Residence

Expatriates are increasingly choosing Malta as their residence or location to retire owing to the island’s strategic location, mild climate and diverse culture. In addition, Malta has also developed a number of programmes allowing applicants to benefit from special tax rates and residency.

These include:

• The Malta Residency and Visa Programme (MRVP);
• The Global Residence Programme;
• The Residence Programme;
• The Malta Retirement Programme

Malta Residency and Visa Programme (‘MRVP’)

The Malta Residency and Visa Programme is regulated by Legal Notice 288 of 2015 under the Immigration Act. For a reasonably modest capital outlay, the MRVP grants the applicant and his/her family a notable return particularly by issuing a residence certificate with indefinite validity and the possibility of visa free travel within the Schengen Area.

The residence certificate under the MRVP is issued by Identity Malta and once issued will allow the applicant to reside indefinitely in Malta together with his/her dependants.

In order to qualify for MRVP the main applicant must:

• Be over 18 years of age;
• Satisfy a fit and proper test;
• Be a third country national
• Not be a beneficiary under any other programme granting special tax status;
• Not be a long term resident or applied for long term residence.

The MRVP applicant must be represented by an authorized registered mandatary. DF Advocates is one such license holder.

For full information on the MRVP, you may access our brochure here.

Global Residence Programme (‘GRP’)

The Global Residence Programme is designed to attract High Net Worth Individuals and their families who are not nationals of the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland to take up residence in Malta.

For a reasonably modest capital outlay, the GRP grants the applicant and his family a notable return, inter alia:

• Schengen residence status rights including visa-free travel within the Schengen area;
• A flat rate of 15% on all income, which arises outside of Malta and is remitted to Malta. No tax is charged in Malta on income arising outside Malta but not remitted to Malta.

The requirements to benefit under the GRP are the following:

• The rental of immovable property in Malta at an annual rate of €9,600 for a property situated in Malta or €8,750 for a property situated in Gozo or in the South of Malta OR the acquisition of immovable property at a value of €275,000 for a property situated in Malta or €220,000 for a property situated in Gozo or in the South of Malta;

• The main applicant must be in receipt of stable and regular resources which are sufficient to maintain himself and his family;

• The main applicant must be in possession of sickness insurance for himself and his family;

• The main applicant must file an annual tax return every year and pay a minimum tax of €15,000 on a yearly basis;

• The main applicant cannot live in another country for more than 183 days in a calendar year.

An individual who wishes to benefit form the GRP must authorise a person who is an authorised registered mandatory to act on his behalf. DF Advocates is one such authorised mandatory.

For full information on the GRP, you can access our brochure here.

The Residence Programme

The Residence Programme Rules (‘TRP’) is designed to attract High Net Worth Individuals and their families who are nationals of the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland to take up residence in Malta.

• A residence permit for 5 years;
• A flat rate of 15% on all income, which arises outside of Malta and is remitted to Malta. No tax is charged in Malta on income arising outside Malta but not remitted to Malta.

The requirements to benefit under the TRP are the following:

• The rental of immovable property in Malta at an annual rate of €9,600 for a property situated in Malta or €8,750 for a property situated in Gozo or in the South of Malta OR the acquisition of immovable property at a value of €275,000 for a property situated in Malta or €220,000 for a property situated in Gozo or in the South of Malta;

• The main applicant must be in receipt of stable and regular resources which are sufficient to maintain himself and his family;

• The main applicant must be in possession of sickness insurance for himself and his family;

• The main applicant must file an annual tax return every year and pay a minimum tax of €15,000 on a yearly basis;
• The main applicant cannot live in another country for more than 183 days in a calendar year.

An individual must be represented by an authorized mandatary, DF Advocates is one such license holder and can assist you throughout the whole application process.

For more information on TRP, you can access our brochure here.

The Malta Retirement Programme (‘MRP’)

The Malta Retirement Programme (‘MRP’) is designed to attract nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who are not in an employment relationship and are in receipt of a pension as their regular source of income.

Individuals benefitting from the MRP may hold a non-executive post on the board of a company resident in Malta. This implies that the beneficiary would be prohibited from being employed by the company in any capacity

For full information on the MRP, you can access our brochure here.

For further information on any of Malta’s Residence Programmes, please do not hesitate to contact our Private Clients’ Department on info@dfadvocates.com.