How to obtain a Malta Digital Nomad Visa without rush and stress to escape cold Canadian winters

Talia Cohen is a marketing director from Canada. She is divorced and has two adult children and a dog.

Talia had lived in Canada her whole life but eventually wanted to move to a warmer country. However, she did not want just any place offering a residence permit. Her chosen country needed to offer a high quality of life, like in Canada, and be welcoming to expats. It was also essential for English to be widely spoken.

A Digital Nomad Visa in southern Europe seemed like the perfect solution.

First attempt at obtaining a visa. Talia initially chose Spain. She explored the requirements, gathered all the documents, and applied at the consulate on her own. Despite her efforts, her application was rejected a month later.

The rejection left Talia devastated, and she abandoned the idea of moving abroad. After a year, and with her daughter’s encouragement, she decided to try again. This time, however, she sought the help of an immigration agent to ensure success.

On a forum for expats, Talia discovered Immigrant Invest. After reading positive reviews from people who had successfully obtained digital nomad visas with the assistance, she decided to reach out to them.

Talia contacted Immigrant Invest in early June 2024 and scheduled a consultation.

During the consultation, lawyers explained the possible reasons for the rejection of Talia’s application for the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa.

Spain has strict requirements for work conditions. For example, the employment contract must be concluded for at least 3 years. However, at the application point, Talia’s contract was valid for a year and required extension. Therefore, it did not fit the Digital Nomad Visa conditions.

Immigrant Invest lawyers suggested exploring digital nomad visas in other countries.

Benefits of the Malta Digital Nomad Visa. Talia quickly decided on the Nomad Residence Permit in Malta for several reasons:

• pleasant climate — Talia looked forward to escaping the cold Canadian winters and spending time by the warm sea;

• location — she could easily travel across Europe;

• no income tax — as she works for a foreign company, she would not need to pay taxes on her income for the first year of holding residency;

• English as an official language — Talia would not face any language barriers.

Talia also appreciated that the Maltese Nomad Residence Permit can be extended for up to four years.

Malta residence permit for digital nomads

Requirements for the Malta Digital Nomad Visa. To qualify, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• work remotely;

• be employed or a director of a company registered outside Malta, or be a freelancer or self-employed;

• earn a monthly income of at least €3,500;

• rent or buy residential real estate for the permit’s duration;

• have health insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000.

Additional requirements include being over 18, coming from a non-EU and non-EEA country, and having no criminal record.

Talia met all the stipulated terms as she was officially employed in Canada, could work remotely, and earned twice as much as the required monthly threshold. Therefore, she signed an agreement with Immigrant Invest to pursue the Malta Nomad Residence Permit.

Talia decided to rent real estate because she did not have enough funds to buy a property.

From the start, she knew she wanted to live in a coastal town, so she focused her search on St Julian’s, Sliema, and Valletta.

There were no minimum price requirements for the chosen housing, giving Talia the freedom to select any apartment that suited her. Immigrant Invest offered several properties, arranged meetings with owners, and accompanied Talia during the selection process.

In the end, Talia chose a two-bedroom apartment in Sliema for €1,400 per month. After signing the lease, she paid for the first and last months plus a one-month deposit, bringing the total to €4,200.

With the Digital Nomad Visa, Talia has already moved to Malta with her dog and is enjoying life by the sea. Her apartment is so close to the beach that she swims every morning.

For the first time in years, Talia will spend the winter in a warm climate, and she is delighted that she will not need to wear layers of clothing. She also looks forward to traveling across Europe during the Christmas holidays and enjoying Christmas bazaars in different cities.

Talia loves Malta and her new life so much that she plans to extend her residence permit for at least another year. Immigrant Invest is ready to assist her with the process.