The Malta Global Residence Programme 

Which are the main requirements to apply for the Malta Global Residence Programme?

Represented by an Authorised Registered Mandatory

The applicant and his or her dependants must be represented by an Authorised Registered Mandatory (ARM) like CSB Group, who will advise and process the application for the Global Residence Programme.

The Applicants must be third-country nationals

Also, applicants have to be third-country nationals – or in other words, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals cannot apply for the Global Residence Programme (but they are allowed in “The Residence Programme”). Anyone with dual citizenship with the aforementioned is precluded from applying to special tax status under the Global Residence Programme, however, they can apply for The Residence Programme Rules. They must also not reside in another jurisdiction for longer than 183 days in a calendar year.

Applicants must not be benefiting from other tax programmes

Applicants interested in applying under the GRP must not be benefiting from other tax programmes such as Residents Scheme Regulations, High Net Worth Individuals Rules, Malta Retirement Programme Rules, United Nations Pensions Programme Rules, Qualifying Employment in Innovation and Creativity Rules, or Highly Qualified Persons Rules.

Applicants must have a stable income - Economically Self Sufficient

On top of this, applicants must also receive a stable income to maintain both him/herself and any dependents without having to make use of the social assistance system in Malta.

A valid travel document and health insurance

He/she must also possess a valid travel document, a sickness insurance that addresses all risks Maltese nationals are normally covered by, can adequately communicate in one of the official languages of Malta, and is a fit and proper person.

Purchase or rent a qualifying property in Malta

Aside from the above, applicants will need to hold qualifying property in Malta with the following characteristics:

• Purchase of property for a minimum of €220,000 if located in Gozo or South of Malta or €275,000 if located in other parts of Malta.
• Rental of property for a minimum of €8,750 if located in Gozo or South of Malta or €9,600 if located in other parts of Malta for no less than 12 months, and in which no one else other than the applicants and their dependents reside

The above property requirement plus a non-refundable Application fee of €5,500 if the property is in Gozo or the South of Malta; or €6,000 if situated in other parts of Malta, is incurred when applying for the Global Residence Programme.

Expert Guidance on Acquiring Your Dream Property and Meeting Investment Requirements

Who qualifies for the Malta Global Residence Programme?

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. Aside from the main applicant, qualifying dependants are the following:

• The spouse of the main applicant, or the person with whom the beneficiary is in a stable and durable relationship;
• Children including adopted minor children, and children in the care and custody of the main applicant which are under 18 years old;
• Children including adopted who are not minors but are unable to maintain themselves due to circumstances of illness or disability of a serious gravity.
• Children between 18 and 25 years old, including adopted children, provided that such children are not economically active;
• Children including adopted who are not minors but who because of circumstances of illness or disability of a serious gravity, are unable to maintain themselves
• Dependent brothers, sisters and direct relatives in the ascending line of the main applicant or his/her spouse or the person with whom the beneficiary is in a stable and durable relationship.
• Household staff who have been with the family for at least 2 years from the date of the application. 

The Global Residence Programme: The Benefits

Applicants taking up residence in Malta through the Global Residence Programme will benefit from a special and favourable tax status and treatment as follows:

Furthermore, applicants will be able to enjoy a number of other benefits.

• A lively lifestyle on a sunny island in the Mediterranean with lovely weather and crystal-clear sea, regularly voted the second-best diving destination in the world, also home to three of the World UNESCO Heritage Sites.
• Excellent political stability and is a member state of the Schengen Area, offering the chance to move freely within all 26 member countries.
• Outstanding public and private healthcare are available, granting Malta the fifth position amongst 100+ countries as ranked by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• A growing economy and investment opportunities especially in the real estate market.
• English as an official language and an English speaking population.
• Access to work or study in Malta.

Some fine line: a minimum tax of €15,000 is payable yearly which covers the income of the beneficiary and his/her dependents arising from outside Malta and received within Malta. Applicants cannot reside in any other jurisdiction for more than 183 days per year.

How can we help you? The Application Process

CSB Group, as an Authorised Registered Mandatory, will assist you all the way for you to be granted with a special tax status and your international tax planning needs.

Our advice – Contact us!

