Malta Golden Visa Programme

Malta Golden Visa Investment Requirments

The Malta Golden Visa Programme is available to Non-EU investors and their families, subject to eligibility criteria and background checks, as well as a financial investment. The requirements for the investor is summarised as follows:

Property Requirement:

• If purchased, the property value must be a minimum of €350,000 for a property situated in Malta or €300,000 for a property situated in Gozo or the South of Malta.
• If rented, the lease value must be for a minimum of €12,000 per year for a property situated in Malta or €10,000 for a property situated in Gozo or the South of Malta.

Contribution Requirement:

Make a Government Contribution which amount will depend if the qualifying property is rented or purchased, as it follows:

• If the property is purchased, the contribution will be €28,000 plus €7,500 for every parent or grandparent of the principal applicant or spouse.
• If the property is rented, the contribution will be €58,000 plus €7,500 for every parent or grandparent of the principal applicant or spouse.

Donation Requirement:

• Make a Donation of €2,000 to a local non-governmental organisation registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, or as otherwise approved by the Agency.

Also, an administrative fee of €40,000 per application will be due. Upon submitting the application, €10,000 will need to be paid, and the balance (€30,000) upon the file's approval.

Our Advisory team will be happy to hear from you and provide you with a capital outlay for the Malta Golden Visa Programme, also known as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MRPR) so you can have the full associated cost to apply for residence in Malta.

Our team will guide you through the MPRP process whilst the Consultants from Malta Sotheby’s International Realty will be able to find you the right property to fulfil the investment criteria whilst also catering for your family needs.

Expert Guidance on Acquiring Your Dream Property and Meeting Investment Requirements

Are there additional requirements for residency under the Malta Golden Visa Programme rules?

All applications must be submitted by an Approved Agent, providing evidence to the Residency Malta Agency that the applicants are fit and proper persons; a strict 4-Tier due diligence awaits the prospective applicant and any dependants upon application.

Aside from making the required qualifying investment, applicants must have:

• Regular resources sufficient to maintain themselves without depending on the social assistance system of Malta;
• Sickness insurance policy in respect of all risks typically covered for Maltese nationals;
• Assets with a minimum value of not less than €500,000, out of which a minimum of €150,000 shall be in the form of financial assets.

A formal application is submitted to the Residency Malta Agency, and a proper Due Diligence check will be carried out.

Malta Golden Visa Application Process

Step 1 (Week 1-2) - The first step is to onboard the client with CSB Group. At this stage, basic identification documents are needed at this stage. Such documents include Passport, Utility Bill as Proof of Address, CSB Application Form, and CV or Linkedin Profile.

Step 2 (Week 3-4) – Gathering all necessary forms and supporting documentation. CSB will be able to support you with this process. Once the application is complete, it is submitted to Residency Malta. Once the application is submitted, stringent due diligence checks are carried out.

Step 3 (Week 4-Week 20) – Once the application passes the due diligence checks, an approval in principle is issued.

Step 4 (Week 21) – Applicants and dependants will need to travel to Malta to have their biometric data taken for the issuance of their Maltese residency card.

Step 5 (Week 21)  – The main applicant has to make the required investments – purchase/rent out a residential property, settle the government contribution and carry out the donation to a registered Maltese VO/NGO. Examples of VO/NGOs are sports organisations, environmental and animal awareness organisations, social welfare organisations, cultural organisations etc. After this is successfully done, the applicant and dependents will become Maltese residents and a residence card is issued.

Documentation Required 

• Passport Copies;
• Original birth/marriage/divorce certificates; 
• Police Clearance Certificates; 
• Address proof such as recent utility bills; 
• Bank statements;
• Supporting documentation for source of funds and wealth;
• Health insurance policy;
• Witnessed Power of Attorney. 

Renewal Process for the Malta Golden Visa

Residence cards are initially granted for a period of 5 years, unless the minor dependant reaches the age of 14 or 18. In such instances, the card's validity comes to an end on the dependant's birthday. 

Renewal requests after the 5-year expiry have to be done via the agent. Biometric data has to be recaptured before cards can be extended, hence, all beneficiaries are requested to be in Malta to take their biometric data after the first five years of residence. A fee of  €27.50 per year for renewals applies.

The following is a list of documents needed for the renewal procedure:

• Renewed Health Insurance Policy;
• Valid Passport;
• Current Maltese Residency Card;
• Renewed Lease Agreement/ Purchase Agreement.

It is good to note that after the fifth annual compliance procedure is submitted and approved, the applicants can opt to find another residential property with no minimum price. Therefore, the residency card can then be issued on this new address. 

