The Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP)

The qualifications and general requirements are that the applicant must:

• be at least eighteen years of age;
• meet the application requirements;
• have a clean criminal record, have passed the due diligence test and is a fit and proper person;
• commit himself / herself to provide proof of title to a qualifying property which may be either of the following:
  1. A qualifying owned property purchased at a consideration of not less than €375,000 for a property situated in Gozo or in Malta; or
  2. A qualifying rented property, taken on lease for a rent of not less than €14,000 per annum for a property situated in Gozo or Malta.
• pay the following:
  1. a contribution of €37,000, which applies equally whether leasing or purchasing qualifying property, payable within 8 months from the issuance of the Letter of Approval in Principal; and
  2. make a donation of €2,000 which is to be paid to an approved local registered philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific, animal welfare or artistic non-governmental organisation or society registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, or as otherwise approved by the Agency.

Upon submission of the application, the main applicant, as duly represented by an agent, shall present evidence of possession of assets, to the satisfaction of the Agency, 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. Alternatively main applicants may provide evidence that they are in 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.

Dependants

The rules establish that dependants shall comprise:

• the main applicant’s spouse in a monogamous marriage or in another relationship having the same or a similar status to marriage; 

• a child, including an adopted child, of the main applicant or of his spouse who at the time of application is less than 18 years of age; 

• a child, including an adopted child, of the main applicant or of his spouse, who must be, at the time of application, over 18 years of age, not married and not economically active, and therefore financially dependent on the main applicant. The dependent child must not yet have attained the age of 29 at the time of application.  This change will not affect 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.;

• a parent or grandparent of the main applicant or of his spouse who proves that he is not economically active;

• a child of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who has been certified by a recognised medical professional as having a disability in terms of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act and who is living with, and is fully supported by, the main applicant.

The main applicant must pay a non-refundable administration fee of €60,000, payable in two stages:

€15,000 upon application submission and €45,000 within two months of being granted Approval in Principle. A dependants’ administration fee of €7,500 per adult dependent needs to be settled as well. Administration fees for spouses, minor children, and adult children certified with a disability have been waived entirely.

Property Leasing and Subletting Flexibility 

Applicants who buy qualifying property may lease it out to third parties during periods when they are abroad, subject to agency guidelines.

Applicants leasing qualifying property may sublet after five years, with landlord consent, and in line with Agency policies.

The applicant must not benefit from any other scheme applicable in Malta i.e. the Global Residence Programme Rules, the High Net Worth Individuals – EU / EEA / Swiss Nationals Rules, the Malta Retirement Program Rules, the Residence Program Rules, the Qualifying Employment in Innovation and Creativity Rules or the Highly Qualified Persons Rules.

The certificate of residence will give the applicant and the registered dependents the right to reside, settle or stay indefinitely in Malta.
An application in terms of the MPRP rules must be made through the services of a registered accredited person or a registered approved agent with Identity Malta. ACT Advisory Services Limited is able to offer this service as it is registered as such with Identity Malta.