specialized Immigrantinlaw lawyers to competently check your status and documents, and then choose the optimal program of moving to Malta.  Specialists of international law will recommend you the best ways to open a residence permit or acquire EU citizenship. With comprehensive cooperation, lawyers do all the inquiries for you and perform most of the tasks, from dossier compiling to organizing the appointments at the state authorities. To find out more, you can book a free consultation today.

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About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.