Malta's Permanent Residence Programme, MPRP

(Source: Residency Malta Agency, as of January 10, 2022)

ABOUT MALTA

Safety, Stability, Security, Culture, Education, Hospitality, Hospitalization, & great economy.

Malta is a democratic country with a strong history of government stability.
Its long-term economic, political and social stability is a valuable metric by which one can also measure the country’s quality of life, economic prospects and propensity for investment. It draws further jurisdictional strength as an EU Member State, an integral part of Schengen and the eurozone and a member of the Commonwealth.

Malta ranks as the safest place in Europe and the second safest place in the world. The country’s crime rate is negligible and women can go out alone at night without the fear of harassment. Malta has civil liberties at heart, boasting civil rights for LGBTIQ+ persons and a wider progressive society. As a welcoming nation, foreigners and expats moving to Malta will immediately feel safe, secure and right at home.

Marked by centuries of foreign occupation due to its strategic location, the Maltese archipelago is steeped in history and culture. A string of conquests, most notably those by the Arabs, Sicilians, French, British and the Knights of St. John, have all contributed to the country’s chequered legacy.

Malta’s education system is based on the British model and is very highly regarded. With a choice of state, church and private schools that combine
a focus on high academic achievement with extra-curricular personal development, residents have peace of mind when planning their children’s future.

Malta enjoys an unhurried pace of life. With 300 days of sunshine a year and surrounded by some of the clearest waters in the world, island life offers an abundance of things to do. For those who like to stay active, Malta offers an array of hiking, diving and watersport activities. Malta’s theatres, museums, heritage sites and music festivals are a treat for culture buffs, while the young can enjoy nightlife and after-work pub drinks all year round.

Maltese residents enjoy excellent quality medical care that ranks highly in the world. Public and private hospitals as well as local clinics offer an excellent service and a network of strategically located government health centres provide care coupled with convenience.

Malta’s strong economic landscape makes it an ideal base from which to do business. The country has consistently punched above its weight in economic growth and frequently makes it to the top ranks of fastest growing industries in the EU. With booming industries like gaming, hospitality, financial services, pharma, maritime and aviation, paired with various incentives from the government, entrepreneurs are encouraged to invest and contribute to the country’s economy.

 

MALTA PERMANENT RESIDENCE PROGRAMME, (MPRP)

ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS

The main applicant needs to meet the following requirements to be granted a Malta Permanent Residency:

• Applicant must be a third country national (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss).
• Main applicant must be at least 18 years of age and have valid travel documents.
• Applicant’s criminal record must be clean.
• Demonstrate capital assets of at least €500,000, with a minimum of €150,000 in financial assets or capital assets of at least €650,000, with a minimum of €75,000 in financial assets.
• Applicant must earn stable and regular income which is sufficient enough to maintain themselves and their dependents without relying on Malta’s social assistance.

To qualify for residence under the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulations, successful applicants will need to:

• Hold qualifying property, which can be purchased or rented:
• If purchased, the property value must be a minimum of €375,000 for a property situated in Malta or Gozo. Such property is allowed to be rented out as an investment during the days you are not using such apartment, though there will be a maximum number of days per year for which you are allowed to do so and such would be announced in the coming weeks.
• If rented, the lease value must be for a minimum of €14,000 per year for a property situated in Malta or Gozo.
• Make a Government Contribution of €37,000 regardless of whether you purchase or rent a property.
• Make a Donation of EUR 2,000 to a local non-governmental organisation registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, or as otherwise approved by the Agency.
• Pay an administrative fee of
• EUR 60,000 for the main applicant
• EUR 7,500 for each adult dependent who is not the spouse.

Aside from making the required qualifying investment, applicants must have:

• Regular resources sufficient to maintain themselves without depending on the social assistance system of Malta;
• Health insurance policy in respect of all risks typically covered for Maltese nationals;
• Demonstrate capital assets of at least €500,000, with a minimum of €150,000 in financial assets or capital assets of at least €650,000, with a minimum of €75,000 in financial assets.

