Last reviewed on August 29, 2024
Malta Permanent Residence Programme
Living and travelling visa-free in Europe
6+ months
Application processing time
90 out of 180 days
Visa-free stay in the
Schengen Area
Third-country nationals — non-EU, non-EEa and non-Swiss — can participate in the Malta Permanent Residence Program. Investors obtain permanent residency in Malta, which allows them to live in the country and visit the Schengen Area for 90 days in 180. Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of the program.
Applicants fulfil several investment conditions. They buy or rent real estate, pay government fees and make donations. They also confirm that they have assets of at least €500,000, where €150,000 are liquid financial assets.
Malta permanent residence is granted for life. However, the permanent residence card must be renewed every five years, much less frequently than temporary residence permits.
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme was launched in 2015. In 2021, the rules were updated. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations, L.N. 121 of 2021, provide the new terms and conditions.
Benefits of Malta permanent residence
1
Visa-free travel to the Schengen countries
Maltese permanent residents can visit other Schengen countries without visas. The visa-free stay is up to 90 out of 180 days.
Maltese permanent residents can visit other Schengen countries without visas. The visa-free stay is up to 90 out of 180 days.
2
Living, working and doing business in Malta
Investors get permanent residence valid for life. They can move to Malta, register a company, find a job and become a tax resident of the country.
Investors get permanent residence valid for life. They can move to Malta, register a company, find a job and become a tax resident of the country.
3
Access to European healthcare and education
Maltese permanent residents don’t need visas for medical treatment in Maltese clinics or study in local schools and universities. They can also access clinics and educational institutions in other Schengen countries: a visa-free visit can last for up to 90 days.
Maltese permanent residents don’t need visas for medical treatment in Maltese clinics or study in local schools and universities. They can also access clinics and educational institutions in other Schengen countries: a visa-free visit can last for up to 90 days.
4
“Safe haven” in Malta
Investors aren’t obliged to live in Malta to get or maintain a permanent residence. They can create a safe haven: buy or rent housing and open a bank account to transfer capital in the country. If there are any issues in the country of residence, investors can quickly move to Malta with their families.
Investors aren’t obliged to live in Malta to get or maintain a permanent residence. They can create a safe haven: buy or rent housing and open a bank account to transfer capital in the country. If there are any issues in the country of residence, investors can quickly move to Malta with their families.
5
An opportunity to become Malta’s tax resident
If an investor spends 183+ days a year in Malta, they can become a tax resident. The country’s tax system may be attractive compared to some other states. However, getting a PR permit doesn’t lead to any incentives in Malta — investors pay taxes according to general rules.
If an investor spends 183+ days a year in Malta, they can become a tax resident. The country’s tax system may be attractive compared to some other states. However, getting a PR permit doesn’t lead to any incentives in Malta — investors pay taxes according to general rules.
6
A convenient path to residency
Applicants mustn’t pass any language tests or live in Malta for several years to apply for permanent residence.
Applicants mustn’t pass any language tests or live in Malta for several years to apply for permanent residence.
7
Permanent residence for 4 generations of a family
Investors’ spouses, children, parents and grandparents can be included in the applications.
Investors’ spouses, children, parents and grandparents can be included in the applications.
![price](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fa.storyblok.com%2Ff%2F176292%2F1013x1024%2Fab83b49af0%2Fbook-en-malta-pmg-png.webp&w=2048&q=65)
Get maximum information about the process
Step by step procedure
Requirements for applicants
List of documents
Answers to frequently asked questions
PDF, 36 pages, 12 MB
Who can get Malta permanent residence
Expenses for obtaining Malta permanent residence
Investors fulfil several investment conditions. They buy or rent a residential property, pay administrative and state fees, and donate to a Maltese organisation. All the requirements are mandatory; the only choice is renting or purchasing real estate.
The main applicant must have at least €500,000 in available assets, including at least €150,000 of liquid financial assets, such as deposits, stocks or bonds. The investor confirms ownership of these assets every year during the first five years after getting permanent residence.
1 option
Renting real estate — €150,000+
The investor pays government fees, donates to a charitable organisation and rents a residential property in Malta for five years.
The minimum rental price depends on the region:
€10,000+ per annum — in the south of Malta and on the island of Gozo;
€12,000+ per annum — in the north or centre of Malta.
