The Maltese residence permit program for investors, the Malta Global Residence Program, was launched in 2013. Eligible applicants can obtain a Maltese residence permit by investment by renting or buying real estate and paying an administration fee.
The investor’s spouse, children, siblings, parents and grandparents can also be included in the application.
A Maltese residence permit by investment allows the holder to live in the country, travel visa-free to the Schengen zone and legally reduce their taxes.
Although they are not required to live in Malta, they cannot spend more than 183 days a year in any other country.
Under the terms of the program, the investor becomes a tax resident of Malta and pays taxes at reduced rates.
A flat tax rate of 15% is charged on income earned abroad and transferred to Malta. The minimum tax due per annum is €15,000 per family.
Possibilities
What are the benefits of a Maltese residence permit by investment
1
Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries
A Maltese residence permit replaces the Schengen visa, allowing the holder to freely visit the Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
2
Tax reduction
The investor and their relatives included in the residence permit application become Maltese tax residents. For participants in the Malta Global Residence Program, the following reduced tax rates are offered:
15% on income earned abroad and transferred to Malta;
0% on foreign income not transferred to Malta;
35% on income earned in Malta.
The minimum tax payment per annum is €15,000 per family. There are no additional taxes for the relatives of the investor included in the application and there is also no inheritance tax.
3
Access to the European education and healthcare systems
The investor and their family members included in the application can also receive medical treatment and education in Malta for the duration of the validity period of their residence permit.
They can also study and receive medical treatment without a visa in the Schengen countries for up to 90 days at a time.
4
Life, work and business in Malta
Malta resident permit holders have the right (but not the obligation) to live in Malta for the duration of their residence permit. Furthermore, by obtaining a special permit, they can also work or open a company there.
5
Safe haven in Malta
Holders of Maltese residence permits are not required to live there, but they must rent or buy real estate on the island. This property can also serve as a safe haven for the investor and their family in case of any unforeseen political or economic problems in their country of origin. They can simply arrive in Malta (without a visa) and live there.
Who is eligible to apply for a Maltese residence permit
Investor with legal income
over 18 years old
certificate of no criminal record
medical insurance
stable income
knowledge of English or Maltese at a conversational level
Spouse
officially registered or civil marriage
Children under 18
Children from 18 to 25 years old
financially dependent on the investor and their spouse
Siblings of the investor and their spouse
financially dependent on the investor and their spouse
Parents and grandparents of the investor and their spouse
financially dependent on the investor and their spouse
Budget
Investment costs
Investors must pay an administrative fee and buy or rent property in Malta. The amount of investment does not depend on the composition of the family members included in the application.
The investor needs to pay tax of at least €15,000 per annum, as well as rent or buy a local property, which cannot be rented out.
1Option investment
Property rental
€34,150+
The rental amount depends on the region in which the property is located. The minimum annual rental cost required by the residence permit program in the south of Malta and the island of Gozo is €8,750, and in other regions, it is €9,600.
Administration costs
€6,000
Minimum rental cost
€8,750
Minimum annual tax payment
€15,000
Medical Insurance
At least €400 per person, depending on their age and state of health
Costs of apostilling documents, as well as for an interpreter and a notary
At least €4,000, depending on the composition of the family and the number of documents included in the application
2Option investment
Purchasing real estate
€270,200+
The administrative fee is reduced to €5,500 if the investor buys real estate in the south of Malta or on the island of Gozo for at least €220,000.
In other regions of Malta, the minimum cost of the property to be purchased as part of the residence permit program is €275,000 and the administrative fee is €6,000.
When an investor gives up their residence permit in Malta, they can recover their investment by selling their property.
Administrative fee
€5,500
Cost of purchasing real estate
At least €220,000
Taxes/fees on purchasing real estate
At least €25,300
The notary fee is 1.5% of the value of the property + 18% VAT;
5% stamp duty;
5% real estate tax.
Minimum tax
€15,000
Medical insurance
At least €400 per person, depending on age and state of health
Cost of apostilling documents, translation and notary services
At least €4,000, depending on the composition of the family and the number of documents
The cost for a family of three
Investor, spouse, child
Renting real estate
Buying real estate
Obtaining a residence permit
Administrative fee
€6,000
€5,500
Real estate
€8,750
€220,000
+ tax of €25,300 upon purchase
Minimum annual tax
€15,000
€15,000
Medical insurance
€1,200
€1,200
Apostilling documents, translation and notary services
€4,000
€4,000
Total
€34,950
€271,000
Annual costs for maintaining a residence permit by investment
Property
€8,750 rent At least €1,800 per annum on utility bills
At least €1,800 per annum on utility bills
Taxes
€15,000
€15,000
Total
€25,550
€16,800
Individual calculation of the cost of a residence permit in Malta
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Step-by-step procedure on how to get a Malta residence permit by investment
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Preliminary Due Diligence
1 day
A Certified Anti Money Laundering Officer conducts a preliminary Due Diligence check in order to find potential problems and reduce the risk of our clients’ residence permit application being rejected to 1%.
Immigrant Invest signs an agreement with the applicant only after completion of their preliminary Due Diligence check. If we find that there is a realistic risk of the application being rejected, we offer an alternative: for example, we explain the applicant’s situation in greater detail through an affidavit or select another suitable program.
