Residency by investment
MaltaMalta Permanent Residence Program · Permanent residency in Malta
- From
- EUR 169,000
- Timeline
- On request
Why Malta
Permanent residency for four generations
Your spouse or civil partner, unmarried dependent children under 29, and dependent parents and grandparents.
The program has no physical presence requirement.
Your residence gives you access to the Schengen area.
Applications go to Residency Malta Agency, the government body that oversees the program.
How you qualify
Routes to permanent residency in Malta
Property lease
EUR14,000 a year
Lease a residential property in Malta for at least five years. The amount is the minimum annual rent. ↗
Property purchase
EUR375,000
Buy a residential property in Malta and hold it for at least five years. ↗
Both routes add the government administration fee of EUR 60,000 and the government contribution of EUR 37,000, and a EUR 2,000 donation to a registered NGO. You also show EUR 500,000 in assets, with at least EUR 150,000 in financial assets, or EUR 650,000 with at least EUR 75,000. ↗
Legal framework
The law behind the Permanent Residence Program
The figures on this page come from the law of Malta and the official pages of its authorities. We check them regularly.
- Authority
- Residency Malta Agency ↗
- Last regulatory update
- 22 July 2025. Legal Notice 146 of 2025 set the administration fee at EUR 60,000 for the main applicant, paid in two installments. Source ↗
- Information checked
Last change: 2025
Since 22 July 2025 (Legal Notice 146 of 2025), the non-refundable administration fee is EUR 60,000 for the main applicant, paid in two installments. The government contribution is EUR 37,000 whether you buy or rent.
See all legislation (3)
How the program has changed
-
Mar 2021
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme replaces the earlier program. Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations ↗
-
Jan 2025
New fee schedule: administration fee of EUR 50,000. Malta Permanent Residence Programme ↗
-
Jul 2025
Administration fee of EUR 60,000 in two installments; single contribution of EUR 37,000. Malta Permanent Residence Programme ↗
Legislation in force
| Legislation | What it covers | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (S.L. 217.26, Legal Notice 121 of 2021, as amended) ↗ | Programme rules: qualifying property, contributions, dependants | Laws of Malta; consolidated text by Residency Malta Agency · 29 March 2021 |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme (Amendment No. 2) Regulations, 2024 (Legal Notice 310 of 2024) ↗ | Fee schedule in force from 1 January 2025 | Government Gazette of Malta; in force 1 January 2025 |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice 146 of 2025) ↗ | Fee schedule in force from 22 July 2025 | Government Gazette of Malta No. 21,472, 22 July 2025 |
Sources of the figures (4)
| # | Source | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 (definition of 'qualifying owned property') and reg. 15(1)(c) ↗ | From · Property purchase |
| 2 | Maltese Citizenship Act, Chapter 188, arts. 6 and 7 (legislation.mt) ↗ | Card |
| 3 | S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 (definition of 'qualifying rented property') and reg. 15(1)(c) ↗ | Property lease |
| 4 | S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 (definition of 'donation') ↗ | Routes to permanent residency in Malta |
FAQs · Malta
What families ask about Malta
Short answers, each with its legal basis. Your advisor goes through the rest with you.
All questions, by countryWho can apply?
Non-EU nationals aged 18 or over who hold a qualifying property in Malta, pay the government fees and contribution, make the donation and hold assets of at least EUR 500,000 (including EUR 150,000 in financial assets) or EUR 650,000 (including EUR 75,000 in financial assets). Applications go through an agent licensed by Residency Malta Agency.
Legal basis: Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (S.L. 217.26), regs. 3, 9 and 15 ↗
What is the minimum investment and which routes exist?
There are two property routes: buy a home for at least EUR 375,000 in Malta or Gozo, or rent one for at least EUR 14,000 a year, in both cases for at least five years. Both routes add the government administration fee of EUR 60,000, the government contribution of EUR 37,000 and a EUR 2,000 donation to a registered Maltese NGO.
Legal basis: S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 and First Schedule (Legal Notice 146 of 2025) ↗
When are the administration fee and the contribution paid?
The non-refundable administration fee of EUR 60,000 is paid in two stages: EUR 15,000 within one month of filing and EUR 45,000 within two months of the letter of approval in principle. The EUR 37,000 government contribution is paid within eight months of the approval in principle.
Legal basis: S.L. 217.26, First Schedule (Legal Notice 146 of 2025) ↗
Do I have to keep the property, and for how long?
Yes. The purchased or rented property must be held for at least five years from the date the residence certificate is issued, and the assets of EUR 500,000 or EUR 650,000 must also be maintained for the first five years. After that you can change property, as long as you keep a qualifying residence in Malta.
Legal basis: S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 and reg. 9(2) ↗
How can I become a citizen?
Maltese citizenship by naturalization is at the discretion of the Minister. The law requires residence in Malta throughout the twelve months before the application and periods adding up to at least four years within the six years before that, so in practice five of the last seven years, together with adequate knowledge of Maltese or English and good conduct; the Minister may also count earlier periods. There is no formal language or civics exam. Malta allows dual citizenship, so you keep your current passport. Spouses of Maltese citizens can register after five years of marriage and cohabitation.
Legal basis: Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188), arts. 6(2)(b), 7 and 10(1); Komunità Malta, acquisition of citizenship ↗
Who can I include?
Your spouse or partner in an equivalent relationship, children under 18, unmarried children aged 18 to 28 who depend on you, adult children with a disability, and your parents and grandparents, and those of your spouse, if they depend on you.
Legal basis: S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 (definition of dependant) and First Schedule ↗
Can my parents apply with me?
Yes. Parents and grandparents of the main applicant or of the spouse can be included as dependants when they are wholly and principally dependent on you, with proof of the relationship and of the support. They receive their own residence card for the same period as yours.
Legal basis: S.L. 217.26, reg. 3 (definition of dependant) ↗
Can I live in Malta while the application is processed?
Yes. Since July 2025, when you submit the application you and your dependants can request a temporary residence permit valid for one year, renewable for further one-year periods until the application is decided. It lets the family settle and enroll children in school without waiting for the final certificate.
Legal basis: S.L. 217.26, reg. 9(6), added by Legal Notice 146 of 2025 ↗
Do I need to travel to Malta to apply?
The application is filed by your licensed agent in Malta, so you do not need to travel to file it. You travel for the biometric data and the residence cards once the approval is granted, and to choose the property if you have not done so before.
Legal basis: Residency Malta Agency, MPRP; S.L. 217.26, reg. 5 ↗
How do I renew the residence card?
The residence itself is indefinite; the card is renewed every five years, with proof that you still hold a qualifying property and meet the program conditions. Your licensed agent handles the renewal with the Agency.
Legal basis: Residency Malta Agency, MPRP ↗
How to Demonstrate Legal Funds for Residency by Investment
Legal Requirements for Investment Residence
Which Residency by Investment is best for your profile?
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