2 option
Purchasing real estate — €370,000+
The investor pays government fees, makes a donation to a charitable organisation and buys residential property in Malta.
The minimum property price depends on the real estate location:
€300,000+ — in the south of Malta and on the island of Gozo;
€350,000+ — in the north or centre of Malta.
The investor must own the property for at least five years after obtaining permanent residence. After five years, they can sell it and return a part of the invested money.
Expenses for a family of 4
The spouses, a child and the investor’s father.
![Individual cost calculation for Malta permanent residence](/_next/image/?url=%2Fimages%2Fc2a%2Fc2a-price-en.png&w=2048&q=65)
Individual cost calculation for Malta permanent residence
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
We will send you a quote by email within 1 hour.
Real estate qualifying for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme
Why is the agent's licence important?
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations, L.N. 121 of 2021, don’t allow investors to apply for permanent residence directly. A licensed agent accredited by the Government of Malta is a guarantor that the investor meets the programme conditions. The licensed agent assists the investor at every programme stage, from preparing documents to receiving a permanent residence card.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of the Malta Permanent Residence Programme.
![License № AKM-IMIN](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fa.storyblok.com%2Ff%2F176292%2F1024x724%2Fbcb35225a2%2Fakm-imin-license-2023.jpg&w=768&q=75)
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining Malta permanent residence
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Due Diligence is a mandatory step in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme. Its results define whether the investor will get the status or not.
A certified Anti Money Laundering Officer conducts a preliminary Due Diligence check to avoid application rejection or any other issues in the future. They look for information about the investor in the same databases that the Residency Malta Agency use.
The check is confidential and is completed in one working day.
Immigrant Invest has its own Compliance Department. Its preliminary Due Diligence reduces the rejection risk to 1%.
Take a short anonymous test and learn more about the nuances of Due Diligence checks
4-5 weeks
Collection of documents and application
Immigrant Invest lawyers compile a list of required documents and help the investor prepare them. The lawyers compile the investor’s welfare history, translate documents into English, certify copies through a notary and correctly fill out application forms.
The lawyers apply to the Residency Malta Agency when the documents are ready. At this stage, the main applicant pays a non-refundable administration fee of €10,000.
4—6 months
Due Diligence
The Residency Malta Agency conducts Due Diligence. Sometimes, the agency asks for additional information, for example, about the investor’s business and finances. In such cases, Immigrant Invest lawyers prepare the documents and answers, approve with the investor and submit them to the agency.
Due Diligence takes at least four months. In our experience, it usually takes six to eight months.
Up to 8 months
Fulfilment of investment conditions
The Residency Malta Agency sends a notice of approval to Immigrant Invest. As soon as the approval is received, the applicant must fulfil the investment conditions within the stated period.
The remaining €30,000 of the administration fee is payable within two months from the approval date. Payment of the contribution fee, making a donation, and renting or purchasing property can take up to eight months.
At the same time, the applicant gets medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 per person.
When all the conditions are met, Immigrant Invest lawyers submit the supporting documents to the Residency Malta Agency.
At least 1 day
Fingerprinting in Malta
The investor and all family members included in the application must travel to Malta and provide their fingerprints at the Residency Malta Agency. Fingerprinting takes place after the application has been approved. However, it can be done before all the investment conditions are fulfilled.
1 month
Final approval
The Residency Malta Agency reviews the additional documents provided by the lawyers after the investor has fulfilled all the programme conditions. After that, Immigrant Invest receives the final approval, which means that the applicants will get permanent residence cards.
2 weeks
Getting permanent residence cards
The Residency Malta Agency issues a Certificate of Residence and permanent residence cards and sends them to Immigrant Invest lawyers in Malta. The investor gets the documents by courier and doesn’t have to visit Malta to collect them.
The permanent residence card for adult applicants is valid for five years. A minor applicant renews the card a month after turning 14 or 18 years old.
Annually for the first 5 years
Annual review of compliance with the programme terms
The Residency Malta Agency checks whether the investor meets the programme conditions: rents or owns a residential property in Malta and has assets of €500,000 in the disposal. The check is conducted annually for the first five years after obtaining permanent residence.
Case studies
Additional services after obtaining permanent residence
The Maltese permanent residence card must be renewed every five years. Over time, other needs may arise. For example, to become a tax resident or register a car. See how we continue to help our clients.