Updated on July 15, 2025
Malta Residence Permit
Malta Global Residence Programme
for travelling Europe without visas
€30,000+
Investment amount
3+ months
Obtaining period
€15,000+
Annual income tax in Malta
The Malta Global Residence Programme was launched in 2013. Investors rent or buy real estate and pay an administration fee to get a residence permit.
Spouses, children, siblings, parents and grandparents can also become Maltese residents with the investor.
The Malta residence permit allows a holder to live in the country, travel across the Schengen Area without visas and optimise taxes.
Investors aren’t obliged to live in Malta. However, they cannot spend more than 183 days a year in another country.
The programme terms stipulate that the investor becomes a Maltese tax resident and pays taxes at reduced rates.
The flat tax rate of 15% is charged on income earned abroad and transferred to Malta. The minimum tax due for a family is €15,000 per annum.
Benefits of the Malta residence permit
1
Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries
The Malta residence permit equals a Schengen visa, allowing the holder to freely visit the Schengen countries for up to 90 out of 180 days.
The Malta residence permit equals a Schengen visa, allowing the holder to freely visit the Schengen countries for up to 90 out of 180 days.
2
Living, working and doing business in Malta
Residents can live in Malta for as long as their residence permits are valid. In addition, they can get a special permit to work or open a company in the country and there is also no inheritance tax.
Residents can live in Malta for as long as their residence permits are valid. In addition, they can get a special permit to work or open a company in the country and there is also no inheritance tax.
3
Tax optimisation
Investors and their family members become Maltese tax residents. Participants of the Malta Global Residence Programme enjoy a special tax regime:
15% on the income earned abroad and transferred to Malta;
0% on global income not transferred to Malta;
35% on the income earned in Malta.
The minimum tax payment for a family is €15,000 per annum. There are no additional taxes for the investor’s family members and inheritance.
Investors and their family members become Maltese tax residents. Participants of the Malta Global Residence Programme enjoy a special tax regime:
15% on the income earned abroad and transferred to Malta;
0% on global income not transferred to Malta;
35% on the income earned in Malta.
The minimum tax payment for a family is €15,000 per annum. There are no additional taxes for the investor’s family members and inheritance.
4
“Safe haven” in Malta
Investors aren’t obliged to relocate to Malta, but they must rent or buy real estate on the island. Thus, the family can quickly and freely come to Malta in case of trouble in the country of residence.
Investors aren’t obliged to relocate to Malta, but they must rent or buy real estate on the island. Thus, the family can quickly and freely come to Malta in case of trouble in the country of residence.
5
Access to European education and healthcare
Investors and their family members can also get medical treatment and education in Malta. As residents, they don’t need visas. The only time limit is the validity of residence permits.
Visa-free medical treatment and education are available in other Schengen countries if the period of stay doesn’t exceed 90 days.
Investors and their family members can also get medical treatment and education in Malta. As residents, they don’t need visas. The only time limit is the validity of residence permits.
Visa-free medical treatment and education are available in other Schengen countries if the period of stay doesn’t exceed 90 days.
Get maximum information about the process
Step-by-step procedure
Requirements for applicants
Required documents
Answers to frequently asked questions
Trusted by 500+ investorsWho can get a Malta residence permit
Expenses for obtaining the Malta residence permit
Investors pay an administration fee and buy or rent a property in Malta. The investment amount doesn’t depend on the family composition.
The investor pays taxes of at least €15,000 per annum and rents or maintains ownership of a residential property to stay a resident. The property cannot be rented out or subleased.
1 option
Renting real estate — €34,150+
The rental cost depends on the property location. If a property is in the south of Malta or the island of Gozo, the minimum annual rental price is €8,750. It is €9,600 for the north and centre of Malta.
2 option
Purchasing real estate — €270,200+
If the investor buys a property in the south of Malta or the island of Gozo, the administration fee is reduced to €5,500. The minimum property value is €220,000.
The minimum cost of a property in the north or centre of Malta is €275,000. The administration fee is €6,000.
The investor can sell the property and return the money if they give up the Malta residence permit.
Expenses for a family of 3
Spouses with a child
Individual cost calculation for the Malta residence permit
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Trusted by 500+ investorsReal estate qualifying for the Malta Global Residence Programme
Malta, Sliema
€920,000 — €1,300,000
Apartments in a new residential high-rise project near the sea
176 m² — 211 m²
2—3 
2 Malta, Valletta
€1,510,000 — €3,370,000
Modern apartments not far from sea in Valetta
123 m² — 281 m²1—3 1—3 Malta, Rabat
€575,000 — €5,750,000
Modern apartments in hotel complex
122 m² — 672 m²2—4 2—4 Schedule a meeting
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Step-by-step procedure for obtaining The Malta residence permit
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Due Diligence is a mandatory step in the Malta Global Residence Programme. Its results define whether the investor will get a residence permit or not.
