Malta Permanent Residence Programme | A Complete Guide
Overview:
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is a permanent residency program offered by Malta to non-EU investors.
This program was initiated in 2015 and underwent its most recent update in 2021. Applicants can obtain permanent residency in Malta by purchasing or long-term leasing a property, paying certain government fees, and making a donation.
Currently, the MPRP has the following financial requirements for applicants:
1. Net Asset Requirement: Your verifiable net assets must exceed €500,000, with at least €150,000 of that amount in liquid assets.
2. Property Purchase or Lease:
- Purchase Option: You must buy a property in Malta valued at over €350,000 (or over €300,000 if located in the southern region of Malta or on Gozo Island) and hold it for at least five years.
- Lease Option: You must lease a property with an annual rent of over €12,000 for at least five years (or over €10,000 if in the southern region of Malta or on Gozo Island).
3. Government Donation: You must make a donation to the Maltese government:
If you choose the purchase option, the donation must be at least €28,000.If you choose the lease option, the donation must be at least €58,000.
Additionally, you must donate €2,000 to a local non-governmental organization.
4. Non-refundable Government Fee: You must pay a non-refundable government fee of €40,000.During the MPRP application process, each primary and secondary applicant must also pay a visa fee of €137.50 (2024 rate).
5. Miscellaneous Fees: You must purchase health insurance for each primary and secondary applicant, with annual fee of at least €400 per person, covering Malta.
6. Background Check Fee: Each secondary applicant aged 18 or older must pay a background check fee of €7,500.
If you choose the property purchase route, the minimum theoretical expenditure to obtain a Maltese passport is €420,000.
If you choose the lease route, the minimum theoretical expenditure to obtain Maltese permanent residency is €160,000.
During this period, all fees paid are non-refundable. Property purchase applicants can sell their property after five years.
In addition to financial requirements, MPRP applicants must meet basic conditions such as：being at least 18 years old, in good health, having no criminal record, posing no security threat to Maltese society, and not participating in any other similar visa programs.
Application Process:
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) does not allow applicants to apply independently; you must collaborate with a licensed local lawyer to apply for the MPRP. The entire process can be roughly divided into the following steps:
1. Submitting the Application: First, you need to decide whether you will pursue the property purchase or rental route, prepare all required documents, and write a letter of intent to participate in the Golden Visa program. This application can be submitted in person or by an agent to the Residency Malta Agency.
Required documents for this program are as follows:
- Identification Documents: Both primary and secondary applicants must provide copies of their passports and ID cards to prove identity. Additionally, documents proving the relationship between the primary and secondary applicants, such as marriage certificates and birth certificates, must also be provided.
- Application Letter: In this letter, you need to specify your intention to participate in the Malta MPRP and your reasons for doing so.
- Application Forms: There are several application forms that both you and your secondary applicants will need to complete. These forms generally involve the basic personal history of the primary and secondary applicants and the investment route you have chosen.
- Certificate of No Criminal Record: All adult primary and secondary applicants must provide a certificate of no criminal record issued by the law enforcement agency in their place of residence.
- Proof of Source of Funds: You need to submit a clear and concise statement explaining the source of your investment funds. Additionally, you must provide a recent financial endorsement from the primary applicant’s main bank within the last three months.
- Business History: All adult applicants must submit a report detailing the companies they own or hold shares in or provide employment contracts and related documents for their current job.
- Statement of Financial Dependence for Secondary Applicants: All secondary applicants aged 18 or older must provide a statement declaring their financial dependence on the primary applicant.
All statements must be written in the correct format, usually prepared by your agent.
Any documents not in English must be translated into English and notarized. The notary fees in Malta may reach up to €4,000.
Once the Residency Malta Agency receives your application, they will issue you a receipt, at which point you need to pay a non-refundable government fee of €10,000.
2. Background Check: The Residency Malta Agency will conduct background checks on all the information provided. This process can take between 6 to 8 weeks.
3. Completing All Financial Requirements: After your background check is approved, you will receive an “Approval of Letter.”
