Everything You Need To Know About Malta’s Golden Visa

Malta has two golden visa programmes, known as the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and the Citizenship By Investment Programme (MEIN).

Whilst one is for residency, the other is for citizenship.

These programmes are a way for non-EU passport holders to live in Malta full-time.

Here, we talk you through everything you need to know about Malta’s golden visa options, including who can apply, how much you need to invest and how to kick off the process.

 

Understanding the Two Residency Options in Malta

 

Malta offers two ways for investors to get residency or citizenship:

• Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) – Gives investors permanent residency with a relatively lower investment but does not necessarily lead to citizenship.
• Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) – Gives investors a fast-track to full EU citizenship but comes with a higher investment.

 

What Is the Malta Golden Visa? (Permanent Residency Programme – MPRP)

 

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is a way for non-EU citizens to get residency in Malta through investment.

It’s a great option for high-net-worth families who are looking to have EU residency, along with all the travel and tax benefits that go along with it.

The visa allows you to:

• Live in Malta without having to commit to being there for a set amount of time each year
• Travel visa-free in the Schengen Zone
• Ability for family to join, including immediate family, parents and grandparents

 

Investment Needed To Secure The Malta Golden Visa

To be eligible for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) you must invest in one of the following:

Buying a property worth at least €375,000 in Malta or Gozo.

Or

Renting a property for a minimum of €14,000 per year in Malta or Gozo.

The property must be held for at least 5 years.

Then, you must also pay a Government contribution of either:

• €30,000 (if buying a property).
• €60,000 (if renting a property).

As well as €10,000 for every dependent that you want to include on the visa.

In addition to this, you will also need to provide a €2,000 donation to a registered Maltese non-governmental organisation (NGO). This can cover culture, science, art, sports or welfare.

The admin fee for the process is €50,000 and is non-refundable. Applying for a Malta golden visa is relatively quick and normally takes between 4-6 months.

 

 

Finances Needed To Apply

On top of the investment and admin fees, applicants must also prove that they are financially stable.

On application, they have to prove that they either have:

• A net worth of €500,000 of which of which €150,000 must be in financial assets
• A net worth of at least €650,000 of which €75,000 is in financial assets.

 

Who Can Apply For The Malta Golden Visa?

In order to apply for the golden visa, you must:

• Be a non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss national.
• Have a clean criminal record.
• Not be from a sanctioned country (e.g., Iran, North Korea, Russia, Afghanistan, etc.).
• Have proof of private health insurance in Malta.

 

The Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) – Citizenship by Investment

 

For investors who want full Maltese citizenship and EU rights, MEIN might be the better choice for you, though it does come with a bigger price tag.

This programme gives applicants an EU passport, allowing them to work, travel and live anywhere across the EU.

provides a fast track to an EU passport, allowing holders to live, work, and travel freely across the European Union.

 

Investment Needed for MEIN

To get Maltese citizenship through MEIN, applicants must:

• Be over 18 years of age
• Pay €600,000 for a 36-month residency period or €750,000 for a 12-month residency period.
• Buy a property worth at least €700,000 or rent a property for at least €16,000 per year for a minimum of 5 years.
• Donate €10,000 to a Maltese NGO.

Once completed, applicants can have EU citizenship within 12-36 months, allowing them to travel and live anywhere across the continent.

 

Malta Golden Visa (MPRP) vs. Citizenship by Investment (MEIN)

 

If you’re not sure which of the two options to take, here are the key differences:

MPRP:

• Residency for 5 years
• Minimum investment of €150,000
• Minimum property purchase of €375,000
• Minimum property rent of €14,000
• Family can be included
• Citizenship after 5 years (not guaranteed)
• Government contribution €30,000 (buy) €60,000 (rent)
• NGO donation of €2,000

MEIN:

• Full Maltese citizenship
• Minimum investment of €600,000
• Minimum property purchase of €700,000
• Minimum property rent of €16,000
• Family can be included
• Citizenship immediately
• Government contribution €600,000
• NGO donation of €10,000

 

Is the Malta Golden Visa Right for You?

 

If you’re looking to leave the UK for sunnier climates, then you might be thinking about applying for Malta’s golden visa.

With a high-quality of life and a low cost of living, it’s certainly a great option.

For investors that want full EU citizenship, the MEIN citizenship programme may be a better fit, though it does need significantly more capital.

Either way, with gorgeous weather, a beautiful coastline and great connections to the EU, Malta is a great place to live and work.