CSB Group will give you preliminary advice and a preliminary Formal Tax Opinion if needed. We will perform Tier 1 Due Diligence checks as part of our onboarding process and get everything ready for the preparation of your application.

Malta Global Residency Programme 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 International Tax Unit from the Commissioner for Revenue of Malta.

Generally speaking, the application will comprise different documents like birth and marriage certificates, police criminal records, passport copies, bank reference letters, etc.

To be noted is that all documents must be legalised 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 special tax status and residence cards.

Application Approval – Special Tax Status

After passing all due diligence checks, the application will be approved. The Commissioner will issue a Letter of In Principal Approval, and the property requirement will need to be fulfilled. A short interview with the Commissioner will then follow suit and, if the outcome were to be positive, the Special Tax Status will be granted.

The entire processing time would typically take 3-4 months since submitting the application, but this may take longer depending on each file's particularities.

Obligations to be adhered to

Once granted the benefit of special tax status under the Global Residence Programme, one must submit the Annual Tax Return.

When processing the application for the Global Residence Programme Rules, the Commissioner may request additional information and documents such as certifications and declarations, which must be submitted in a timely manner as requested.

Should the beneficiary no longer be represented by an ARM, he/she should authorise another Mandatary and inform the Commissioner of such change.

The applicant also understands that the special tax status granted by the Global Residence Programme ceases with retrospective effect from the date in which the Commissioner determines the decision in writing if:

• the beneficiary were to become a national of Malta or another EU member state, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland;
• the applicant does not hold a qualifying property at any time after the appointed day or becomes a long-term resident at any time after the appointed day;
• a health insurance which addresses all risks normally covered for Maltese nationals is not in possession of the beneficiary or their dependents;
• the Minister of Justice deems the beneficiary’s presence not to be of public interest;
• the beneficiary stays in another jurisdiction for more than 183 days in a calendar year.

If notifications of any such event are not made, the applicant will have to pay an administrative penalty of €5,000.

What is the difference between the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and the Global Residence Programme (GRP)?

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, to the temporary tax residence granted by the GRP, the MPRP provides no special tax benefits though it provides permanent residency in Malta. 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.

CSB Group – Your Trusted Advisor

With over 35 years of experience in the corporate and financial services industry in Malta, CSB Group is committed to provide top-notch services to Private Clients worldwide. CSB Group, has been providing Investment immigration services to High-Net-Worth families since the inception of these programmes.

As an Authorised Registered Mandatory (ARM), the CSB Group Advisory team will be happy to assist you and provide you with a quote for the Global Residence Programme that can satisfy the needs of you and your family.

Our team at CSB Group will guide you through acquiring residency in Malta through the Global Residence Programme, whilst the Consultants from Sotheby’s International Realty will be able to find you the right property to fulfil the investment criteria and your needs.

FAQs about the Malta Global Residence Programme

How is the admin fee payable to the Commissioner for Revenue in the form of a bank draft paid in practice?

Close to the end of the application process, we will send you a disbursement invoice for the amount of EUR6K payable to CSB. Then we will prepare a bank draft that will be submitted to the Commissioner with the rest of the application.

There is a sworn affidavit to be submitted as part of the application. Does this have to be prepared by me in my current jurisdiction or Malta? Is there a standard format to be followed regarding the wording?

We will send you the affidavit. It has to be signed in front of a Commissioner of Oaths and apostilled to be valid in Malta. Alternatively, if there is no Maltese Commissioner available in your town/jurisdiction, the affidavit can be signed in front of a Notary and then apostilled.

Will the lease agreement be signed by me (in person), or can you sign it as my POA?

The lease agreement is to be signed by you and can be done remotely without a problem.

Does a passport photo need to be attached to the document certifying it is a true likeness?

Passport pictures have to be certified at the back of each picture. Besides that, we submit a certification as well.

Must the Birth Certificates and Police Certificates need to be Apostilled? Are the original documents not enough?

Although we need to submit those documents in original, the Police and Birth Certificate will need to be Apostilled. The apostilled copy of the Birth Certificate is to be submitted with the original Birth Certificate according to the latest instructions from the Commissioner for Revenue.