Malta Permanent Residency Program 2026: Costs, Requirements and Benefits

Malta, a small but beautiful island country offers both a European lifestyle and a stable economy to individuals. The country offers qualifying non-European families an opportunity to secure permanent residence in Malta through its Malta Permanent Residency program (MPRP). The program is a regulated residency by investment route administered by Residency Malta Agency. 

Malta offers direct PR to Europe that attracts a large number of investors worldwide. The country no longer offers a direct citizenship by investment program following the rules by the European Court of Justice. So, investors can not get Maltese citizenship by investment but they can secure residency in Malta through its MPRP program. 

What is the Malta Permanent Residence Program?

The Malta permanent residence programme MPRP allows non-European nationals to secure lifetime residency in the beautiful and stable European country, Malta. The permanent residents can live and work in Malta for an indefinite period of time and also benefit from its real estate and employment opportunities. 

Individuals make qualifying investments and the successful applicants receive a residency by investment certificate. The program also allows these applicants to include their eligible family members in the application. The approval of application depends on the comprehensive due diligence, financial eligibility, and completion of all requirements. 

Malta MPRP Eligibility Requirements

The Malta MPRP program includes following requirements for individuals who want to qualify for permanent residence in Malta.

• The main applicant must be an adult, i.e, aged 18 or above.

• Applicants must demonstrate a legal source of funds.

• They must pass criminal and security background checks. 

• Contain valid travel documentation.

• Purchase or rent qualifying residential property.

• Maintain a suitable health record. 

Malta Permanent Residence Costs in 2026

Applicants seeking Malta permanent residence must have to fulfill the following financial requirements to qualify for the program. 

Property Requirement

The applicant must either:

• Purchase residential property in Malta or Gozo worth at least €375,000; or

• Rent residential property in Malta or Gozo for at least €14,000 per year. 

The qualifying investment must be retained for a minimum five years to qualify for the program. 

Government Fees and Contribution

Apart from renting or leasing a property, applicants need to meet the following certain fees and criteria to qualify. 

• €50,000 admin fee.

• €60,000 government contribution.

• €2000 donation. 

Which Family Members Can be Included?

The dependent family members such as spouse, dependent children under 29, dependent parents, and grand-parents can be included in the Malta permanent residency program application. However, the applicant must have to pay €10,000 to include a family member. 

This is one of the major benefits of securing Malta permanent residency as the applicants can live and work in Malta along with their loved ones. This means they can efficiently balance both their personal and professional life. 

Benefits of Malta Permanent Residence

Malta provides multiple benefits to its residents including:

• Lifestyle upgrade as per European standards.

• Visa-free travel to Schengen states.

• Permanent residency in a stable EU country. 

• Safe and secure environment.

• Being an English-speaking country, it makes communication easier for people.

• Opportunity to include family members in the application.

• 2-3 hours flight away from the United Kingdom.

• Multiple beautiful destinations are in Malta that offer nightlife and day life activities. 

• Numerous real estate and business opportunities.

How to Get Permanent Residency in Malta

For individuals thinking how to get permanent residency in Malta, the answer is: the most critical step involves your eligibility assessment through right expert guidance. A licensed agent assesses your profile, objectives, financial eligibility, family structure, and source of funds. Then guide you through every step of the application including documentation and approval. 

The process includes background and due diligence checks. The applicants meet the financial and eligibility requirements and wait for the approval. Upon approval, successful applicants get residency by investment certificates and become residents of Malta for an indefinite period of time. 

Does Malta Offer Citizenship by Investment?

Malta citizenship by investment is no longer available. The country discontinued its former investor-citizenship framework following the European Court of Justice on 29th April 2025. 

Malta offers another pathway which is Malta citizenship by merit and it exists only on a discretionary, case by case basis for exceptional circumstances.

Conclusion

The Malta permanent residence program MPRP provides individuals with a secure and permanent European base. It offers long-term security to its residents and a lifestyle upgrade as per EU standards. The individuals can benefit from family inclusion, health, and educational facilities in Malta. 

Although Malta discontinued its former citizenship by investment program, it is the only European country that offers a direct route to permanent residency in Europe. Under the Malta MPRP program, individuals secure lifelong or permanent residence in Malta. This provides them with a chance to expand business in Europe and access the well-known European business markets.