2024

Reading Time: 5 min

Malta permanent residence to relocate to a calm EU country and improve English language skills

I always wanted my sons to be successful and prosperous, and I knew that a good education was the key to achieving this. So, I set a goal for myself: to help Asfaw and Mesfin enrol in prestigious universities.

The first step was, of course, English—nowadays, it’s everywhere. I thought, why make them learn grammar in Ethiopia when I can immerse them in an English-speaking environment in Malta instead?

Haile, 38

Recruiter for the Saudi Arabia-based company

Clients’ names and photos have been changed

This case was provided by our expert

Igor Buglo

Head of the Maltese office, MBA

Malta permanent residence to relocate to a calm EU country and improve English language skills

Why the investor chose Malta permanent residency over any other

Haile is a recruiter from Ethiopia who works for a large company in Saudi Arabia. He lives between two countries: for 28 days, he works in Saudi Arabia, and then he returns home for another 28 days.

His family—his wife Genet and two minor sons, Asfaw and Mesfin—used to wait for him in Ethiopia.

Haile and Genet wanted their sons to have a bright future: to enrol in reputable universities and build successful careers. Consequently, Haile insisted that Asfaw and Mesfin learn English so it would be easier for them to find well-paid jobs in the international market.

The spouses sent their sons to a summer English school in Malta two years ago and were impressed with the progress. Besides, the boys enjoyed it on the island.

Therefore, when the sons grew older, the couple decided it would be better for them and Genet to move to the European Union and look for university options there. Without hesitations, the family chose Malta.

Living in Malta would allow the boys to improve their English language skills and later enrol in good European universities. At the same time, Genet could enjoy the warm climate she is used to in Ethiopia.

Haile surfed the Internet and discovered he could obtain Malta’s residency by investment. However, he couldn’t apply for it independently, so he contacted several companies offering migration services. In the end, he chose to proceed with Immigrant Invest.

Haile,

Investor from Ethiopia

My search for permanent residency in Malta for my family was challenging. I contacted several agencies, but their services did not meet my expectations.

At some point, I decided to explore Immigrant Invest and was pleasantly surprised by how informative their website and blog were. I downloaded guides that provided all the valuable information about procedures and related expenses.

So, I left a request, and the manager promptly called back. He patiently answered all my questions and provided clear guidance.

The personalised service and attention to detail made me feel confident in my decision to proceed with Immigrant Invest. I was sure my family’s move to Malta would be well-managed.

In Malta, it is possible to obtain a temporary or permanent residence permit by investment. Haile chose the latter option for several reasons.

First, Malta permanent residency offered a lifelong status that did not need to be extended every few years. Therefore, the investor and his family would not need to repeatedly collect documents and file applications. Moreover, they would not have to worry about the potential risk of their applications being rejected.

Second, permanent residency didn’t impose relocation and residence requirements on Haile. With a temporary residence permit, he wouldn’t be allowed to spend more than 183 days in any country other than Malta. This was inconvenient as Haile planned to continue living in Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia and only visit his family for short periods.

Finally, the temporary residence permit required the investor to pay taxes in Malta, which Haile didn’t want to do as he was already paying taxes in Saudi Arabia.

Permanent residency could be obtained by purchasing real estate. It would allow Genet, Asfaw and Mesfin to move as soon as they received their residence permits. Haile would not be required to live in Malta to maintain the status.

Requirements for Malta Permanent Residency

When participating in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, investors must fulfil three investment requirements:

purchase or rent residential property;
pay administrative and state fees;
make a charitable donation.

While meeting all these requirements is compulsory, investors can choose between buying or renting real estate. The minimum price of a property depends on its location.

In both cases, the investor must keep the real estate for at least 5 years.

The primary applicant must also possess assets totalling at least €500,000, including at least €150,000 in liquid financial assets like deposits, stocks, or bonds.

Investments under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme

Expenses

Purchase of real estate

Rent of real estate

Investment

€300,000 — in southern Malta or the Gozo island

€350,000 — in northern or central Malta

€10,000+ per annum — in southern Malta or the Gozo island

€12,000+ per annum — in northern or central Malta

Contribution fee

€28,000

€58,000

Administrative fee

€40,000

Donation

€2,000

Applying for Malta permanent residency: a step-by-step process

Immigrant Invest lawyers accompanied the investors at every step and were ready to answer any questions they had. Haile got his application approved 7 months after contacting Immigrant Invest.

August 2nd, 2023

Preliminary Due Diligence

Before entering into the agreement with the investor, Immigrant Invest conducted preliminary Due Diligence. This included checks against international databases and online sources, allowing us to identify potential refusal risks based on Haile’s background. Due diligence was entirely confidential.

