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Nomad Residence Permit (NRP)
The Malta Nomad Residence Permit (NRP) allows non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss nationals to live in Malta while working remotely for employers or clients based outside Malta. It was relaunched with a 10% flat income tax rate (effective December 2023) and a full 12-month tax exemption for new arrivals. The income threshold was raised to €42,000/year (€3,500/month gross) in April 2024. Total permit duration: up to 4 years.
- Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; must work remotely for employer(s) or client(s) with no commercial presence in Malta
- Income threshold: €42,000 gross/year minimum from professional remote work — dividends, rental income, and bank interest do NOT count toward this threshold
- Application fee: €300 per applicant (non-refundable); family members (spouse/partner, children) €300 each; same-sex partners eligible
- Tax: 10% flat rate on qualifying income; first 12 months fully exempt from income tax
- Minimum stay to renew: at least 5 cumulative months per year in Malta
- Maximum duration: 1 year, renewable annually up to 4 years total; does NOT lead to permanent residency
- Health insurance: mandatory; must be fully pre-paid for 1 year; travel insurance NOT accepted; NRP holders are NOT entitled to free public healthcare — a comprehensive private policy is required
- Process: Apply online at nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt → pay €300 → Letter of Approval in Principle → submit proof of accommodation and health insurance within 30 days → Letter of Final Approval → collect biometric residence card
- Processing: 30 working days standard; up to 60 working days if additional documents requested
- Schengen: NRP allows 90 days/180-day period travel within the Schengen area
- Ineligible: persons whose foreign company delivers services to a Maltese subsidiary of that same company
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Global Residence Programme (GRP) — Non-EU Nationals
The GRP gives non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss nationals special tax-resident status in Malta with a flat 15% tax on foreign income remitted to Malta and a minimum annual tax of €15,000. Foreign capital gains are completely exempt from Maltese tax even if remitted. This programme requires purchasing or renting qualifying property in Malta and paying a one-time administration fee.
- Tax rate: 15% flat on all foreign-source income remitted to Malta; minimum €15,000/year regardless of remittance
- Maltese-source income: taxed at standard progressive rates (up to 35%)
- Foreign capital gains: COMPLETELY exempt from Maltese tax, even if remitted to Malta — a key advantage over most EU countries
- Administration fee: €6,000 (€5,500 if property is in southern Malta or Gozo)
- Property purchase requirement: minimum €275,000 in northern/central Malta; €220,000 in southern Malta or Gozo
- Property rental requirement: minimum €9,600/year in northern/central Malta; €8,750/year in southern Malta or Gozo
- Minimum stay: none specified, but cannot spend more than 183 days in any single other country per year
- Family: spouse, children (under 25), siblings, parents, and grandparents can all be included at no additional fee beyond their own property/health insurance requirements
- No EU work rights: GRP confers residency but not the right to work for a Maltese employer (except as a self-employed individual or company director)
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The Residence Programme (TRP) — EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals
TRP is the EU-citizen equivalent of the GRP, offering identical tax benefits (15% flat on remitted foreign income, €15,000 minimum, foreign capital gains exempt) under the same property requirements. EU citizens can also choose ordinary residence without any special tax status if they prefer standard progressive rates.
- Tax rate: 15% flat on remitted foreign income; €15,000 minimum annual tax
- Administration fee: €6,000 (€5,500 for southern Malta/Gozo property)
- Property purchase: minimum €275,000 (northern/central) or €220,000 (south/Gozo)
- Property rental: minimum €9,600/year (northern/central) or €8,750/year (south/Gozo)
- Processing time: approximately 3–4 months
- Cannot spend more than 183 days/year in any single other EU member state
- EU citizens may alternatively choose standard Ordinary Residence (free, no investment) and pay standard progressive PIT rates — this is better if your income is primarily Maltese-source
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Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) — By Investment
The MPRP (updated by Legal Notice 146 of 2025) provides lifetime permanent residency through a combination of a government contribution, property commitment, and asset requirement. It is the fastest route to Maltese permanent residency for non-EU nationals and includes up to 4 generations in one application.
- Administration fee: €60,000 total (€15,000 on submission; €45,000 after Letter of Approval in Principle)
- Government contribution: €37,000 (unified regardless of whether purchasing or renting — simplified from prior two-tier system in LN 146/2025)
- Adult dependent fee (excluding spouse/minor children): €7,500 per person (reduced from €10,000 under LN 146/2025)
- Property — purchase: minimum €375,000 anywhere in Malta; must be held for minimum 5 years
- Property — rental: minimum €14,000/year; must be maintained for minimum 5 years
- Asset requirement: €500,000 total assets of which at least €150,000 must be liquid financial assets (alternative: €650,000 total with €75,000 liquid)
- Philanthropic donation: €2,000 to a registered Maltese NGO
- Processing: 6–12 months; temporary permit issued within ~1 month of submission
- Validity: lifetime permanent residency; residence card renewed every 5 years
- Visit requirement: none — no minimum stay required to maintain status
- Schengen travel: 90 days/180-day period across all Schengen states
- Path to citizenship: eligible after 5 years of qualifying residence
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EU Citizens — Ordinary Residence Registration
EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals have the right to reside in Malta without a visa or investment. After 3 months, registration with Identità (Identity Malta) is required. This is free, straightforward, and the most common route for EU expats.
- Required documents: valid EU passport/ID, proof of accommodation (rental agreement or property ownership), comprehensive health insurance (if not yet working/paying SSC in Malta), proof of financial self-sufficiency
- Processing: approximately 8–10 weeks; residence card issued
- Working in Malta: EU citizens working legally in Malta pay 10% SSC and gain full public healthcare access on par with Maltese nationals
- EHIC/GHIC: EU citizens on short stays or during the registration period can use their EHIC card; UK citizens use GHIC
- Path to permanent residency: after 5 years of continuous legal residence, apply for EU long-term residency status
- Path to citizenship: eligible to apply for Maltese nationality after 5 years of legal residence (requires language test and cultural knowledge, with interview and fitness/character assessment)
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Malta Retirement Programme (MRP) — For Retirees
The MRP is designed for non-Maltese nationals aged 55+ who receive periodic pension income and want to retire in Malta with a preferential 15% flat tax on their pension remitted to Malta.
- Age requirement: minimum 55 years old
- Tax rate: 15% flat on pension remitted to Malta; minimum €7,500/year tax (main applicant) + €500 per dependent
- Pension must represent at least 75% of chargeable income; lump-sum pensions do NOT qualify
- Property purchase: minimum €275,000 (northern/central Malta) or €220,000 (Gozo/south); OR rent €9,600/year (north/central) or €8,750/year (Gozo/south)
- Application fee: €2,500 (non-refundable, payable by bank draft)
- Minimum stay: at least 90 days/year in Malta (averaged over 5 years); cannot spend more than 183 days/year in any single other country
- Cannot be employed in Malta (non-executive board roles are permitted)
- Must speak English or Maltese and not be domiciled in Malta or plan to establish domicile within 5 years of application
- Health insurance: comprehensive coverage covering Malta required
