The MPRP provides international investors with the right to take up residence in Malta on the basis of investment. These rights apply to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.
By means of Legal Notice 310 of 2024, the said rules were amended as follows. The changes apply to applications submitted on or after 1st January 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
Main applicants shall present evidence of possession of assets having a value of not less than €500,000, out of which a minimum of €150,000 shall be in the form of financial assets. With effect from 1st January 2025, main applicants may instead opt to provide evidence of possession of assets having a value of not less than €650,000, out of which a minimum of €75,000 shall be in the form of financial assets.
Before the changes in the Rules, the definition of a dependant included a child, including an adopted child, of the main applicant or of his spouse, who at the time of application is over eighteen (18) years of age, is not married, and who proves, to the satisfaction of the Residence Malta Agency that at the time of application he or she is principally dependent on the main applicant. With effect from 1st January 2025, the dependant child must not yet have attained the age of 29 at the time of application. This change will not effect an adult child of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who has been certified by a recognised medical professional or authority as having a disability in terms of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act.
Qualifying Property
With effect from 1st January 2025, the qualifying owned property must be purchased at a minimum value of €375,000 in Malta or Gozo. Before the changes, the minimum values were €300,000 for properties situated in Gozo or in the South of Malta and €350,000 for properties situated elsewhere.
With effect from 1st January 2025, the qualifying rented property must be leased at a minimum annual rent of €14,000 in Malta or Gozo. Before the changes, the minimum values were €10,000 for properties situated in Gozo or in the South of Malta and €12,000 for properties situated elsewhere.
Administration fees
With respect to applications submitted on or after 1st January 2025, main applicants have to pay a non-refundable administration fee of €50,000 (up from €40,000), out of which the amount of €15,000 needs to be paid within one month from submission of application, with the remaining payable within 2 months from the issuance of a letter of approval in principle.
With respect to dependants, a fee of €10,000 (up from €7,500) will apply for each dependant. The amount of €5,000 is a non-refundable administration fee payable within 2 months from the issuance of the letter of approval in principle. The rest is paid within 8 months from the issuance of the letter of approval in principle. If a dependant joins after the issuance of the certificate of residence, the non-refundable administration fee must be paid upon submission of application.
Contribution
Contributions paid by the main applicants have also increased from €28,000 to €30,000 in the case of applicants who opt for a for a qualifying owned property and from €58,000 to €60,000 in the case of applicants who opt for a qualifying rented property. The contribution must be paid within 8 months from the issuance of the letter of approval in principle.
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