By Uglobal Staff
Malta has launched a new visa scheme to specifically cater to digital nomads. The Nomad Residence Permit allows them to stay for up to a year if they meet the criteria.
The move comes at a time when several other countries around the world, including the UK, Romania and Australia have launched similar visa schemes to tap into the remote workers’ market, which some estimates put it at around 4.3 million people worldwide.
Maltese Junior Minister for Citizenship and Communities Alex Muscat himself confirmed on his Twitter feed on June 2 that Malta "will jump on the bandwagon of increased demand for #remote workers. Individuals with a flair for travelling & discovering new countries can #work remotely in Malta."
Muscat said that the government estimates the contribution of a single digital nomad to the economy equals to around "what 260 tourists would spend in a day," media reported.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MALTA’S NOMAD RESIDENCE PERMIT
The Nomad Residence Permit is open to non-EU 'third country' nationals, provided they can give proof of their work contracts that clearly state they are remotely employed by foreign companies, according to Residency Malta Agency.
Those conducting businesses for foreign firms as partners or shareholders are also eligible to apply. Freelancers and consultants whose clients are outside of Malta would also qualify. In all cases, the applicants would have to prove that they meet the minimum monthly salary threshold of 2,700 euros. This threshold would increase if the worker plans on bringing family members, such as a spouse.
Applicants would also need to have valid health insurance, property rental or purchase deeds and pass background checks among other things. Digital nomads applying from outside of Malta would be allowed time to get all such documents once they are in the country on an initial National Visa, which would be valid for 180 days. Once the digital nomad decides they would like to stay longer then that period, they would be able to apply for the Nomad Residence Permit, which would be valid for a year; this permit would also be renewable.
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