Malta Golden Visa: Residency by Investment

Malta’s Investment Residency Programme is a sought-after and effective immigration tool. It is aimed at businesspeople, foreign nationals with medium to high incomes, founders of promising start-ups, and digital nomads. The MPRP Malta (Malta Permanent Residence Programme) allows applicants to obtain permanent residency within 4–6 months, although in practice the procedure usually takes around a year. This is considerably faster than standard routes, such as those based on naturalisation.

There are several factors behind the popularity of Malta’s ‘Golden Visa’. The country is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. There is virtually no language barrier — English is used on a par with Maltese in all areas of life. The country operates a special tax regime known as the Remittance Basis of Taxation for non-domiciled residents (Non-Dom Residents). This offers special tax benefits and can be particularly advantageous for international businesspeople.

Permanent residence in Malta through investment is a good alternative immigration route, having replaced the traditional ‘Golden Passport’ scheme. The MIIP programme was closed in 2020, and the MEIN programme in April 2025, following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Now, Maltese investment residency can be obtained through the MPRP. The term ‘Maltese Golden Visa’ is somewhat inaccurate. You do not receive a standard residence permit, but rather permanent residency.

Financial requirements for the MPRP in Malta

The requirements are divided into several categories. These include proof of capital, the financial conditions for participation under both routes – property purchase and rental – government fees and charges, taxes and associated costs. Optional: additional costs for family members, if you have included them in your application. To qualify for Maltese investment residency, you must fulfil all the conditions in full.

MPRP asset requirements

These are the same for both options. You must provide documentary evidence that you hold personal net assets of at least €500,000, of which at least €150,000 must be liquid. An alternative option is €650,000 in total capital, of which at least €75,000 must be liquid. Cryptocurrency assets are not taken into account.

These may include deposits, shares or other securities – such as bonds, units, etc. The best proof of capital is recent bank statements, preferably clearly stating the source of the funds. The minimum period for holding the investment is the first 5 years; an audit is mandatory and must be carried out annually.

Basic costs associated with renting property

Uniform rules apply to all regions of Malta, including the island of Gozo and the southern districts: a minimum of €14,000 per year, totalling at least €70,000 over five years. The mandatory Government Contribution is €37,000. The administrative fee is €60,000, of which €15,000 must be paid upon submitting an application to join the MPRP Malta programme, with the remaining €45,000 payable after receiving Approval in Principle. Donation to a registered charity or non-governmental organisation — €2,000.

Basic costs associated with purchasing property

Minimum property value — from €375,000. Government fee — €37,000. The conditions regarding the administrative fee and charitable donation are the same as for renting property.

Costs for family members when renting or purchasing property

No administrative fee is payable for a husband/wife or partner, or for children under 29. If parents or grandparents are listed on the application, an additional €7,500 must be paid for each of them.

Related taxes and expenses

The final calculation does not include expenses that depend on your specific situation. These may include the cost of temporary accommodation in a hotel, return flights, interpreter services, transport, notary fees, etc. State fees and stamp duty – approximately 5 per cent of the property’s value – fall into the category of conditionally mandatory costs. Health insurance is also required, costing between €300 and €800 per person per year.

Preparing and submitting documents via a certified agent costs between €25,000 and €40,000. The regulator responsible for issuing licences to agents is the Maltese State Agency for Residency, RMA (Residency Malta Agency). You cannot submit documents for Maltese investment residency independently; they will not be accepted.

Requirements of the Malta Permanent Residence Programme

Maltese investment residency can be obtained by renting or purchasing property. The current version of the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) does not provide for the option of investing in a business or various financial instruments – such as shares, bonds, units or funds. The possibility of letting a property under the Malta ‘Golden Visa’ scheme depends on who owns it. If it is your own property, this option is permitted. For rented property, this option becomes available after five years of residence and only with the owner’s consent. There are no specific lists restricting the types of property eligible under the MPRP. You may choose to purchase or rent a property on the primary or secondary market.

