The Maltese law defines two main ways of obtaining permanent residence. The more expensive but faster option is getting it by investment by participating in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme.
The other path, naturalisation, implies no significant costs but takes much longer. Initial residence permits can be obtained for various reasons, such as employment, education, or family reunification.
Let’s go through the conditions of both options.
Malta permanent residence by investment
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme governs the issuance of permanent residency to investors. The terms are established by the Immigration Act L.N. 121 of 2021.
Eligibility. Citizens of non-EU countries, excluding Swiss and EEA citizens, are eligible for the program.
Close family members of the investor can get residency under the same application. This includes:
a spouse, including same-sex partners, in an officially registered marriage or in unregistered partnership;
children under 18;
principally dependent on the investor and unmarried children over 18;
principally dependent parents and grandparents.
There is no upper limit for the applicant’s age. For instance, at Immigrant Invest, we worked on a case for a couple of 70 and 76 years old. There are no limits for the investor’s relatives as well.
Requirements. Investors meet specific investment conditions by:
purchasing or renting residential property;
paying administrative and state fees;
donating to a Maltese charitable organisation;
demonstrating ownership of at least €500,000 in total assets, with a minimum of €150,000 held in liquid financial assets such as deposits, stocks, or bonds.
Ownership of the assets must be confirmed annually for the first five years after obtaining permanent residency.
Apart from a charitable donation of €2,000, there are also obligatory fees to be paid:
an administrative fee — €40,000;
a contribution fee — €28,000 for real estate purchase or €58,000 for rent.
Investors are not required to take exams on the Maltese language or history. Residing in Malta before or after obtaining the permanent residence permit for a specified time is also not required.
Permanent residency is granted for life, but the residents’ card should be renewed every 5 years.
1. Status for life.Permanent residence is granted for life. The residence card is renewed every five years. To renew the card, a foreigner needs to confirm they still have a registered address in Malta.
2. Opportunity to move to Malta.The long-term residence status in Malta allows you to enter the country anytime and stay there as long as you wish. On the other hand, permanent residents are not obliged to reside in the country.
Real estate in Malta for investors
Malta, Kalkara
€300,000 — €1,900,000
Apartments in a large-scale residential project on the first coastline
71 m²
1—3
1—3
Malta, Sliema
€920,000 — €1,300,000
Apartments in a new residential high‑rise project near the sea
176 m²
2—3
2
Malta, Kalkara
€400,000+
Penthouse in prestigious district of Malta
209 m²
3
2
3. Visa-free travel. The Malta PR holders may visit the Schengen Zone and stay there for 90 days out of 180.
4. Opportunity to add family members to the application. When obtaining permanent residence by investment, the applicant can provide permits to their principally dependent family members: a spouse or a registered partner, children, and parents and grandparents.
5. Return of the money for part of the investment.If the investor chooses to purchase accommodation, they will be able to resell it after five years of owning it.
6. Fast and simple obtainment. It takes approximately 6 months to get approval after you apply for permanent residency in Malta by investment. In comparison, when choosing other routes, the permanent residency is granted only after 6 years, including 5 years of residency and one year for the application process.
7. Tax optimisation. An individual gains Malta tax residency by spending more than 183 days per year in the country. While Malta does not provide special tax benefits for investors, getting permanent residency there can be advantageous. For instance, foreign income not transferred to Malta is taxed at 0%, while Portugal’s can go up to 48%.
The applicant gathers all the necessary documents, and Immigrant Invest assists in submitting them to Identity Malta, the official program regulator. Under the MPRP, investors are required to apply exclusively through a licensed agent.
Here’s the list of documents required:
a valid passport showing that the applicant is over 18;
a clean criminal record certificate;
a Due Diligence certificate;
a rental agreement or a property ownership certificate;
confirmation of fulfilment of the investment conditions;
medical record confirming that the main applicant and their family members do not carry contagious diseases;
medical insurance;
proof of legal funds for investment;
proof of family relations, if applicable.
The application processing generally takes at least 6 months. The cost depends on the property option chosen.
