Malta Residency by Investment Programme 

The Malta Residence by Investment Programme allows third-country nationals and their families to gain Malta residence against a direct investment in the country. The Programme is the most flexible solution for Private Clients and their families seeking to settle in Europe.

The Malta Residence by Investment Programme 

Get access to top education, healthcare system and business opportunities in Europe.

The Malta Residence by Investment Programme officially known as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, allows Private Clients to get a residence by investment in a safe harbour, whilst also gaining access to a top education and business opportunities in a law-abiding country in the European Union.

How to gain Residency by Investment in Malta?

On the 29th March 2021 the Malta Residence and Visa Programme (MRVP) was replaced by a new programme: the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and regulated under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (L.N. 121 of 2021).

Non-EU individuals and their families can apply for the Malta Residence by Investment Programme, and be granted residence by investment in Malta. The application's approval is subject to a background and thorough due diligence check, whilst a qualifying financial criterion needs to be satisfied.

The qualifying investments can be summarized as follows:

Real Estate Requirement:

• Purchase of minimum €300,000 for a property situated in Gozo or in the south of Malta, or €350,000 elsewhere in Malta.
• Rental of minimum €10,000 per annum for a property in Gozo or in the south of Malta, or €12,000 per annum elsewhere in Malta.

The property needs to be held for a minimum of 5 years.

Contribution Requirement:

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. The €28,000 applies for the whole family, that is, the spouse and dependent children. 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.

Administrative Fee

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.

Proof of Assets

Applicants will need to prove a minimum assets for EUR500,000 out of which a minimum of €150,000 shall be in the form of financial assets.

Other Requirements

The applicant and dependents also need to be in possession of a private health insurance covering them in Malta. Furthermore, the Main Applicant must be able to provide clear evidence of source of wealth and funds, have a clean criminal record, be above the age of 18, not come from a sanctioned country and be in possession of a valid travel document.

CSB Group Advisors will give you a capital outlay for the Malta Residence by Investment Programme so you can have the overall costs to apply for residence permit in Malta.

Expert Guidance on Acquiring Your Dream Property and Meeting Investment Requirements

Qualifying dependents under the Malta Residence by Investment Programme

The Malta Residence by Investment Programme is available to non-EU citizens and their families. The main applicant and his or her dependents can apply, as long as they fit within the legal criteria:

1. The spouse of the main applicant;
2. Children under eighteen years old, including adopted children;
3. Children over eighteen years old, as long as they are not married, economically active and dependant on the main applicant;
4. Parents or grandparents of the main applicant or spouse, not economically active and financially dependant on the main applicant;
5. Adult children with a disability certified by a recognized medical professional

How does the process for applying for the Malta Residence by Investment Programme work?

Individuals and families can apply for the Malta Residence by Investment Programme, get residence in one of the most beautiful European countries, and access education, lifestyle and Schengen visa-free travel.

The process to apply for residence in Malta works as follows:

Get Preliminary Advice

We will give you preliminary advice and a quote with all relevant costs and details. We will perform Tier 1 Due Diligence checks as part of our onboarding process and get everything ready for your formal onboarding and preparation of your application.

Onboarding and Gathering of Documents - Week 1 - Week 2

Once the Letter of Engagement is signed, we will provide you with a detailed checklist of what documents are required for the application and how they should be presented. The timeline of this stage always depends on how fast the documents can be provided to us from the applicant.

Compiling of Application and Submitting - Month 1 - Month 2

Once the application is compiled and meets our standards of submission, it is given to the relevant authority. At this stage any administrative costs would need to be settled.

Application Processing - Month 3-7

The Residency Malta Agency will carry out thorough due diligence checks on the application, making sure that the applicant is a fit and proper person, is healthy, has enough funds and his source of wealth and funds are traceable. 

Letter of approval - Month 8

Once the due diligence checks are complete and the Agency is satisfied with the application, the letter of approval is issued. At this stage the applicant carries out the necessary Investments and settles any outstanding fees .

Malta Agency Issues Permanent Residency Certificate - Month 9

The Residency Certificate is issued and the applicant would be able to apply for his physical Maltese residency card. 

Benefits of the Malta Residence by Investment Programme

Whilst not the same as the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) regulations, leading to Citizenship in Malta, successful applicants will be issued a permanent residency certificate and then Maltese residence cards. This will grant them the right to reside in Malta and visa free travel within the Schengen Area.

Getting residence through the Malta Residence by Investment Programme is a very important decision for every family's future. CSB Group Advisory Team will assist in every part of your decision and process the application effectively.

The Maltese Residency by Investment programme will give you and your family:

• A European Base in Malta, for your personal and business life, where you will be able to settle.
• Access to work and study in Malta.
• Flexibility within the EU, with the ability to travel within the Schengen area without applying for a Visa, 90 out of 180 days.
• A lively Mediterranean lifestyle in a safe country.
• 300 days of sunshine, mild winters and warm summers.

