Permanent Residency in Malta
The routes to a long-term, renewable status
Two long-term statuses exist in parallel. Ordinary long-term residence follows roughly five years of continuous lawful residence with income, insurance and an integration requirement. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme is a separate route for people who invest rather than work: it requires a qualifying property rental or purchase, a government contribution, and a donation to a registered charity.
| Ordinary route | Long-term residence after roughly five years of continuous lawful residence source |
| Investment route | Malta Permanent Residence Programme, administered by Residency Malta source |
| Property condition | A qualifying rental or purchase, with thresholds varying by region source |
| Government contribution | Payable, at a lower level where property is purchased rather than rented source |
| Charitable donation | A donation to a registered voluntary organisation is required source |
Long-term residence through ordinary residence
A third-country national who has lived in Malta lawfully and continuously for around five years, with stable and regular resources, sickness insurance and adequate accommodation, may apply for long-term resident status. An integration requirement applies, and absences beyond published limits break continuity.
The status is indefinite in principle and gives broader access to the labour market than an employer-linked permit, which for many workers is the real attraction: it ends the dependence on one employer.
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme
- Property. The applicant must either rent or purchase qualifying property, with minimum values that differ between the main island and the south of Malta and Gozo. The property must be held for a minimum number of years and cannot be sublet.
- Government contribution. A contribution is payable to the state, set at a higher level for applicants who rent than for those who purchase, alongside a non-refundable administrative fee paid at application.
- Donation. A donation to a registered philanthropic, cultural, scientific, artistic, sporting or animal welfare organisation is a condition of approval.
- Assets and means. Applicants must show capital assets above a published threshold, with a portion required to be in financial assets, and must hold health insurance covering Malta.
- Due diligence. A four-tier vetting process is applied, and additional fees are payable for each dependant added to the application.
What the investment route does and does not give
It confers the right to reside in Malta indefinitely, subject to continuing compliance, and visa-free travel within the Schengen area on the usual short-stay terms. It does not confer the right to work in Malta as of right, and it does not confer nationality.
It is also not a shortcut to a passport. Time held under the programme does not by itself satisfy the naturalisation requirements described in the citizenship section, and applicants who assume otherwise are relying on material written before 2025.
Indicative programme costs
| Item | Approximate cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Non-refundable administrative fee | 40,000 |
| Government contribution where property is rented | around 60,000 |
| Government contribution where property is purchased | around 30,000 |
| Charitable donation | 2,000 |
| Additional dependant fee | around 7,500 each |
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.