Malta has made significant changes to its Permanent Residency program and has launched a new and improved program last year, which is now known as MPRP. The new Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) came into force on the 29th March 2021. Amongst the many changes, the new regulations replace the Malta Residence and Visa Agency with the Residency Malta Agency and the modifications include changes to the qualifying investment. In this article, we’ll delve into how the Malta MPRP changes 2021 will affect you and your residence planning needs in Malta.   

What are the main changes to the qualifying investment under the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulations?

Under the new Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) regulations, successful applicants will need to:
  • Hold qualifying property, which can be either purchased or rented. 
    • Purchased property: property value must be a minimum of EUR 350,000 for a property situated in Malta or EUR 300,000 for a property situated in Gozo, or the south of Malta.
    • Rented property: the lease value will need to be for a minimum of EUR 12,000 per year for a property situated in Malta or EUR 10,000 for a property that is situated in Gozo or the south of Malta. 
  • Make a government contribution. The amount of this will depend on if the qualifying property is purchased or rented. 
    • Purchased property: contribution of EUR 28,000, plus EUR 7,500 for every parent or grandparent of the principal applicant or spouse.
    • Rented property: contribution of EUR 58,000, plus EUR 7,500 for every parent or grandparent of the principal applicant or spouse.
  • Make a donation of EUR 2,000 to a local non-governmental company of your choice that is registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisation, or otherwise approved by the Agency.
 

Who can apply for the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulations?

Under the Malta MPRP changes, as with the previous program regulations, only third-country nationals can apply for residence under the new Malta MPRP program (i.e. individuals that are not citizens of the European Union, EEA, or Swiss nationals). Qualifying dependents are:
  • The primary applicant’s spouse. 
  • Children of the primary applicant and/or his spouse, including adopted children, up to the age of 18 years old. 
  • Children over the age of 18 years old who are unmarried and principally dependent on the primary applicant. 
  • Parents or grandparents of the principal applicant or of his spouse, who are financially dependent.
  • Disabled adult children of the principal applicant or spouse.
 

Are there any other requirements to be granted with residence under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme regulations?

Applications will need to be submitted by an Approved Agent who will need to perform Tier 1 Due Diligence checks, and provide evidence to show to the Residency Malta Agency that the applicants are “fit and proper” persons.  In addition to fulfilling the required qualifying investment, applicants must have:
  • Regular resources that are sufficient to maintain themselves without the need to depend on the social assistance system in Malta. 
  • Sickness insurance policy. 
  • Assets with a minimum value of no less than EUR 500,000, from which a minimum of EUR 150,000 needs to be in financial assets. 
A normal application is submitted to the Residency Malta Agency. Alongside this, a due diligence check will be carried out.  

Can applications be rejected under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme regulations?

Applications to the MPRP undergo a very thorough due diligence and background check. Applicants that do not meet the minimum qualifying criteria will not be approved. Rejection cases are as follows:
  • The primary applicant and/or his dependents shall not have had a previous application for a certificate or an application for Maltese citizenship refused. 
  • The primary applicant or his dependents need to have a clean criminal record. 
  • The primary applicant or his dependents, shall not have pending charges or be found guilty of the following: terrorism crimes, money laundering, funding of terrorism, crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes that infringe upon the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as established by the European Convention on Human Rights. 
  • The principal applicant or any dependents have been found guilty or had charges brought against him or her regarding the following criminal offenses: pedophilia, defilement of minors, rape, violent indecent assault, inducing persons under age to prostitution, or abduction. 
  • The application is rejected if the applicant is listed in individual sanctions applying restrictive measures that the Agency is bound to or has opted to follow. 
 

Further relevant information

The following article may also prove useful for individuals interested in the Malta MPRP changes: 

Frequently asked questions about the Malta re-launch permanent residency program:

Does Malta give permanent residency?

Yes, the Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) is the country’s residency by investment program. 

How do I get permanent residency in Malta?

To get permanent residency in Malta, you will need to do the following: You will need to make three donations (1.) a real estate investment consisting of a rental (€12,000 minimum annual rent) or a purchase of at least €350,000, both of which must be held for a period of 5 years. (2.) a non-refundable contribution of  €28,000 if purchasing property OR €58,000 if renting property, and (3.) a €2,000 donation to a local NGO. If the investor opts for the property rental route, it’ll cost the investor €120,000 over 5 years (note: you can save 10k if investing in South Malta/Gozo). Alternatively, if the investor goes for the property purchase route, it’ll cost the investor €380,000 (note: you can save 50k if investing in South Malta/Gozo).

How can I get PR after studying in Malta?

Non-EU students can become permanent residents in Malta. When the international student arrives in Malta to study, he or she will need to apply for a temporary residence permit which will need to be renewed every year. After five years, the student can apply for permanent residence. The individual must not have left Malta for more than six consecutive months in a year. Additionally, he or she must not have remained absent from Malta for more than ten months throughout the five-year period.

How long does it take to get permanent residency in Malta?

From onboarding to issuing the Malta residence certificate, the process takes approximately one year. This timeframe is also dependent on the investor and family members’ ability to travel to Malta for the biometrics. Having issues with the documents that you present to the authorities will also slow down the process. 

How much and what to invest in to get Maltese permanent residence?

To get permanent residency in Malta, you will need to make three donations (1.) a real estate investment consisting of a rental (€12,000 minimum annual rent) or a purchase of at least €350,000, both of which must be held for a period of 5 years. (2.) a non-refundable contribution of  €28,000 if purchasing property OR €58,000 if renting property, and (3.) a €2,000 donation to a local NGO. 

If the investor opts for the property rental route, it’ll cost the investor €120,000 over 5 years (note: you can save 10k if investing in South Malta/Gozo). Alternatively, if the investor goes for the property purchase route, it’ll cost the investor €380,000 (note: you can save 50k if investing in South Malta/Gozo).