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

How does one apply for the Malta Residence by Investment Programme?

Individuals and families can apply for the Malta Residence by Investment Programme, get residence in one of the most beautiful European countries, and access education, lifestyle and Schengen visa-free travel.

The process to apply for residence in Malta works as follows:

Get Preliminary Advice

We will give you preliminary advice and a quote with all relevant costs and details. We will perform Tier 1 Due Diligence checks as part of our onboarding process and get everything ready for your formal onboarding and preparation of your application.

Application Processing

Our team will help you prepare the forms and all relevant documentation. Once completed and vetted by our team, the application will be submitted to the Residence Malta Agency.

Generally speaking, a residence by investment application will comprise several different documentation like birth and marriage certificates, police criminal records, passport copies, proof of funds, proof of financial dependence and other documents. All documents must be legalized and counter-legalised (or Apostilled) and translated into English if in any other language.

We will provide you with a detailed checklist and support all along the way until your application is approved and you can be issued with the residence certificate and cards.

Application Approval – Residence

After passing all Agency due diligence checks, the application will be approved. The Agency will issue a Letter of In Principal Approval, and from this moment on, the main requirements to be fulfilled are proof of the qualifying investments. Then Permanent Residence Certificates and residence cards will be issued.

The entire processing time would typically take 4-6 months from submission of the application, but this may take longer depending on each file's particularities.

Documents Required

The documents required for the MPRP are as follows:

• Standard KYC documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates (if applicable), police records, proof of address, Identity documents such as passport
• Proof of Funds such as recent bank statements, tax returns, investment portfolios etc
• Source of Wealth documents such as inheritance, property sale deeds and purchase deeds, company shares etc
• Private health insurance
• Power of Attorney

Tax Regime applicable to the Malta Residency by Investment

Whilst the Malta Residency by Investment is not a tax residence programme, you may become resident in Malta should you spend over 183 days in a calendar year, therefore, being subjected to the ordinary residence rules.

Should you wish to read further information visit Tax Residency Programmes. Also, if you are interested in knowing how moving to Malta can impact your tax situation and which would be the best way to achieve this, please contact us.

Obligations applicants are to follow

Beneficiaries of the MPRP are obliged for the first five years to undergo Annual Compliance procedures. This entails submitting a renewed lease agreement/ re-submitting the purchase agreement, submitting a renewed health insurance policy and providing proof that you still hold EUR 500,000 in assets. 

What are the main differences between the Malta Residency by Investment Programme, the Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme and the Global Residence Programme?

Non-EU nationals who are looking to obtain residency in Malta have two main options to consider, one being the Global Residence Programme (GRP) and the second being the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP).

The Global Residence Programme is a very attractive programme for those wanting to get a special tax status and a base within the European Union. The GRP grants its beneficiaries a one-year residence permit which can be infinitely renewed for as long as the conditions stipulated under the programme are satisfied. The said conditions are the following:

• Having a residential qualifying property in Malta;
• Having a valid health insurance policy covering the applicants in Malta;
• Making the minimum tax payment of EUR15,000.

In contrast, the MPRP provides no special tax benefits. The MPRP grants its beneficiaries with a five-year residence card. During these five years, the applicant needs to retain their qualifying investments including their residential property. After five years, the applicant is no longer obliged to continue meeting the stipulated conditions. The status of having permanent residency will be retained.

Whilst both the GRP and MPRP application process takes roughly 4-6 months to be finalised, the application fees per application differ. The GRP requires an application fee of €6k and an annual minimum tax payment of €15k to be satisfied, whilst the MPRP has a non-refundable administration fee of €40k and a Contribution to the Government of €28k if purchasing a property in Malta or of €58k if leasing a property.

The main difference between the GRP and MPRP programmes is therefore that the GRP does not offer permanent residence rights but a special tax status leading to residency whilst the MPRP offers permanent residence in Malta. However, both the GRP and the MPRP do not lead to Citizenship in Malta.

One can acquire Citizenship in Malta through the Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation scheme and a Malta passport can be obtained within 12 or 36 months, depending on the chosen route. In order to acquire Maltese Citizenship, the following conditions are necessary to be met;

• Contribution to the National Development and Social Fund - €600,000 contribution would enable you to obtain Citizenship within 36 months or a €750,000 contribution would allow you to obtain Citizenship within 12 months. In either case, a €50,000 fee per added dependent is required;
• One would either need to purchase a property with a minimum value of €700,000 or rent a property for a minimum annual rental value of €16,000;
• A donation of €10,000 would also be required to an approved non-profit organisation

A Streamlined Process - How Can CSB Group Help You

The CSB Group Advisory Team will assist you and your family in every step of the journey to obtain your Malta Residency by Investment 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 and investment desires. Malta Sotheby’s can give you access to the finest and most desired properties on the island, guiding you through the path to buying a property to fulfil part of the financial investment criteria required to get a Malta Residency by Investment.