Malta

Citizenship By Investment

There are several investment requirements for Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CDI). The main financial contribution required depends on the residency timeframe applied for. Applicants can apply for Citizenship after a 36-month residency period, or by exception a 12-month residency period. There are three investments required. These include:

• Financial Contribution: Applicants who have resided for a 3-year period, must make a financial contribution of 600,000 euros. By exception, applicants who have resided for 1 year must make a contribution of 750,000 euros. This contribution is referred to as the Exceptional Direct Investment.

• Real Estate Investment: The property investment thresholds are the same for all applicants irrespective of which duration of residency is chosen. Applicants have two options: - Purchase residential property for a minimum value of 700,000 euros or rent a residential property for a minimum of 16,000 euros per year. The property investment needs to be maintained for a minimum period of 5 years from the date of issue of the certificate of citizenship.

• Donation: Applicants must make a 10,000-euro charitable donation to an approved Local Voluntary Organisation.

In addition to the investment requirements, investors will need to pay due diligence and government administration fees and a non-refundable deposit of 10,000 euros. 

Financially dependant family members of the main applicant may be included in the application subject to additional fees. This includes the main applicant’s spouse, children under 18 years of age, and unmarried children (18-28 years). Eligibility also extends to parents and grandparents (55 years and over) of the main applicant and spouse.

Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CDI) was introduced in November 2020.

Powered by Froala Editor

Residency By Investment

Malta offers a number of attractive residency-by-investment programs with individual programs designed to attract investment from both, third-party nationals and EU/EEA citizens.

The long-standing Malta Residency Visa Program (MRVP) was first launched in 2016, and in March 2021 it was replaced by a new, but similar program entitled Malta Permanent Residency Program (MRVP). The details of these residency programs and other tax driven residency programs are listed below:

Malta Permanent Residency Program (MPRP) is Malta’s new residency-by-investment program introduced in 2021 that offers permanent residence to third-country international investors who fulfill the following criteria:

• Purchase or rent residential property for a minimum of five years from the date of issuing the residence certificate. The minimum investment required is 300,000 euros on the purchase of property and 10,000 euros for a rental property.

• Pay an administrative fee to the Maltese Government of 40,000 euros, of which 10,000 euros will be paid upfront at the time of the initial submission.

• Make a financial contribution of 58,000 euros in the case of renting a property or 28,000 euros in the case of purchasing property.

• Donate 2,000 euros to a local based charity

Investors must be able to demonstrate they are in possession of 500,000-euro capital assets, of which 150,000 euros must be in the form of financial assets and this must be maintained for the first five years of annual compliance. Financially dependent family members of the main applicant may be included in the application subject to additional fees.

Global Residence Program (GRP): Essentially a tax driven program for non-EU investors, applicants may benefit from a flat tax rate of 15% on foreign source income remitted to Malta. Investors with a regular income, including a pension, can qualify for this program by meeting the following criteria: pay an application fee of 6,000 euros, pay an annual minimum tax of 15,000 euros, and purchase or rent residential property (in the case of purchasing a minimum of 220,000euros, in the case of renting for at least 8,750euros per year).

Investors for the GRP must not reside in any other single jurisdiction for 183 days or more and have EU health cover. This program needs to be renewed each year.

The Residence Program (TRP): This program attracts investors from the EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who are not permanent residents of Malta. Like the GRP, this program offers attractive tax benefits to its investors. Investors to this program may benefit from a flat tax rate of 15% on foreign source income remitted to Malta.

The investment requirements for the TRP are: pay a 6000-euro application fee, pay an annual 15,000-euro minimum tax, and purchase or rent residential property (in the case of purchasing a minimum of 220,000 euros, in the case of renting for at least 8,750 euros per year).

Investors for the TRP must not reside in any other single jurisdiction for 183 days or more and be in possession of EU health insurance. This program needs to be renewed each year.

Residency program for Digital Nomads: Malta launched the Nomad Residence Permit in the summer of 2021, allowing foreigners with a global income of at least 2,700 euros to stay in the country for at least 12 months. The permit is renewable.

Powered by Froala Editor