The Malta Permanent Residence Programme: What are the benefits?
Oct2025

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme: What are the benefits?

28 October 2025
Third Country Nationals benefit from straightforward Residency Programme

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is open to all third-country, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals who have a stable income and sufficient financial resources.

The Maltese Government had announced changes to its Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) through Legal Notice 146 of 2025, published on July 22, 2025. These changes affected all applications submitted on or after January 1, 2025.

The updated regulations are designed to make the MPRP more accessible, cost-effective, and family-oriented, streamlining the application process while adding investment value and practical relocation options.

1. Key Features

The MPRP offers a number of advantages that set it apart from other European residency programmes, including:

  • There is no language test required to obtain permanent residence.
  • Dependent children, regardless of age, may be included in the application, provided they are unmarried and financially dependent.
  • Dependent parents and grandparents of both the main applicant and spouse may also be included.
  • Four generations can potentially be included in a single application.
  • Applications are managed by the Residency Malta Agency, the government authority responsible for processing MPRP applications.

2. Investment Requirements

Under the latest regulations (effective from 1 January 2025), applicants must make an investment consisting of the following elements:

Physical Address in Malta

Applicants are required to either:

  • Purchase a property in Malta with a minimum value of €375,000, or
  • Rent a property in Malta with a minimum annual rent of €14,000, for at least five years.

Government Contributions

In addition to the property investment, applicants must make a non-refundable government contribution as follows:

  • €37,000 – applicable whether the applicant is buying or renting a qualifying property.
  • An additional €7,500 is due for each adult dependant (other than spouse or minor children).

Donation to NGO

Applicants must also make a donation of at least €2,000 to a Maltese-registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) approved by the Residency Malta Agency.

3. Payment Structure

The updated payment schedule under the 2025 MPRP regulations is as follows:

  • Administrative Fee: €60,000 (non-refundable)
    • €15,000 is due within one month of application submission.
    • The remaining €45,000 is due within two months of the Letter of Approval in Principle.
  • Government Contribution: €37,000
    • Payable after the Letter of Approval in Principle is issued and before the final residence certificate.
  • NGO Donation: €2,000
    • Payable after approval and before the issuance of the certificate.

Applicants have up to 8 months to provide all due-diligence documents and complete payments once the application is approved in principle.

4. Wealth and Financial Conditions

The main applicant must demonstrate a minimum net worth of €500,000, of which at least €150,000 must consist of financial assets (such as shares, bonds, or bank deposits). These assets must be maintained for the first five years after obtaining residence.

Applicants must also hold comprehensive health insurance covering all risks in Malta (coverage of the entire EU is no longer required).

5. New Temporary Residence Permit

Under the 2025 amendments, a one-year renewable temporary residence permit (TRP) may be issued early in the process, allowing applicants and their families to reside in Malta while their MPRP application is being processed.

6. Remittance Basis of Taxation

Individuals who obtain residence under the MPRP are subject to tax in Malta only on income and capital gains arising in Malta, and on foreign income that is remitted to Malta.

  • Non-Malta-source income not remitted to Malta is not taxable.
  • Foreign capital gains, even if remitted to Malta, are not subject to Maltese tax.
  • There is an annual minimum tax of €5,000 per annum for individuals who are tax resident in Malta.

7. Additional Notes

  • Properties (whether rented or purchased) must be held for a minimum of five years.
  • After five years, property may be leased or sublet under specific conditions set by the Residency Malta Agency.
  • All applicants and dependants are subject to strict due diligence and background checks.
  • Only licensed agents registered with the Residency Malta Agency are authorised to submit MPRP applications on behalf of clients.