General non-financial requirements:

• Language and integration into society. There are no specific conditions. There are no requirements for a minimum level of language proficiency, passing an exam or taking a test. You will only need to visit Malta once — to provide your biometric data. There are also no restrictions on the minimum length of stay on the island.
• Legal requirements, reputation. The standard Maltese compliance rules apply. You and all members of your family aged 18 and over will be required to undergo a four-tier government due diligence check. For children aged 14–18, a police clearance certificate (or certificate of good conduct) must be submitted. In practice, it is at this stage that a negative decision regarding a particular applicant is most often made. You will need to prepare in advance a police clearance certificate from several countries — your country of origin, your current country of residence, and all those where you have spent more than six months over the last ten years. You will not be granted permanent residence in Malta through investment if you, or any person listed on the joint application, have previously been refused a visa to a country with which Malta has a visa-free travel agreement. An exception applies if authorisation is granted following a previous refusal. The applicant must not appear on any sanctions lists, be under criminal investigation, be listed in Interpol databases or pose a threat to national security.
• Citizenship and legal status. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme is aimed at third-country nationals (TCNs). There is no direct route to citizenship; this option is available only through the standard naturalisation process. The duration of holding MPRP status may be taken into account, but there are certain conditions. These relate to the requirement to reside on the island. Citizens of countries subject to restrictions or sanctions are not eligible to apply for Maltese investment residency.
• Health and medical insurance. A comprehensive insurance policy is mandatory, covering outpatient treatment, inpatient care, hospitalisation and emergency repatriation. The minimum cover is €100,000 per person per year. The area of cover includes all EU and Schengen Area countries. The policy must be issued by a licensed Maltese provider or a recognised international company, such as Allianz, Cigna, AXA, etc. You must not suffer from any infectious or dangerous diseases that pose a threat to public health.

How to obtain Maltese permanent residence through investment

The procedure usually takes around 12 months or slightly longer. The Target SLA sets out shorter timeframes – from 4 to 6 months – but these are often not met. Most rejections are due to errors or omissions in the preparation of documents. It is therefore advisable to seek up-to-date information from a licensed agent during the preparation stage.

The main stages of applying for Maltese investment residency:

• Preparation and collection of the documentation package (1–2 months). Your licensed agent will carry out an initial check. They will also assist with the preparation. However, their remit does not include strategic matters, such as those relating to the choice of immigration route. Therefore, a fundamental decision must be made before any specific actions are taken.
• Submission of the application for Maltese permanent residence by way of investment, payment of a deposit (1–2 weeks). At this stage, the agent will handle all legal procedures; your involvement will be minimal. When you submit your application package, you will need to pay the first instalment of the administrative fee — €15,000. Once the initial screening has been passed, you can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit whilst awaiting the decision.
• Due diligence (4 to 8+ months). The investment status under the MPRP Malta programme does not exempt applicants from the due diligence procedure. The RMA will check your details against Interpol databases and carry out an audit of the source of funds. Provided there are no objections, you will receive in-principle approval.
• Fulfilment of financial conditions (up to 8 months). You do not need to pay the full amount straight away. You will have up to 8 months to fulfil all financial conditions. You have 2 months after receiving AIP to pay the balance of the administrative fee (€45,000), and up to 8 months to rent or purchase a property and pay the government contribution (€37,000). The difficulty lies in the fact that, to do this, you must have a personal bank account with a bank that processes transactions within the SEPA zone. This can present problems; one possible solution is an account with a payment service provider or a neobank.
• Submission of biometric data and issue of a plastic card (2–4 weeks). This final stage requires a personal visit to Malta by you and all family members listed on the application. The fingerprinting procedure will take 1–2 days. As a result, you will receive a Certificate of Maltese Residence and a permanent resident card.

There may be difficulties arising from discrepancies between actual processing times and the statutory timeframes. In practice, delays can occur at each of the five stages. For example, it often takes up to two months to gather and prepare the necessary documents. Temporary residence can be obtained one to two months after the initial screening is complete. Eight months to fulfil the financial requirements – particularly if you have opted for the property purchase route – is also often insufficient, as obtaining an AIP Permit (Acquisition of Immovable Property) frequently involves a waiting period of 4–6 months.

If you require an expert assessment of your specific situation or personalised advice on obtaining permanent residence in Malta through investment, please contact our specialists in whatever way is most convenient for you.