Malta Residence Permit for Investment - Steps of the Procedure

A small island nation in Europe—the Republic of Malta—has become the most generous in offering its passport to wealthy foreigners. Currently, Malta has three investment programs: obtaining a residence permit, permanent residency, and citizenship.

No other European country offers permanent residency through a separate program; this right is only realized after five years of residing with a temporary residence permit. Malta’s permanent residency opens wide opportunities for potential investors, especially after changes were made to the program in 2017:

Advantages of Permanent Residency Status in Malta:

• Visa-free travel to Schengen Zone countries and the UK.
• The ability to stay in any Schengen country for 90 days in six months.
• There is no taxation on income from other jurisdictions.
• Holders of the status can store their savings and assets in European banks.
• Investors are not required to take an exam on the state language or the country's traditions.
• The opportunity to live in a peaceful, developed country with a great climate.

Opponents may argue that other investment statuses provide similar benefits. However, there are significant differences, such as a lower investment threshold compared to citizenship and the ability to obtain the status without strict quotas.

Experts advise considering Malta’s permanent residency status not just as a “backup option” in case of problems at the main place of residence, but as an opportunity to integrate into the developed European community. After all, permanent residency grants its holders all the rights of a citizen except the right to vote.

At the same time, it does not lead to citizenship—there is a separate investment program for that in Malta.

Let’s look at the investment conditions.

Investment Options for Obtaining Permanent Residency

Investors are offered the following options (to choose from):

Option 1

Purchase real estate worth at least €320,000 (on the island of Gozo—starting from €270,000).

Option 2

Invest in securities of Maltese enterprises worth at least €250,000.

The applicant for permanent residency must have at least €500,000 in a bank account, or they must demonstrate an annual income from outside Malta of at least €100,000.

These amounts (one option must be selected) need to be confirmed every year—otherwise, the permanent residency will be revoked.

Permanent residency status is processed within 3 to 9 months. According to recent changes, an investor can include their spouse, children (regardless of age), children born to the couple after the investment procedure, as well as parents and grandparents in the application. All relatives are entitled to this status regardless of age.

What Requirements Must Potential Investors Meet?

• The investor must be of legal age.
• A certificate of no criminal record and medical insurance are required.
• The applicant must not be wanted by Interpol or on a list prohibiting entry into the EU.
• They must have a Schengen visa.

Tax Optimization

Tax residents of Malta who do not reside in the country are taxed based on remittances. This means that they are not taxed on income from foreign sources (income not earned in Malta) or capital gains arising outside Malta.

Tax is calculated only on income and capital gains arising in Malta. A Maltese citizen who is not a resident of Malta is taxed only on income earned in Malta.

Other tax benefits:

• No inheritance or death taxes;
• No land ownership tax;
• No property or wealth tax;
• No municipal or real estate taxes.

Malta’s Permanent Residency: The Key to Success

Although this program is the youngest among Europe’s investment programs, more than 2,000 applicants have already taken advantage of its conditions. In addition to the attractive terms, the speed of case processing is also a factor in their choice, including a fast and clear due diligence process conducted at four levels.

The program is popular among wealthy residents of China and Russia, but it has recently been expanding globally, attracting interest from countries like Turkey, Japan, India, and other Asian nations.

Steps in the Procedure for Obtaining Permanent Residency in Malta

Successfully navigating the legal nuances and avoiding bureaucratic pitfalls can be assisted by our specialists. Cooperation with the company consists of the following steps:

Step 1 – Preliminary Check – up to 2 days

You send the following via WhatsApp:

• Passport (all pages);
• Interpol and business reputation checks.

We conduct a preliminary check against sanctions lists.

Step 2 – Contract Signing – up to 1 month

You send the following by email:

• Signed agreement for legal support;
• Color copies of birth certificates for all family members;
• Color copies of national passports;
• 6 photos of each family member;
• Color copies of marriage certificates;
• Existing residency cards or IDs;
• Document confirming ownership of a business (for the main applicant only).

(You can obtain these online for free through the legal entities' registry portal).

• Document confirming current or previous employment (for the main applicant only). (Employment contract, employment record book, or hiring order).

We will guide you through the process:

• Power of attorney (for each individual);
• Notarized declaration of support for each dependent over 18.

Step 3 – Submission of Documents for Maltese Permanent Residency – up to 2 months

We submit the documents for Maltese residency remotely (via a lawyer to the Maltese government to receive a pre-approval letter).

Step 4 – Fulfillment of Investment Requirements – 1 month

You make the payment to the Maltese government fund (€24,500 per application).

You purchase bonds starting from €250,000.

You obtain permission to purchase real estate for €233.

You buy or rent real estate in Malta for:

• €320,000—minimum purchase price (Gozo island: €270,000); or
• €12,000/year for rental (Gozo island: €10,000/year).

Step 5 – Issuance of Permanent Residency in Malta – up to 1 month

We will guide you through biometric data submission for the Maltese permanent residency card.

You will receive a Maltese permanent residency card valid for 5 years. After 5 years, you can sell the bonds and real estate and recover your investments.