Potential Challenges in the Malta Golden Visa Application

There are a number of common issues and difficulties applicants may face when applying for the Malta Golden Visa. Below is a list of tips which can be considered to avoid such issues. 

1. Engage CSB Group as your trusted and reputable licenced agent;
2. Use Malta Sotheby’s International Realty to find the most ideal property for your residence in Malta, be it through renting or purchasing;
3. Ensure that all of the documents are submitted in good order and in the correct format as per CSB Group’s guidelines and checklists;
4. Prior to approval of the application make sure to travel/ are staying in Malta on a valid travel visa.

Malta Golden Visa Programme: The Benefits

We understand that getting residence through the Malta Golden Visa Programme is a very important decision for your family’s future. CSB Group Advisory Team will assist you in every part of your decision and will process your application on time.

The Maltese Golden Visa will give you and your family:

• The right to settle, stay and reside permanently in Malta;
• Visa-free travel across Schengen, 90 out of 180 days;
• Penetrate Malta’s affordable real estate market;
• Possibility to include up to four generations in an application;
• Possibility of working and studying in Malta and any other EU country.

Having an alternative residence in Malta is a smart investment for families interested in having a base in Europe. This, in turn, grants families a safe harbour, a Mediterranean lifestyle, and top education opportunities.

Schengen Area And The Malta Golden Visa Programme

The Schengen Area comprises 26 European states that have officially abolished passport, this includes the Maltese passport and other types documents and procedures of border control. This effectively works as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.

On the other hand, the European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located in Europe.

What the above means, is that a country can be part of the EU but not of the Schengen Area, such as with Cyprus, for example. Malta became an EU member on the 1st of May 2004, and has been part of the Schengen Area since 2007.

Being granted with a Malta Golden Visa means that the applicant and his/her dependents (dependent children or otherwise) will be able to live in Malta and travel within the Schengen Area without the need to apply for a visa. However, if they want to relocate to any other EU country, applicants may consider applying for the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment given that the MPRP does not grant citizenship, and as only EU citizens can enjoy the ability of relocating freely within the European Union.

Who can apply for the new Malta Golden Visa Programme - (MPRP) regulations?

As with the previous regulations, only Third Country Nationals (TCN) can apply for residence under the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulations. To the effects of the regulations, Third Country Nationals are those individuals who are not citizens of the European Union. EEA nationals and Swiss nationals shall not be considered to be third-country nationals.

Also, persons who qualify as dependents of the principal applicant defined by the L.N. 121 of 2021 enacting the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulation can apply. The qualifying dependents are defined as follows:

• The principal applicant's spouse in a monogamous marriage or in another relationship having the same or a similar status to marriage. For the purposes of the MPRP, the term "spouse" shall be gender-neutral;
• Children, including adopted, of the principal applicant or his spouse who, at the time of application, are less than 18 years of age;
• Children over the age of 18 years old, not married, and principally dependent on the principal applicant;
• Financially dependent parents or grandparents of the principal applicant or of his spouse; or
• Disabled adult children of the principal applicant or spouse.

Can applications be rejected under the Malta Golden Visa Programme regulations?

Applications to the Malta Golden Visa Programme regulations - now the Malta Permanent Residence Program - undergo a stringent 4-Tier Due Diligence and background check.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifying criteria won't be approved, with causes for rejection being as follows:

• The principal applicant and/or any of their dependants shall not have had a previous application for a certificate or an application for Maltese citizenship refused;
• The principal applicant, or any of their dependants, shall have a clean criminal background. They must not have been found guilty, or, at the time of the application, being interrogated and suspected, or having criminal charges brought against him/her for any criminal offence, other than an involuntary offence, punishable with more than one (1) year imprisonment.
• The principal applicant, or any of the dependants, shall not be individuals who, at any time, had pending charges or who have been found guilty of any crimes related to:
  • crimes of terrorism,
  • money laundering,
  • funding of terrorism,
  • crimes against humanity,
  • war crimes,
  • crimes that infringe upon such Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as established by the European Convention on Human Rights;
• If the principal applicant, or any of his/her dependents, have been found guilty or have charges brought against him/her regarding any of the following criminal offences:
  • paedophilia,
  • defilement of minors,
  • rape,
  • violent indecent assault,
  • inducing persons under age to prostitution, and
  • abduction;
• The application will be rejected if the applicant is listed in international sanctions applying restrictive measures that the Agency is bound by law, or has opted, to follow.