At this point, you need to pay the remaining €30,000 government fee, the visa fee (within two months), and the required donation. You must also purchase or rent a property in Malta and obtain health insurance for each primary and secondary applicant, with coverage of at least €30,000 per person (this insurance costs approximately €400 per person per year).
Once all investments are completed, your agent must submit the relevant investment proof documents to the Residency Malta Agency. If no additional documents are required, the entire review process can take between 4 to 6 months.
4. Fingerprint Collection: After the Residency Malta Agency confirms the completion of your investment, they will issue a “Letter of Final Approval,” which typically takes around 7 working days.
At this point, all primary and secondary applicants over the age of 2 must travel to Malta to complete the biometric data collection. You can also complete fingerprinting in advance when you travel to Malta to make your investments.
5. Issuance of Permanent Residence Cards: The Residency Malta Agency will finalize the review of all relevant documents and issue the residence permit and permanent residence cards.At this stage, the permanent residence cards can be mailed to you, and the applicant does not need to go to Malta in person.
The total processing time for the MPRP investment program is between four to six months.The Malta permanent residence card is valid for 5 years. After 5 years, if you have not applied for citizenship, you will need to renew the permanent residence card annually, with a renewal fee of €27.50 per person. The renewal process typically takes about 2 weeks.
6. Annual Review: For the first 5 years after obtaining the permanent residence card, the Residency Malta Agency will conduct an annual review of your financial conditions, focusing on the following two aspects:
- Do you still own the purchased or leased property?
- Do you still have a net worth of over €500,000?
Dependents:
Under the MPRP program, the primary applicant’s spouse, children under 18, unmarried financially dependent children over 18, married children over 18 who are physically disabled (medical proof required), as well as parents and grandparents, can all obtain Maltese permanent residency as secondary applicants.
Minimum Residence Requirement:
The MPRP program does not have a minimum stay requirement, but you need to visit Malta once every five years to renew your residency card.
Citizenship:
Foreign nationals who have legally resided in Malta for seven years (six years for permanent residents, with at least four years spent as a permanent resident), with a total absence from Malta not exceeding 10 months within those seven years and no single absence exceeding six months, and who have continuously resided in Malta for 12 months prior to the application, can apply to become Maltese citizens, provided they pass a language test in English or Maltese.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the differences between the Malta Global Residence Programme (MGRP) and the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)?
While both programs share similarities in requiring applicants to purchase or rent property and pay a government fee, there are several key differences between them:
1. Government Fees and Tax Residency: The government fee for the MGRP is significantly lower than that for the MPRP. However, under the MGRP, you must become a Maltese tax resident and pay an annual tax of €15,000.
- In simple terms, the minimum theoretical investment for the MGRP is €34,950 for the rental option and €271,000 for the property purchase option.
- For the MPRP, the minimum theoretical investment is €160,000 for the rental option and €420,000 for the property purchase option.
2. Type of Visa Issued: The MGRP issues a one-year renewable visa, while the MPRP issues a permanent residence visa.
3. Tax Benefits: MGRP participants can benefit from certain tax relief measures in Malta, whereas MPRP participants must adhere to Maltese tax policies without any tax exemptions.
How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Malta?
Non-EU individuals have two ways to obtain permanent residency in Malta:
1. Participate in the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP): You can either purchase or rent a property in Malta and pay a substantial government fee (typically, the minimum theoretical expenditure for the property purchase option is €420,000; for the rental option, the minimum theoretical expenditure is €160,000.
2. Reside in Malta with a valid residence permit for more than five years: After meeting additional conditions, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Malta.
Will my children lose their permanent residency when they become adults under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme?
As long as you can prove they are financially dependent, your children can retain their permanent residency.
Do I need to visit the country to apply for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme?
Yes, all primary and secondary applicants must enter Malta at least once to provide biometric data such as fingerprints.
Can I change properties under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme?
Yes, under the MPRP, you can purchase or rent a new property. You just need to ensure that the new property meets the MPRP requirements and that your agent updates the property information with the authorities.
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