Who can apply?

As with the previous regulations, only Non-EU Nationals can apply for the Malta Golden Visa Programme under the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulations. To the effects of the regulations, Third Country Nationals are those individuals who are not citizens of the European Union. EEA nationals and Swiss nationals shall not be considered to be third-country nationals. Persons who qualify as dependents of the principal applicant are defined by the L.N. 121 enacting the new Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) regulation. The qualifying dependents are defined as follows:

• The principal applicant’s spouse in a monogamous marriage or in another relationship having the same or a similar status to marriage. For the purposes of the MPRP, the term “spouse” shall be gender-neutral;
• Children, including adopted, of the principal applicant or his spouse who, at the time of application, are less than 18 years of age;
• Children over the age of 18 years old, not married, and principally dependent on the principal applicant;
• Financially dependent parents or grandparents of the principal applicant or of his spouse; or
• Disabled adult children of the principal applicant or spouse.
• For grandchildren to be added as dependents, the main applicant has to be their legal guardian and proof of this would be required for application purposes.

BENEFITS

The benefits associated with MPRP are numerous as the Programme provides investors with a link to the European Union. Such benefits comprise of the following:

• Residents will be able to settle, remain and live indefinitely in Malta. Indeed, the political climate of the island is quite stable and the crime rate is low. Indeed, Malta is considered as one of the safest countries in the world. The country is also renowned for its reputable and world-class health care services and education systems. Language barriers are minimal as the vast majority of the Maltese population is bilingual, and English is one of the official languages of the country.
  Make use of visa-free travel across Schengen states for 90 out of 180 days.
• Infiltrate Malta’s ever-growing real estate market.
• The Programme offers the possibility for non-Maltese persons to travel freely wihin the Schengen zone, without having to undergo border inspections.
• Investment is only required for the first five years of residency.
• The inclusion of four generations in one application, and the application may include:
• The spouse or long-term partner,
• Children of the Main Applicant/Spouse (no age limits),
• Parents of the Main Applicant/Spouse,
• Grandparents of the Main Applicant/Spouse
• Investment opportunities – Following the accession into the European Union in 2004, Malta has flourished into one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, with new niches and markets expansions being introduced.

PROCEDURES & QUALIFYING CRITERIA

A formal application for the Residency Programme is submitted to the Residency Malta Agency. The application will undergo a stringent Due Diligence and background check.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifying criteria won’t be approved, with causes for rejection being as follows:

• The principal applicant and, or any of his dependants shall not have had a previous application for a certificate or an application for Maltese citizenship refused;
• The principal applicant, or any of his dependants, shall have a clean criminal background; They must not have been found guilty, or, at the time of the application, being interrogated and suspected, or has criminal charges brought against him/her for any criminal offence, other than an involuntary offence, punishable with more than one (1) year imprisonment.
• The principal applicant, or any of his dependants, shall not be individuals who, at any time, had pending charges or who has been found guilty of any crimes related to:
• crimes of terrorism,
• money laundering,
• funding of terrorism,
• crimes against humanity,
• war crimes,
• crimes that infringe upon such Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as established by the European Convention on Human Rights;
• If the principal applicant, or any of his/her dependents, have been found guilty or have charges brought against him/her regarding any of the following criminal offences:
• paedophilia,
• defilement of minors,
• rape,
• violent indecent assault,
• inducing persons under age to prostitution, and
  abduction;
• The application will be rejected if the applicant is listed in international sanctions applying restrictive measures that the Agency is bound by law, or has opted, to follow.

ONGOING REQUIREMENTS POST-RESIDENCY

• Annual compliance has to be carried out with the help of a licenced agent, such as CSB Group, for the first 5 years.
• During the first 5 years, real estate requirements must be maintained and health insurance must be renewed.
• If the applicant is a tax resident of Malta, he/she must not spend more than 183 days in any other jurisdiction in a calendar year.