Malta Permanent Residence Cost 2026: Every Fee, Single to Family

Reviewed by Jane Katkova, Founder & Licensed CICC Consultant· Last updated: September 2026

The Malta permanent residence cost is €99,500 in government fees for a single applicant and €101,000 for a couple with two minor children, plus the property: about €70,000 of rent over five years or a €375,000 purchase you can later sell. Adult dependants add €7,500 each. The fees are non-refundable.

Malta permanent residence cost: MPRP fees and key figures (2026)

• Administrative Fee of €60,000. €15,000 at filing, €45,000 on approval in principle; covers the whole family
• Government Contribution of €37,000. same whether you buy or rent
• NGO Donation of €2,000. to a registered Maltese voluntary organisation
• Residence Card Fee of €500 per Person. including spouse and minors; re-issued every five years
• Adult Dependants at €7,500 Each. children 18+, parents, grandparents; spouse is free
• Rental Route at €14,000 a Year. five years, about €70,000; not recoverable
• Property Purchase Route from €375,000. five years; recoverable on resale, less stamp duty and costs
• Nothing Refundable. except the property itself if bought

MPRP government fee schedule under Subsidiary Legislation 217.26

Every figure is set by Subsidiary Legislation 217.26 and published by the Residency Malta Agency. Nothing here is negotiable and nothing is returned once paid.

Administrative fee: €60,000

• