Malta residence by investment today means one of two programmes: the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), which grants an indefinite right to live in Malta, and the Global Residence Programme (GRP), which is a special tax status; immigration permission must be considered separately. Both changed in 2025 and 2026, and many guides online still quote figures from programmes that have closed. This guide sets out the current rules and the dates they apply from.

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What Closed and What Replaced It

The Malta Residence and Visa Programme (MRVP), with its government bond investment and lower property thresholds, was replaced by the MPRP on 29 March 2021. There is no longer a separate “temporary” residence-by-investment programme. Figures such as a €250,000 bond, a €30,000 contribution, or €10,000 annual rent belong to the old MRVP and do not apply to new applications.

The MPRP: Permanent Residence by Investment

The MPRP is governed by Subsidiary Legislation 217.26, last amended by Legal Notice 146 of 2025. For applications submitted from 1 January 2025, the main requirements are:

  • Property: buy a residence worth at least €375,000, or rent one for at least €14,000 a year, anywhere in Malta or Gozo. The qualifying property must be kept for at least five years.
  • Government contribution: €37,000, the same for the purchase and rental routes.
  • Administration fee: €60,000, plus €7,500 for each additional dependant other than a spouse or minor child.
  • Donation: €2,000 to a registered Maltese NGO.
  • Capital: assets of at least €500,000, of which €150,000 in financial assets, or at least €650,000, of which €75,000 in financial assets.

The spouse, children, unmarried adult children under 29 who are principally dependent, and dependent parents and grandparents can be included. There is no minimum stay requirement. Processing times depend on application completeness, due-diligence queries and the Agency’s workload. Published targets and service estimates are not guaranteed approval periods. Our MPRP page covers the full cost structure and payment stages.

The GRP: A Special Tax Status

The GRP is aimed at people who want Malta as their tax home rather than a permanent residence card. Until 31 December 2026 it offers a 15% tax rate on foreign income remitted to Malta, with a minimum annual tax of €15,000, and requires a property bought for at least €275,000 (€220,000 in the South of Malta or Gozo) or rented for at least €9,600 a year (€8,750 in the South or Gozo).

From 1 January 2027 the Individual Tax Programme Rules (Legal Notice 195 of 2026) replace these terms. The 15% rate stays, but the minimum annual tax rises to €35,000, the property thresholds rise to €700,000 to buy or €14,000 a year to rent anywhere in Malta or Gozo, and the administration fee rises to €8,500. The transitional provisions cover existing qualifying beneficiaries and qualifying applications received by 31 December 2026, with the transition continuing until 31 December 2031. Our Global Residence Programme guide explains the tax mechanics in detail.

Choosing a Malta Residence by Investment Route

The choice usually comes down to what you need the residence for:

  • Permanent residence status, subject to the programme’s ongoing requirements, for the whole family, without a minimum stay: the MPRP.
  • A favourable tax position on foreign income while living in Malta: the GRP, keeping in mind the higher thresholds from 2027.
  • Working remotely for a company outside Malta without an investment: the Nomad Residence Permit, which requires a gross income of at least €42,000 a year and is not an investment programme.

Residence does not automatically lead to citizenship. Ordinary naturalisation and citizenship by merit are separate frameworks, each subject to its own requirements and discretionary decisions. See our guide to Malta citizenship for how that works.

For the official programme rules, see the Residency Malta Agency. If you are weighing these routes for your family, book a consultation and we will compare them against your situation.

Last reviewed: 31 October 2026