For years, Europe was simply somewhere we went on holiday. Then, almost without us noticing, it became part of our family’s everyday life. That was when Laura and I realised we wanted more flexibility and decided to explore residence by investment options.
With Immigrant Invest’s help, we obtained permanent residence in Malta within approximately 9 months. It has made travelling to Europe much easier and given us the freedom to see our children without having to plan every trip around visas.
Thomas
Entrepreneur from South Africa
To protect our clients' privacy, names are changed and photos are AI-generated.
Case at a glance
Applicants
Investor and his wife
Strategic goal
Visa-free entry to the Schengen Area
Current citizenship
South Africa
Chosen status
Malta Permanent Residence
When Europe became part of family life
Thomas, a South African businessman in his early 50s, and his wife Laura have 2 children studying abroad: one in the Netherlands and the other in Italy. The couple were proud that both children were building independent lives in Europe, but their new geography changed the rhythm of the whole family.
Until then, Europe had been only an occasional destination, with trips once every 2 or 3 years. After the children moved there to study, those visits became a regular part of family life, shaped by university holidays, birthdays, and Christmases together.
The children could plan around their studies, while their parents had to consider both business commitments and immigration rules. For Thomas and Laura, each trip meant checking visa validity, permitted stays, and the timing of the next application. As visits to Europe became more frequent, planning family time started to feel unnecessarily complicated.
What Thomas and Laura wanted was simple: to be able to see their children when it suited them, rather than when their visas allowed it.
Finding a solution without leaving South Africa
Thomas and Laura could have followed their children to the Netherlands or Italy. Both countries seemed like natural choices at first, but the couple knew their children might move again after graduation. In a few years, a first job could take either of them to Germany, France, or somewhere else entirely.
Rather than tie their own residence plans to their children’s circumstances, Thomas and Laura wanted to choose a country that suited them in its own right. South Africa would remain home, with Thomas’s business, their friends, and the life they had built there. What the couple needed was a European base that could fit around that life.
Thomas and Laura started looking into their options and, after some initial research, decided to seek professional advice. By the time they approached Immigrant Invest, they already knew what mattered most:
- no need to relocate from South Africa or meet strict physical-presence requirements;
- easier and more predictable travel within the Schengen Area;
- status independent of where their children might live in the future;
- no need to work, study, or run a business in the country granting residence.
With all this in mind, Immigrant Invest recommended Thomas and Laura to consider residence by investment options, specifically the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, MPRP.
Why Immigrant Invest recommended Malta
Residence by investment allows non-EU nationals to obtain a legal status in another country by making financial contributions. Unlike many other permits, it is not tied to employment, studies, or family reunification.
Malta was a particularly good fit for Thomas and Laura. Under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, successful applicants obtain permanent residence without having to make Malta the centre of their everyday life or meet any minimum stay requirements. The status also allows visa-free short stays in other Schengen countries, making regular trips across Europe much easier.
Another advantage is that Maltese residence status itself is permanent. Unlike temporary residence permits, it does not need to be renewed every few years, so Thomas and Laura do not have to worry about whether their right to live in Malta will be extended. Only their residence cards need periodic renewal.
On top of that, Malta offered a more affordable route than many other European residence by investment programmes.
In addition to the investment, applicants must prove a net worth of either €500,000, including €150,000 in financial assets, or €650,000, including €75,000 in financial assets
Finding the right home in Malta
Once Thomas and Laura had chosen Malta, they faced another decision required by the programme: whether to buy or rent property.
For now, renting made more sense. The couple’s main home remained in Johannesburg, and they were not yet sure how much time they would spend in Malta. Thomas therefore preferred not to commit to a purchase straight away.
The couple focused on Sliema, a well-connected coastal area with restaurants, shops, and easy access to Valletta. Immigrant Invest helped them shortlist suitable properties, compare the options, and connected them with Maltese landlords.
Eventually, Thomas and Laura chose a 3-bedroom apartment within walking distance of the seafront. The extra bedrooms meant that both children could stay with them when the family met in Malta. The property cost €2,000 per month, or €24,000 per year, above the €14,000 programme minimum.
Before the lease was signed, Immigrant Invest reviewed the agreement and supporting property documents to ensure they complied with the programme rules.
Sliema has plenty of pleasant places to walk and unwind, including green spaces and pedestrian-friendly areas. One of the most popular is the 3-kilometre seafront promenade
How Thomas and Laura obtained Malta permanent residence
The process of obtaining Malta permanent residence took around 9 months and was handled mostly remotely.
Immigrant Invest coordinated the application from start to finish, allowing Thomas to continue running his business and living in South Africa throughout. This support was especially important because MPRP applications must be submitted through a licensed agent, and Immigrant Invest is authorised to act in this capacity.
Here is how Thomas and Laura’s path to permanent residence took shape.
August 7th, 2025
Preliminary Due Diligence
Immigrant Invest's Compliance Department first reviewed Thomas and Laura’s backgrounds and assessed possible risks before the application process began. As Thomas was a business owner, particular attention was paid to his commercial activities, financial history, and sources of wealth.
This preliminary check helped our team understand in advance which documents would be needed and whether any parts of the investors’ profiles required additional explanation.
Immigrant Invest's Compliance Department first reviewed Thomas and Laura’s backgrounds and assessed possible risks before the application process began. As Thomas was a business owner, particular attention was paid to his commercial activities, financial history, and sources of wealth.
This preliminary check helped our team understand in advance which documents would be needed and whether any parts of the investors’ profiles required additional explanation.
+ 3 weeks, €5,000
Document preparation
Immigrant Invest's lawyers prepared the application and created a personalised list of documents for Thomas and his wife to collect. The lawyers also arranged translations and certifications and completed the required government forms.
At this stage, Thomas paid €5,000 for preparation of documents.