Сosts for obtaining Malta PR by investment
Expenses
Rent real estate for 5 years
Buy real estate
Real estate minimum
€50,000 — in the south of Malta or on the island of Gozo;
€60,000 — in the north or centre of Malta
€300,000 — in the south of Malta or on the island of Gozo;
€350,000 — in the north or centre of Malta
Administrative fee
€40,000
€40,000
Contribution fee
€58,000
€28,000;
+ €7,500 per parent or grandparent
Charitable donation
€2,000
€2,000
Total
€150,000+
€370,000+
Step-by-step process of obtaining Malta PR by investment
According to Immigrant Invest lawyers experience, a Malta permanent residence application process takes about 6 or more months.
PT8M
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Preliminary Due Diligence
Due Diligence is a required part of the Malta Permanent Residence Programme and determines whether the investor qualifies for residency.
A certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer conducts a preliminary Due Diligence review to prevent future application rejections or complications. The process is confidential and completed within one business day.
Immigrant Invest assists investors in obtaining Malta permanent residence under the official licence numbered RES-IMIN.
Up to 5 weeks
Documentation collection and submission
Documentation collection and submission
With the help of Immigrant Invest lawyers, the applicant collects the required documents, such as proof of source of funds, a certificate of no criminal record, health insurance policy, and other personal and financial documents.
Once the documents are prepared, the lawyers submit the application to the Residency Malta Agency. At this point, the main applicant is required to pay a non-refundable administration fee of €10,000.
6 to 8 months
Due Diligence
Due Diligence
The Maltese government’s rigorous vetting process ensures that only reputable individuals receive residency. This involves scrutinising financial, criminal, and personal records. Due Diligence takes at least four months. In our experience, it usually takes six to eight months.
Up to 8 months
Making the investment
Making the investment
Applicants choose between buying a property in Malta or committing to a rental agreement for 5 years. They also pay the contribution and administration fees at this stage, as well as make a required charity donation.
1 day
Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting
All applicants in the application visit Malta for fingerprinting and possibly other biometric data collection. This step aids in identity verification and security checks.
1 month
Final approval
Final approval
After the investor meets all the conditions, the Residency Malta Agency reviews the additional documents submitted by the lawyers. Following this review, Immigrant Invest receives final approval, confirming that the applicants will receive their permanent residence cards.
2 weeks
Residency card issuance
Residency card issuance
After verifying the investments and ensuring all criteria are met, the Maltese government processes the issuance of the permanent residency card. This card is valid for five years.
Annually for the first 5 years
Annual review of compliance with the program terms
Annual review of compliance with the program terms
The Residency Malta Agency verifies that the investor complies with the program requirements, including renting or owning a residential property in Malta and holding assets of €500,000. This verification is conducted annually for the first five years following the grant of permanent residence.
Malta permanent residence by naturalisation
Malta residents can apply for permanent residence without making an investment if they have lived there for five or more years.
Malta permanent residence requirements include proof of a yearly income of €20,000. If family members are included in the application, then the income has to be increased by 20% for each person.
Applicants confirm that they have been residing in Malta for at least five years and indicate the places of accommodation during that period. Aside from that, they are required to:
pass an exam on the country’s history and culture;
get medical insurance;
compose an explanation letter describing why they moved to Malta and stayed there.
It takes around a year to process an application for Malta permanent residency by naturalisation.
The Malta Permanent Residence Program is the quickest way to obtain permanent residency without language, history tests, or a five-year stay
How to obtain Malta citizenship after permanent residence
Participating in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme does not automatically lead to a Maltese passport. Foreigners are eligible for Maltese citizenship by naturalisation after at least five years of living in the country.
In addition to the residency requirement, applicants for Malta citizenship must meet the following criteria:
Have sufficient income.
Hold Maltese health insurance.
Pass exams in language proficiency, law, and history.
Provide written endorsements from at least two Maltese citizens who are not family members.
One guarantor must be a professional such as a lawyer, doctor, civil servant, or police officer. The second guarantor must be a Maltese citizen, at least 18 years old, who has not gained citizenship by naturalisation in Malta.
