Malta Permanent Residence

No. There is no minimum-stay requirement to obtain or maintain MPRP. The only mandatory presence in Malta is for the biometrics appointment, required once at card issuance for every approved applicant. The residence card is valid for five years and renewable, provided programme requirements continue to be met. (Source: Residency Malta Agency.)

Typically 4 to 6 months from submission of the full application to approval in principle, with some files extending to seven months. Card issuance follows within one to two weeks of fulfilling the obligations and attending the biometrics appointment. Under the July 2025 rules, a one-year temporary residence permit is issued after the initial €15,000 admin fee and background checks, so you are not without status during the Agency review period.

Yes. The main applicant can include: a spouse or life partner; children under 18; financially dependent unmarried children over 18; adult children with a certified disability; and dependent parents, grandparents, parents-in-law, and grandparents-in-law on either side, with no upper age threshold. Dependency must be properly evidenced. Spouse and minor children carry no separate fee under the post-July 2025 rules. Each adult dependant carries a €7,500 fee.

Yes, provided they can demonstrate principal dependency on the investor at the time of application. An affidavit of dependency signed by the main applicant, supported by evidence of financial support, is required. A medical certificate may also be requested for dependent parents or grandparents depending on the case.

No. MPRP grants permanent residency, not citizenship. Ordinary naturalisation under Maltese law requires twelve months of continuous physical residence in Malta immediately before the application, plus at least four cumulative years of physical residence in the six years preceding that, alongside adequate Maltese or English, good character, two sponsors, and ministerial discretion. Holding MPRP without spending substantial time in Malta does not, on its own, qualify you for naturalisation. The July 2025 reforms also introduced a separate Citizenship by Merit route, assessed case by case.

It depends on your capital position and investment objectives. If you rent, you commit €14,000 per year for five years (€70,000 total), and that cash is gone at the end of the hold. Your total non-recoverable outlay is lower. If you purchase, you commit a minimum of €375,000 in property capital you continue to own. Under the July 2025 rules, purchased qualifying property can be let on short-term terms when you are not present, generating rental income during the hold period. After five years, you are free to sell or retain the property.

The qualifying property obligation is released. You are no longer required to retain the original qualifying property, but you must continue to hold a residential address in Malta or Gozo and maintain valid health insurance. Permanent residency itself continues indefinitely, subject to the standard five-year card renewal. The residency does not expire and is not subject to a new investment obligation after the hold period.

Not automatically. The MPRP card does not by itself confer the right to take up employment in Malta. A separate Employment Licence from Jobsplus is required. As a permanent resident, the process is generally more straightforward than for new arrivals. Self-employment through a Maltese company is relatively simple to set up, with the standard authorisations required. The MPRP card also does not grant automatic work rights in other EU member states — a separate work permit in the destination country is needed there.

No. There is no language requirement at any stage of the MPRP application. A language assessment (Maltese or English) applies only to ordinary naturalisation, which is a separate and much later process. If you are not pursuing citizenship, language is not a factor at all.

Not if you are from a currently sanctioned jurisdiction. Nationals of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela are not eligible. Applications from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are also not currently accepted. The list is reviewed periodically by the Residency Malta Agency. Always verify the current position at the time of engagement.

Professional and legal fees are quoted separately based on family composition and case complexity. They cover case preparation, due diligence, liaison with the Residency Malta Agency, and compliance support through to card issuance. Book a call with us to discuss your situation and receive a tailored quote.