Malta Residency by Investment Program

The Maltese permanent residence by Investment program was launched in 2015. In 2021, the rules were updated and the changes were incorporated in the Malta Permanent Residence Program Regulations, LN 121 of 2021.

Only investors from countries outside the European Economic Community (EEC) can participate in the Malta Permanent Residence Program. The main applicant’s spouse, children, parents, and grandparents can also be included in the same application.

The main applicant must fulfill the following investment conditions: buy or rent real estate, pay government fees, and make a charitable contribution. They must also confirm that they have a capital of €500,000.

Maltese permanent residence is granted for life. However, the permanent residence card needs to be renewed every five years (much less frequently than permanent residence cards issued by most other countries).

What does Maltese permanent residence offer?

1. Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries

Permanent residence in Malta allows you to visit the Schengen countries without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

2. Life, work, and Business in Malta

Maltese permanent residence by investment is for life. It allows the holder to move to Malta, register a company there, find a job and become a tax resident of the country.

3. Access to the European healthcare and education systems

Maltese permanent residents do not need a visa to be treated in medical clinics in Malta or to study in local schools or universities. They can also be treated in medical clinics and enrolled in educational institutions in the Schengen countries without a visa for up to 90 days.

4. Malta as a safe haven

Applicants are not required to live in Malta in order to obtain or maintain permanent residence by investment. They can treat it as a safe haven to escape to at short notice if needed by buying or renting real estate, opening a bank account and transferring money there. In the event of unforeseen problems in their original country of residence, Maltese permanent residents will be able to immediately leave their original country of residence for the safety of Malta.

5. Malta citizenship after five years

You can apply for Maltese citizenship five years after obtaining permanent residence. However, applicants for citizenship must live in the country for four out of five years and cannot leave the country for the year immediately before submitting their citizenship application. At the same time, they do not need to renounce their original citizenship.

Maltese citizens can travel without a visa to 186 countries throughout the world, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Japan and Singapore. Malta passport holders can also live in any EU country.

Who is eligible for Maltese permanent residence?

1. Main investor with proven legal income

• over 18 years of age
• with no criminal record
• not refused a visa in a country with which Malta has a visa-free agreement
• valid medical insurance policy
• capital of €500,000, including €150,000 in liquid financial assets

2. Spouse

officially registered marriage or civil marriage

3. Children under 18

4. Children over 18

• not married
• financially dependent on the main applicant or their spouse

5. Parents and grandparents of the main applicant or of their spouse

financially dependent on the main applicant or their spouse

Investor’s costs

The main applicant must fulfill the following investment conditions: buy or rent property, pay administrative and state fees, and make a charitable donation in Malta. All these conditions are mandatory, including buying or renting real estate.

Prerequisite for participation in the Maltese permanent residence program: capital of at least €500,000, including liquid financial assets (deposits, stocks, bonds) of €150,000. Ownership of this capital has to be confirmed annually for the first five years after getting permanent residence by investment.

1 _Option

Rent real estate

€160,000

The main applicant pays government fees and contributions, makes a donation to a charitable organization, and rents real estate in Malta for five years.

The minimum rental cost in the south of Malta and on the island of Gozo is €10,000 per annum, and in other regions, €12,000.

2 _Option

Buy real estate

€370,000

The main investor pays the government taxes and fees, makes a donation to charity and buys real estate. The minimum cost of property in the south of Malta and on the island of Gozo is €300,000, while in the north and in the center of Malta, it is €350,000.

The property must remain in the ownership of the main investor for five years from the date they were granted permanent residence. After five years, it can be sold and part of the investment returned.