4-5 weeks
Collecting documents and submitting an application to the tax office
Collecting documents and submitting an application to the tax office
4-5 weeks
Immigrant Invest’s lawyers make a list of documents that are needed for the application. The applicant provides us with the originals. Our lawyers then submit documents for translation and certification, and they also fill out forms on behalf of the applicant. At this stage, the investor pays the administration fee.
The package of documents is sent to the Malta tax service, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). The investor does not need to be present when we submit the documents.
3-4 months
Due Diligence
Due Diligence
3-4 months
The tax service reviews the documents submitted on behalf of the investor and their family. During the Due Diligence process, the IRD may make additional requests for information, which are addressed by our lawyers after consultation with the investor.
2 weeks
Obtaining a special tax status
Obtaining a special tax status
2 weeks
The tax office notifies Immigrant Invest of approval of the application. The investor then travels to Malta for an interview at the tax office. It takes place in an informal setting and is necessary as the director of the tax service has to personally present the terms of the program to the investor.
After the interview, the director of the tax service issues their consent in principle to the investor’s participation in the program. The investor transfers the minimum tax payment and provides documents proving that they have rented or bought a property in Malta according to the terms of the residence program.
Within two weeks after payment of the tax due, Immigrant Invest’s lawyers receive confirmation of the investor’s special tax status and tax number. This certificate allows the investor to apply for a residence permit.
2 weeks
Applying for residence permit cards and submission of biometrics
Applying for residence permit cards and submission of biometrics
2 weeks
Immigrant Invest’s lawyers prepare a package of documents: certified copies of personal documents, a property rental or purchase declaration, the letter from the tax service and state forms that need to be filled out. The investor provides a statement from their bank account showing a balance of at least €30,000 for each family member.
The investor and their relatives included in the application travel to Malta to submit their application for a residence permit and submit their biometric data. They are accompanied by a lawyer from Immigrant Invest.
The application and the package of documents are submitted to the Identity Malta Agency by appointment. They also submit their biometric data for their residence permit cards.
6-7 weeks
Obtaining residence permit cards
Obtaining residence permit cards
6-7 weeks
The Identity Malta Agency considers the application on average for 5-6 weeks. When the verification of documents is completed, the agency sends a notice regarding the issuance of the residence permit cards by post to the investor’s Maltese address. The investor and their family travel to Malta and personally pick up their residence permit cards.
About 2 months
Extension of residence permit cards
Extension of residence permit cards
About 2 months
Maltese residence permit cards need to be changed annually. 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.
Additional services
Additional services after obtaining a residence permit
The Maltese residence card must be changed every year. Moreover, investors who plan to move to Malta or make frequent trips to the country will need additional documents. Below, we outline the ways in which we can continue to help our clients after they have received their residence cards.
We help extend the residence permit card
We help investors renew their residence permit cards annually.
We replace the residence permit card in case of loss
We prepare documents and accompany the submission of the application for a lost card from the first to the last step, when a replacement residence permit card is issued.
We register yachts owned by our clients
We follow the transaction from the moment the yacht is purchased up to its registration under the Maltese flag.
We help open a bank account
We prepare the necessary documents for our clients and fill out the forms required.
We select real estate
We help our clients choose an apartment online, we physically check the property and we send a video of it to the investor. We follow each step of the purchase and sale transaction, and help our clients conclude property rental agreements.
We help obtain driver's licenses
We advise the investor on the process of obtaining a driver's license. The investor will have to learnhe local regulations and pass an exam.
We register cars for our clients at Transport Malta
Additionally, we also help them take out vehicle insurance.
Schedule a meeting in 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.
Who is eligible to apply for a residence permit in Malta by investment?
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, their children under 25, parents, grandparents and siblings can also receive a residence permit as part of the same application. At the same time, all the adult family members included in the application must be fully financially dependent on the investor and their spouse.
Applicants from the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein cannot participate in the Malta Global Residence Program.
Participants in the program are offered the following special tax rates:
15% on income earned abroad and transferred to Malta;
0% on foreign income not transferred to Malta;
35% on income earned in Malta.
The minimum amount of tax on income earned abroad and transferred to Malta is €15,000 per annum. There are no additional taxes for family members. Also, investors do not pay inheritance tax.
What is the minimum investment in order to participate in the Malta residence permit program?
The standard administrative fee is €6,000. It is reduced to €5,500 if the investor buys property in the south of Malta or on the island of Gozo.
The minimum rental cost according to the terms of the program 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 per annum is €9,600 per annum, and the minimum purchase price is €275,000.
Together with the residence permit, the investor becomes a Malta tax resident and thus pays taxes at special, reduced rates. The minimum tax on income from abroad is €15,000 per annum. The investor must pay this minimum annual tax of €15,000 in order to obtain and renew their residence permit.
Can the initial investment made under the program be recovered?
Only if the investor selects the option of purchasing a property rather than renting it. When they eventually decide to give up their residence permit, they can sell the property and recover their initial investment.
Can I rent out the property that I bought to participate in the program?
No, the program does not allow renting out the property.
Do I have to live in Malta to maintain my residence permit?
No, you don’t need to live in Malta. However, you cannot spend more than 183 days a year in any other country.
How often do I need to renew my residence permit card?
The Maltese residence permit card is renewed every year. 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.