Royal Immigration conducts a preliminary Due Diligence check to increase the chances of approval. A Certified Anti Money Laundering Officer checks the investor’s documents and searches for information about them in international databases. If there are any issues, we offer an alternative solution. For example, to add an affidavit or choose another programme.
The check is confidential, takes one business day and helps to reduce the rejection risk to 1%.
Pass a quick test and learn the nuances that can prevent you from obtaining a second citizenship.
4—5 weeks
Collection of documents and application to the tax service
Royal Immigration lawyers compile a list of documents required for the application. The investor provides the originals. The lawyers submit documents for translation, certify copies and fill out forms. The investor pays the administration fee.
The documents are sent to the Inland Revenue Department, IRD. The investor doesn’t have to apply in person.
2—4 months
Due Diligence
The IRD reviews the investor’s documents and might make additional requests for information during Due Diligence. Royal Immigration lawyers prepare answers to the requests and approve them with the investor before submitting them.
2+ weeks
Remote interview and obtaining a special tax status
The investor attends an online interview conducted by the Director of the Inland Revenue Department.
In case of the application approval, the Director issues a Letter of Intent confirming the investor’s participation in the programme. The investor pays the minimum tax and prepares accommodation documentation.
Special tax status is granted once the applicant meets all investment requirements, including providing proof of accommodation.
Tax clearance is typically issued within 2 to 4 weeks.
2+ weeks
Application for a residence permit and fingerprinting
The residence application is prepared remotely and submitted via the government’s online system.
Provided no additional documentation is required, the Agency generally issues an invitation to submit biometrics within 2 to 4 weeks of application submission. If additional requests are made, this timeline may be extended.
Once the invitation is received, the investor may schedule their biometrics appointment in Malta at their earliest convenience.
4—6 weeks
Getting a residence permit card
Upon successful verification of the documents, the Agency issues a notice confirming the residence permit cards are ready. This notification is sent by mail to the investor’s address in Malta.
The investor and their family must travel to Malta in person to collect their residence permit cards.
About 2 months
Residence permit renewal
The first Malta residence permit card needs to be changed after a year, and the following are issued for two years.
In order for the residence permit and special tax status to be extended, the investor must file their tax declaration and pay the tax due no later than April 30 of the year following the reporting year. The tax office sends confirmation of receipt of payment, and the investor then submits their biometrics and receives a new residence permit card at the Identity Malta Agency.
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Case Studies
Residence permit and Royal Immigration stay with you
Investors renew their residence permit cards every year. Moreover, the investor might need other documents if they plan to relocate to Malta or frequently visit the country. See how we continue to help our clients.
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Frequently asked questions
Adult investors with legal income, a valid health insurance policy and a certificate of no criminal record are eligible to participate in the program. The applicant also needs to know English or Maltese at a conversational level.
The investor’s spouse, children under 25, parents, grandparents and siblings can get residence permits under the programme. All adult family members must be principally financially dependent on one of the spouses.
Citizens of the EU countries, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, cannot participate in the Malta Global Residence Programme.
Yes, you do. The investor becomes a Maltese tax resident when getting a residence permit under the Malta Global Residence Programme.
A special tax regime applies to the programme participants. They pay taxes under the following rates:
15% on the income earned abroad and transferred to Malta;
0% on global income not transferred to Malta;
35% on the income earned in Malta.
The minimum tax on the income earned abroad and transferred to Malta is €15,000 per annum. There are no additional taxes for family members. Investors do not pay inheritance tax.
The investor fulfils two conditions: pay an administration fee and rent or buy a local property.
The standard administration fee is €6,000. It is reduced to €5,500 if the investor buys a property in the south of Malta or on the island of Gozo.
The minimum rental cost in the south of Malta and Gozo is €8,750 per annum. Alternatively, the investor can buy real estate there for €220,000. In other regions, the minimum rental cost is €9,600 per annum, and the minimum purchase price is €275,000.
The investor becomes a Maltese tax resident and pays taxes at reduced rates. The minimum tax on global income transferred to Malta is €15,000 per annum. Payment of taxes in Malta is a mandatory requirement for obtaining and renewing a residence permit.
It is only possible if the investor chooses to buy a property rather than rent it. However, the investor can sell the property and return the money if they give up the residence permit.
No, you can’t. The programme doesn’t allow renting out or subleasing the investment property.
No, you don’t have to live in Malta. However, you cannot spend more than 183 days a year in another country.
The first Malta residence permit is valid for a year, and the following ones are issued for two years each.
The holder must submit a tax return and pay the tax due by the end of April of the year following the reporting year. The tax office then sends confirmation of the payment, based on which the Identity Malta Agency replaces the residence permit card.
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