Haile and Genet provided their passports, and we completed the check within one day. Their backgrounds were clean, so we signed a Service Agreement.

+ 4 weeks, €5,120

Collection of documents

Immigrant Invest lawyers compiled a list of documents for Haile to provide. It included:

Haile and Genet’s passports;
birth certificates of the couple and their sons;
proof of required assets;
bank references for Haile;
no criminal record certificates for Haile and Genet;
health insurance for the whole family;
passport-size photos.

When the papers were ready, the lawyers filled out application forms and notarised and apostilled documents. They also arranged translations by certified translators.

Haile paid €200 for notary services, €320 for apostilles, and €3,000 for translations. He also bought four health insurance policies at €400 each.

Immigrant Invest lawyers compiled a list of documents for Haile to provide. It included:

Haile and Genet’s passports;
birth certificates of the couple and their sons;
proof of required assets;
bank references for Haile;
no criminal record certificates for Haile and Genet;
health insurance for the whole family;
passport-size photos.

When the papers were ready, the lawyers filled out application forms and notarised and apostilled documents. They also arranged translations by certified translators.

Haile paid €200 for notary services, €320 for apostilles, and €3,000 for translations. He also bought four health insurance policies at €400 each.

+ 1 day, €10,000

Application

The documents were submitted to the Residency Malta Agency. Haile paid 25% of the administrative fee — €10,000.

+ 6.5 months

Main Due Diligence

The Residency Malta Agency checked Haile and his wife against international databases.

February 18th, 2024

Approval

The Agency sent Immigrant Invest a notice of approval, and the lawyers informed Haile that he could invest.

He had 8 months to rent or buy real estate and pay a contribution fee and 2 months to transfer the remaining sum of the administrative fee.

The Agency sent Immigrant Invest a notice of approval, and the lawyers informed Haile that he could invest.

He had 8 months to rent or buy real estate and pay a contribution fee and 2 months to transfer the remaining sum of the administrative fee.

Individual cost calculation for permanent residence in Malta

Get the cost calculation

Choosing and purchasing real estate in Malta

Under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, foreigners make investments after they receive approval from the Residency Malta Agency. So, we started looking for a suitable property only after the decision on Haile’s application.

Since Haile couldn’t come to Malta to choose it, Immigrant Invest real estate experts visited several premises and sent photos and videos. When the investor decided, the lawyer signed a sales and purchase contract with the Maltese owner on his behalf.

Haile chose a three-bedroom penthouse in Sliema for €400,000. It has floor-to-ceiling windows, large terraces, and spacious living and dining areas. It overlooks the garden and offers a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Upon buying real estate, Haile also paid a contribution fee of €28,000, a charitable donation of €2,000, and the remaining administrative fee—€30,000.

Examples of real estate available under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme

https://iminblog.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/7-1.jpg

Malta, Kalkara

€325,000 — €1,800,000

Stylish apartments near sea Kalkara, Malta

72 m² — 327 m²

1—4

https://iminblog.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-35.jpg

Malta

€400,000+

Penthouse in prestigious district of Malta

209 m²

https://iminblog.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-34.jpg

Malta, Kalkara

€245,000 — €270,000

Maisonettes, apartments and penthouse in prestigious part of Malta

104 m² — 127 m²

2—3

Haile and his family’s lives after obtaining Malta PR

The process of obtaining Maltese permanent residence cards took 2.5 more months.

Once the investor has met all the programme requirements, the Residency Malta Agency reviewed the additional documents submitted by the lawyers. After completing this review, Immigrant Invest received the final approval, indicating that the applicants were eligible to receive their permanent residence cards.

Haile and his family came to Malta to submit their fingerprints. On May 14th, 2024, the Residency Malta Agency issued certificates of residence and residence permit cards and delivered them to the Immigrant Invest office in Malta. Then, the lawyers sent them to Haile in Saudi Arabia and Genet in Ethiopia.

In total, Haile spent €475,120 on obtaining Maltese permanent residency.

After becoming Maltese residents, Genet, Asfaw, and Mesfin swiftly moved to their penthouse in Sliema. Now, they enjoy the town’s tranquillity and proximity to the sea, which they lacked in their home country.

Asfaw and Mesfin started attending English language courses. Genet is looking for a good international school where her sons can start studying at the beginning of the next school year. She hopes that by then, Asfaw and Mesfin’s language skills will be good enough to allow them to study properly.

Genet also plans to take a language course herself to make interactions with locals easier.

Haile has visited his family once, and they took a short trip to Greece together. When Haile has his days off again, they plan to travel to more countries.

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