Malta
Global Residency Scheme
The permit must be renewed every year, provided that requirements are still met.
To be eligible for the program you must not hold a residency permit in Malta under another Programme.
You must have enough income to support yourself and your dependents, though you may apply for a work permit if you wish to work in Malta.
You will be required to purchase a residential property with a value of at least €275,000, if located in Malta, or €220,000 if located in Gozo or in the South of Malta. The property cannot be leased to a third party if you hold the residence permit under this scheme.
Alternatively, instead of purchasing a property, you may rent a property in Malta, with a minimum annual rent of €9,600 if in Malta, or €8,750 if in Gozo or in the South of Malta.
Under this program, you may benefit from an advantageous tax regime, where income is taxed on a remittance basis at a flat rate of 15%. To qualify for this tax incentive, you must not be tax resident abroad (e.g. stay more than 182 days in another country) and pay a minimum tax amount of €15,000.
Requirements
- At least 18 years of age.
- Not to be national of EU/EEA/Switzerland.
- Spend less than 183 days a year in another country (to qualify as tax resident in Malta).
- English or Maltese language skills.
- Possess comprehensive health insurance.
- Clean criminal record.
- Not to be a potential threat to Malta's national security, public policy or public health.
- Not deemed to be against the public interest
Restricted Nationalities
Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, European Economic Area
dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is recognized in Malta. You are not required to renounce your previous nationality to become a citizen of Malta.
Documents Required
- Evidence of Health Insurance
- Original Police Clearance Certificate
- Original Bank Reference Letter (Not older than 6 month)
- Medical Certificate
- Undertaking to purchase property
- Undertaking to rent property
- Affidavit of support for Dependents
- Certified copy of passport
- Original or Certified copy of Birth Certificate (if applicable)
- Original or Certified copy of Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
- Six passport-size photos
- Statement of Source of Funds
- Proof of income
- dual citizenship Yes
- Family members included Yes
- land ownership Yes
- Physical residence required No
- Personal visit required No
- Language skills required Yes
- Interview required No
- Investment Single -
- Investment Family 4 -
- Minimum annual income €100,000
- Time to citizenship 60
- Time to permanent residency 60
- Visa-free countries 188
- Financing available No
Benefits
citizenship benefits
permanent residency benefits
temporary residency benefits
Country details
Malta is a former British colony, and currently a member of the European Union, the Schengen Area and the Commonwealth. It has about half million inhabitants. Its capital is Valletta, although its most populated urban center is Birkirkara, with over 22,000 inhabitants. Its official languages are Maltese and English. Since 2008 its legal tender currency is the Euro (EUR).
Visa Free Travel
Taxes
Malta levies personal income taxes on a residence and domicile basis. An individual is deemed to be a tax resident if he or she spends more than half year in the country, and is deemed to be domiciled in Malta if their permanent home is in Malta. Becoming a Maltese citizen does not automatically make you a tax resident or deemed to be domiciled in Malta.
Maltese ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta are subject to personal income tax on their worldwide income and capital gains.
Maltese ordinarily resident and not domiciled in Malta are taxed on their income and capital gains arising in Malta and on income arising outside Malta that is remitted to Malta.
This means that if you are a Maltese resident non-domiciled (permanent home) in Malta, only your Maltese-source income and capital gains and your income remitted to Malta may be subject to tax. Foreign-source income not remitted and capital gains (remitted or not) may be tax-exempt.
Non-residents are only taxed on their income and capital gains from Malta.
Personal income tax rates are progressive from 0% to 30%. Capital Gains are taxable income. However, gains from the disposal of immovable property are taxed at lower rates of 8%, 10% or 12% depending on the circumstances. Property purchased under the citizenship by investment program can be sold tax-exempt after the mandatory 5-year period, provided that the property is held for a period of 3 years as the owner’s ordinary residence.
In Malta, there are no inheritance, real property, net wealth and municipal taxes. There is a stamp duty applied on certain transfers such as real property or securities. Value-added tax is 18%.
Malta is the jurisdiction chosen by many international companies and holding companies, to establish their headquarters and do business in the European Union.
As of December 2018, Malta enacted the EU ATAD rules, which include a rule on Controlled Foreign Companies (CFCs) for the first time.
Although its standard corporate tax rate is 35 percent, in practice there is a system of tax credits and refunds for shareholders reducing to effective tax rates of between 0 and 10 percent. Learn more about Malta’s Corporate Taxation, Legal Framework and tax treaties at incorporations.io/malta.
This should not be construed as tax advice. We have access to a global network of qualified attorneys and accountants who can give you the proper advice for your particular circumstances. Contact us for further information.
- Property tax No
- Transfer tax No
- Inheritance tax No
- Net worth tax No
- CFC law No
- Tax residency days 183
- Personal income tax rate 15%
- Capital Gains tax rate 12%
- Investment income tax rate 15%
- Territorial taxation Yes