Immigrant Invest's lawyers prepared the application and created a personalised list of documents for Thomas and his wife to collect. The lawyers also arranged translations and certifications and completed the required government forms.
At this stage, Thomas paid €5,000 for preparation of documents.
+ 1 day, €15,000
Application
Once the application file was complete, Immigrant Invest submitted it to Residency Malta Agency. Investors did not need to travel to Malta at this stage.
Thomas paid the first €15,000 of the required administration fee.
Once the application file was complete, Immigrant Invest submitted it to Residency Malta Agency. Investors did not need to travel to Malta at this stage.
Thomas paid the first €15,000 of the required administration fee.
+ 5 months
Due Diligence by Maltese authorities
Residency Malta Agency carried out its own review of investors’ backgrounds, financial positions, and source of wealth and approved the application.
Residency Malta Agency carried out its own review of investors’ backgrounds, financial positions, and source of wealth and approved the application.
+ 1 month, €89,400
Fulfilment of investment conditions
After receiving approval, Thomas had up to 8 months to fulfil the programme’s investment requirements, but he completed this stage within just 1 month.
With Immigrant Invest’s help, he signed the lease for their apartment, paying €2,000 for the first month’s rent and a €2,000 refundable security deposit.
The investor also paid the remaining €45,000 administration fee and the €37,000 government contribution, donated €2,000 to a Maltese NGO, and purchased health insurance for himself and his wife at €700 per person.
After receiving approval, Thomas had up to 8 months to fulfil the programme’s investment requirements, but he completed this stage within just 1 month.
With Immigrant Invest’s help, he signed the lease for their apartment, paying €2,000 for the first month’s rent and a €2,000 refundable security deposit.
The investor also paid the remaining €45,000 administration fee and the €37,000 government contribution, donated €2,000 to a Maltese NGO, and purchased health insurance for himself and his wife at €700 per person.
+ 3 weeks, €1,000
Biometrics submission
As a mandatory part of the process, Thomas and Laura had to travel to Malta to submit their biometrics. Immigrant Invest booked the appointment in advance, making it easier for the couple to fit the trip around Thomas’s business schedule.
During the appointment, investors had their fingerprints and photographs taken and provided their signatures for the residence cards. The entire procedure was completed in one day, allowing them to return to South Africa without extending the trip or making an additional visit.
Thomas paid €1,000 for his and Laura’s 5-year residence cards.
As a mandatory part of the process, Thomas and Laura had to travel to Malta to submit their biometrics. Immigrant Invest booked the appointment in advance, making it easier for the couple to fit the trip around Thomas’s business schedule.
During the appointment, investors had their fingerprints and photographs taken and provided their signatures for the residence cards. The entire procedure was completed in one day, allowing them to return to South Africa without extending the trip or making an additional visit.
Thomas paid €1,000 for his and Laura’s 5-year residence cards.
April 29th, 2026
Permanent residence cards issuance
Once all programme conditions had been met and the biometrics submitted, Maltese authorities issued Thomas and Laura’s permanent residence cards.
Immigrant Invest's lawyers collected the documents on the investors’ behalf and sent them to Johannesburg.
Once all programme conditions had been met and the biometrics submitted, Maltese authorities issued Thomas and Laura’s permanent residence cards.
Immigrant Invest's lawyers collected the documents on the investors’ behalf and sent them to Johannesburg.
Permanent residence with room to adapt
Receiving permanent residence was not the end of the process. For the first 5 years, investors must keep meeting the programme requirements, including maintaining the required assets and a qualifying home in Malta. Immigrant Invest will assist Thomas with the annual compliance checks required by Residency Malta Agency.
Even so, the status gives the family plenty of flexibility for the future. Thomas and Laura can change their property strategy over time and may also include their children later.
Changing the property strategy
Since the couple chose to rent, they can continue leasing property for at least €14,000 a year. At the same time, they are not tied to the rental option permanently. If Malta becomes a more important part of their life, they can switch to a property purchase.
Anna Semenyuk,
Acting Client Manager Director
Thomas and Laura are free to switch from renting to buying during the first 5 years. However, the new property would need to cost at least €375,000, and there can be no gap between the rental and the purchase.
After 5 years, the minimum property value no longer applies, although Thomas and Laura still need to maintain a residential address in Malta.
Keeping the option open for the children
The permanent residence status in Malta may also become useful for Thomas and Laura’s children later. For now, both children have their own student residence permits in European countries, so Thomas and Laura did not need to include them in the Malta application.
Their plans, however, may change after graduation. If either child decides not to remain in their current country, they may still be added to Thomas’s MPRP status later, provided they meet the requirements for dependants at that time.
For the family, this creates another layer of flexibility. The Malta status was initially chosen to make it easier for Thomas and Laura to stay close to their children. In time, it may also give the children another residence option without the family having to start a new investment migration process.
What changed after obtaining permanent residence
Thomas and Laura did not move to Malta after obtaining permanent residence. Their home remained in South Africa, Thomas continued running his business, and their children kept on their studies in the Netherlands and Italy.
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme changed Thomas and Laura’s relationship with Europe. Before obtaining the status, the couple’s every trip began with an administrative calculation; they had to think about visas before they could think about dates. Now Thomas and Laura can make short trips throughout the Schengen Area more freely and at shorter notice.
The change was already showing in the family’s plans. In May, all four of them met in Italy to celebrate the younger daughter’s birthday. Later that summer, Laura and the children spent part of their holiday in Malta, putting the Sliema apartment to use exactly as they had hoped: as a comfortable place to come together in Europe.
You can also obtain residence or citizenship in another country to create a relocation Plan B, travel more freely, or diversify your assets internationally. Contact Immigrant Invest, and our experts will help you choose the right programme and manage the process from start to finish.
