Through property acquisition, applicants are required to purchase a residential property in Malta. If the property is located in the south of Malta or Gozo the minimum investment amount is €300,000. Whereas in the rest of the country the minimum investment amount is €350,000. On top of the property purchase, there is an application fee of €68,000 plus a donation of €2,000 to an approved NGO in Malta. 

Qualified applicants can choose to lease property as opposed to purchasing property. If the rental property is location in the south of Malta or Gozo the lease must be €10,000 per year. While properties anywhere else in Malta require a minimum lease amount of €12,000 per year. Beyond your yearly lease amount, you will need to pay a €98,000 application fee to the Maltese government, donate €2,000 to an approved NGO in Malta and more. After you’ve rented a property, you are still eligible to purchase a property later, making this a strategic option for anyone testing the real estate market or eyeing their dream home for some time before purchase. 

The Residency Malta Agency ensures qualified and reputable candidates. Overall, the minimum eligibility requirements are as follows:

• be third country nationals, non EU, non EEA and non Swiss;
• not originate from sanctioned countries
• not gain any advantages under other applicable regulations and schemes;
• be in receipt of stable and regular financial resources, sufficient to maintain themselves and their dependents, without recourse to the social assistance system of Malta;
• must possess capital assets of a minimum value of €500,000 with at least €150,000 being financial resources.
• clean criminal record; and pose no threat to national security

Dependents

The MPRP program allows applicants to add up to four generations of dependents to their applications. This includes, the applicant and spouse, children under 18 years of age, dependents over 18 years of age, parents and grandparents. An additional fee of €7500 is tacked on for every adult dependent added to the applicant.

1.     Power of Attorney: To start the application process, the Main Applicant needs to sign a Power of Attorney (POA) document. This document allows the licensed agent to act on behalf of the Main Applicant for the MPRP.

2.     Lodge Application: The agent will submit the application and give the applicant a receipt.

3.     Due Diligence: The Agency applies a rigorous four-tier due diligence process to 1. Ensure applicants are reputable; 2. Verify a complete and correct application, and highlight potential risk factors; 3. Police clearance, including Interpol and Europol and potential sanctions against family members or associated businesses; 4. Put together the applicants “story” painting a coherent picture of the applicant and family members.

4.     Approval Board: The complete file is submitted to the approval board who will either issue a Letter of Approval in Principal (LAP) or rejection.

5.     Biometrics and Residency Card: Upon receiving a LAP, applicants and their families can travel to Malta and have their biometrics done to process Malta residence permit cards. However the cards won’t be issued until after the investment is secured.

6.     Make Investments: Settle the required investment either through property purchase or lease, along with all fees and donation.

7.     Annual Compliance: The Agency will request the agent to provide proof of leased property and sickness insurance coverage for the beneficiary every year for the first five years. This should be done by submitting a lease contract and an annual policy. After five years, the Agency can request these documents at its own discretion.

All-in-all, the Malta Permanent Residency Program is a cost-effective alternative to Malta’s Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services Program. It provides a reliable option for obtaining long-term residency in Europe and visa-free access to the Schengen area.

To obtain citizenship in Malta, individuals must be willing to be a tax resident and live in the country for six months each year for seven years. While this may require relocation, it provides a permanent solution. Otherwise, investors will enjoy permanent residency in Malta, allowing them to travel visa-free for life and reside in a safe and tax-friendly European island nation.

The Maltese residency by investment program enables you to establish permanent residency in Malta and travel without visa restrictions across Schengen for 90 out of 180 days. Additionally, you can take advantage of Malta’s reasonably priced real estate market along with up to four generations of family members.