Can I use dividend income to qualify for the Nomad Residence Permit?

No — the NRP specifically requires income from professional remote work activities. Dividends, rental income, passive investment returns, and bank interest do not count toward the €42,000/year threshold. You must demonstrate active employment or freelance/contract work for employers or clients outside Malta.

Does the Nomad Permit lead to permanent residency in Malta?

No — the NRP is explicitly non-PR-track. After a maximum of 4 years, NRP holders must either transition to another qualifying residency programme (GRP, TRP, work permit, etc.) or leave Malta. EU citizens on the NRP can alternatively register under the standard EU residence process.

Can I work for a Maltese company on the Global Residence Programme?

Not as an employee — the GRP is for individuals whose income derives from foreign sources. You cannot be employed by a Maltese company under the GRP. However, you can hold a directorship in a Maltese company and receive director's fees (which would be taxed at 35% as Maltese-source income). Self-employed activity in Malta is also restricted — seek specialist advice.

What happened to the MPRP in 2025?

Legal Notice 146 of 2025 restructured the MPRP significantly: the government contribution was unified to €37,000 regardless of purchase vs. rental, the administration fee became €60,000 (up from the prior split), adult dependent fees were reduced from €10,000 to €7,500, and spouse/minor children are now included at no additional contribution fee. The overall cost profile became more transparent but slightly higher for most applicants.

Do I become a Maltese tax resident automatically on the Nomad Permit?

You become a Maltese tax resident if you spend 183+ days in Malta in a calendar year. On the NRP, the special 10% flat rate applies from day one of the permit regardless of the 183-day rule, but your worldwide tax position depends on your other country of domicile and any applicable double-taxation treaties. Consult a Maltese tax advisor for your specific situation.

Is Malta permanent residency the same as Maltese citizenship?

No — MPRP gives you permanent residency (the right to live in Malta indefinitely), not citizenship. Citizenship requires a separate process: 5 years of qualifying legal residence followed by a naturalisation application, character assessment, language requirement, and approval. Malta also has a separate Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services route for major investors.

EXPATLIFE.AI

Countries ▾

Western Europe

🇵🇹Portugal 🇪🇸Spain 🇫🇷France 🇮🇹Italy 🇩🇪Germany 🇬🇷Greece 🇳🇱Netherlands 🇬🇧United Kingdom+12 more

Central & Eastern Europe

🇨🇿Czech Republic 🇭🇷Croatia 🇭🇺Hungary 🇵🇱Poland 🇷🇴Romania 🇧🇬Bulgaria 🇷🇸Serbia 🇸🇮Slovenia+12 more

Asia & Middle East

🇹🇭Thailand 🇯🇵Japan 🇻🇳Vietnam 🇮🇩Indonesia 🇲🇾Malaysia 🇵🇭Philippines 🇹🇼Taiwan 🇰🇷South Korea+30 more

Americas

🇨🇦Canada 🇲🇽Mexico 🇨🇴Colombia 🇨🇷Costa Rica 🇵🇦Panama 🇪🇨Ecuador 🇦🇷Argentina 🇧🇷Brazil+15 more

Oceania & Africa

🇦🇺Australia 🇳🇿New Zealand 🇲🇦Morocco 🇿🇦South Africa 🇰🇪Kenya 🇪🇬Egypt 🇬🇭Ghana 🇲🇺Mauritius+13 more

📊 Compare Countries View all 122 countries →

Tools ▾

🧭

Plan B StrategyPAID

Your personal escape plan

🎯

Country Match Quiz

Find your ideal country in 2 min

🌍

Day Simulator

Live a day in any city with AI

🛂

Visa Finder

Search visas by nationality & budget

📊

Compare Countries

Side-by-side comparison tool

💰

Cost Calculator

Monthly budgets for 30+ countries

📋

Relocation Plan

AI step-by-step moving timeline

Expat Topics

D7, digital nomad, golden visa & more

💰

Cost of Living

Monthly budgets from €1,200 to €4,000+

🏥

Healthcare

Public, private & expat health insurance

🏠

Housing

Rent prices, best areas & lease tips

💼

Work & Business

Permits, remote work & freelancing rules

✈️

Moving Guide

Step-by-step relocation checklist

📚

Education

International schools & universities

🌆

Daily Life

Transport, food & expat communities

🌅

Lifestyle

Climate, culture & quality of living

📈

Investing

Property, stocks, tax & wealth building

🏙️ Cities 🏆 Rankings ✈️ Moving From View all →

🛂

🇲🇹 Malta

Visa & Residency

Malta offers one of Europe's most diverse residency menus: the Nomad Residence Permit for remote workers (10% flat tax, first 12 months exempt, income req €42,000/yr); the Global Residence Programme for non-EU nationals (15% tax on remitted foreign income); The Residence Programme for EU nationals (same 15% rate); the Malta Permanent Residence Programme for investors (€375,000 property or €14,000/yr rental + contributions); and the Malta Retirement Programme for pension-funded retirees. EU citizens register freely under the Ordinary Residence process.

Data verified June 15, 2026

€42,000/yr gross

Nomad Permit Income

~€3,500/mo; raised from €32,400 in April 2024

10% flat

Nomad Tax Rate

First 12 months fully exempt; renewable to 4 yrs total

€300/applicant

Nomad Application Fee

Non-refundable; family members €300 each

15% flat

GRP/TRP Tax Rate

On foreign income remitted; min €15,000/yr tax

€375,000 property

MPRP Investment

Or €14,000/yr rental; + €37k government contribution + €60k admin fee

8–10 weeks

EU Registration

Ordinary residence; no investment required

Overview🏙️Sliema 🏛️Valletta

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing🤝Directory

Overview

Key Takeaways

Eligibility: Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals; must work remotely for employer(s) or client(s) with no commercial presence in Malta
Tax rate: 15% flat on all foreign-source income remitted to Malta; minimum €15,000/year regardless of remittance
Tax rate: 15% flat on remitted foreign income; €15,000 minimum annual tax
Administration fee: €60,000 total (€15,000 on submission; €45,000 after Letter of Approval in Principle)
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
Age requirement: minimum 55 years old

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

Tools expats in Malta actually use

We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links — at no extra cost to you.

💸

Wise

First transfer fee-free

Send money abroad at the real exchange rate

Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers the mid-market exchange rate with fees 5-8x cheaper than banks. Hold 40+ currencies, get local bank details in 10+ countries, and spend worldwide with the Wise debit card. Used by 16M+ customers globally.

Try Wise Free

FAQs

Common Questions — Visa & Residency in Malta

Your personal Plan B · $19 one-time

Malta? Or somewhere better?

Plan B ranks the top 5 countries for your nationality, income, and timeline — visa pathway for each, tax angle for your passport, and a concrete 90-day action plan.

Build my Plan B