Doing Business in Malta - a Strong GDP Growth

Malta is a country with a thriving business scene and a strong GDP growth. The country's government offers compelling tax benefits for entrepreneurs who want to put their business ideas into action. With leading industries like financial services, iGaming, tourism and manufacturing, there are plenty of business opportunities in Malta if you are looking to invest in or expand your company. In recent years, the economy in Malta has begun to diversify into niche sectors like big data and artificial intelligence. This presents multitude of investment options for those looking to invest and do business in Malta.

The Difference between the Malta Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment

Malta Permanent Residency Programme allows third-country nationals to apply for residency in Malta after passing stringent due diligence checks and making an investment in the country, however, the residency status does not lead to Citizenship. While Citizenship by Investment requires the applicant to make a contribution to the government of at least €600,000 whilst the Permanent Residency contribution depends on whether the property is rented or purchased. If the property is purchased, the contribution will be €28,000 and if the property is rented, the contribution will be of €58,000.

The property requirement for the Citizenship by Investment Programme requires the applicant to purchase a property of €700,000 or more in Malta or rent a property for a minimum value of €16,000 per year, while the MPRP Programme requires the applicant to either purchase a property which has the minimum value of  €350,000 for a property situated in Malta. If rented, the lease value must be for a minimum of €12,000 per year for a property situated in Malta.

There are also differences in the donation requirements between the two programmes. The Citizenship by Investment applicant must make a donation of €10,000 while an individual applying for Permanent Residency has to make a donation of €2,000 to a local non-governmental organisation registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations. The MPRP application process only has one stage whereas the Citizenship application is divided into five stages. The application process for Permanent Residency usually takes up to 6 months to be processed though this depends on the acquisition of the necessary supporting documents required while the process behind acquiring Citizenship by Investment requires a minimum of 12 months. The MPRP grants the applicant with Permanent Maltese residency which does not lead to citizenship whilst Citizenship by Investment provides the applicant with an EU/Maltese passport.

How can CSB Group help you acquire a Malta Golden Visa?

A Streamlined Process

The Malta Golden Visa Programme has a processing timeframe which ranges approximately between 4-6 months from the submission of the application to the issuance of the eResidence cards. CSB Group Advisory Team will assist you and your family every step of the journey to obtain your Malta Golden Visa status.

Also, the Associates from Malta Sotheby’s International Realty will assist you in finding the best and most suitable property on the island to fulfil the investment requirements and your family’s desires. Malta Sotheby’s can give you access to the finest and most in-demand properties in the country, guiding you through the path to purchasing real estate in order to fulfil part of the financial investment criteria required to get a Malta Golden Visa.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Malta Golden Visa

How can I apply for the Malta Golden Visa?

If you are a Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national then you are eligible to apply for a Malta Golden Visa. You will need to make certain investments such as Renting (min. €10,000 or €12,000 depending on the area) or Purchasing a property in Malta and subsequently make a Government Contribution (€28,000 if property was purchased or €58,000 if rented + €7,500 for every parent or grandparent of the principal applicant or spouse) make a Donation (€2,000) to a local NGO registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, or as otherwise approved by the Agency. An administrative fee of €40,000 will also have to be paid.

Any persons qualifying as dependents can also apply for the Malta Golden Visa.

A formal application is submitted to the Residency Malta Agency, and a proper Due Diligence check will be carried out.

By relying on CSB Group’s consultants you can be sure to have a specialist follow and support you every step of the way of your application, ensuring peace of mind and clarity throughout the entire process.

Can I work in Malta or an EU country with a Malta Golden Visa?

Yes, any applicant that has successfully gained a Malta Golden Visa can work in both Malta however, applicants must apply for a work permit in order to do so.

Can I purchase a residential Property?

Indeed, you can. As part of the process, an investment must be made in real estate by either renting or buying property. If purchased, the property value must be a minimum of €350,000 for a property situated in Malta or €300,000 for a property situated in Gozo or the South of Malta.

What is the processing time for the Malta Golden Visa?

Processing times may differ from case to case but as a rule of thumb, it may take between 4 to 6 months.

Why should I choose the Malta Golden Visa?

Choosing the Malta Golden Visa Programme  gives you the opportunity to stay in Malta (EU) for as long as you like as long as the residence card is renewed. Investment is only required for the first 5 years, after these years the applicant  is no longer bound by the initial minimum investment requirements. As part of the requirements, one does not oblige the applicant to purchase a property, but rather, they have the opportunity to rent a property instead.

What language is spoken in Malta?

Both Maltese and English are spoken in Malta.

Is healthcare free in Malta?

Yes, healthcare in Malta is free for Maltese citizens.