Investors are also eligible for Maltese citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. First, a foreigner acquires residency in Malta, maintains it for 1 or 3 years, and then applies for citizenship. The minimum investment is €690,000. The conditions include:
a contribution to the National Development and Social Fund of at least €600,000;
a charitable donation of €10,000;
renting property for 5 years for €16,000 annually or purchasing one for €700,000.
If the contribution is €600,000, a residence permit is to be kept for 3 years. If an investor contributes €750,000, it is cut to 1 year.
Key takeaways to know about Malta permanent residency
Participating in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme does not automatically grant a Maltese passport.
Maltese law offers two primary routes to permanent residency. The quicker but more costly option is residency by investment via the MPRP.
The alternative path, by naturalisation, involves minimal costs but requires a longer process. Residence permits can be obtained for reasons such as employment, education, or family reunification.
Permanent residency in Malta is granted for life, but the resident’s cards are to be renewed every five years.
The Malta PR holders may visit the Schengen Zone and stay there for 90 days out of 180. Other benefits include an opportunity to add family members to the application and a fast and simple obtainment process.
Malta permanent residence is provided to foreign nationals legally residing in the state for at least 5 years or by investment.
What are the benefits of PR in Malta?
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme does not require investors to live permanently in the country. Part of the investment might be returned in five years if the applicant chooses to purchase real estate.
The permanent residence status allows its holder to travel to any state of the Schengen Area visa‑free, obtain tax-residence status, be employed by a Maltese company, including top management positions, and do business.
How to get permanent residence in Malta?
There are two ways for foreign nationals to obtain Malta permanent residence.
The second way to become a permanent resident in Malta is by investment. In this case, the applicant will obtain the status in 6 months and will not be required to take any exams.
Can I become a tax resident of Malta without permanent residence status or citizenship?
Aside from the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, there is another way to move to Malta for investors—the Malta Global Residence Program. It implies obtaining a residence permit after renting or purchasing an apartment.
The rent should cost at least €8,750, and the minimum price for a real estate purchase is €220,000. Aside from that, applicants pay an administrative fee of €5,500 or €6,000 depending on the region of the country they chose accommodation in.
The processing of the applications takes at least 3 months.
How to purchase or rent accommodation in Malta?
To rent or purchase accommodation, the investor can take advantage of the services of a real estate agent in Malta or conduct the whole process by themselves.
Immigrant Invest does not search for housing options, but our agents help investors find reliable realtors and accompany the deal.
How long does it take to get Malta PR?
Malta permanent residence by investment can be obtained in 6 months after you applied. In other cases, getting PR status takes at least five years of living in Malta.
If I purchase real estate for, say, €190,000 and then spend another €100,000 for renovation, will the sum of the investments be enough to participate in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme?
The decisive factor is the price of the real estate mentioned in the sale and purchase agreement. This means that the described option is not eligible for the program and cannot serve as a ground to initiate the Malta PR process.
Is it necessary to prove the dependency of family members on the investor?
For some family members, it is required to provide a notarised certificate of principal dependency. This is the case with the investor’s children over 18 years old, as well as the parents and grandparents of the applicant and their spouse.
Is Malta easy to get PR?
Gaining permanent residency in Malta with the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, or MPRP, is a straightforward process. Applicants meet specific investment criteria, such as purchasing or renting property in Malta, donating to an NGO, and paying government fees. The process is designed to be efficient, requiring applicants to prove financial self-sufficiency and clean criminal records.
How much does it cost to buy a permanent residence in Malta?
One cannot ‘buy’ permanent residency in Malta. The investment path includes a strict Due Diligence check.
The cost of obtaining permanent residence in Malta by investment varies depending on the chosen route. Under the MPRP, there is a requirement to buy property valued at least €300,000 or rent property for five years, paying annually for at least €10,000. Applicants are also expected to pay a government contribution of €28,000 if purchasing property or €58,000 if renting. Other costs include administrative fees and a compulsory donation to a Maltese non-governmental organisation.
What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship in Malta?
The key difference between permanent residency and citizenship in Malta lies in the rights and privileges granted. Permanent residency allows individuals to live in Malta indefinitely with access to health care and other social services but does not confer the right to vote and is limited in terms of EU mobility rights.
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
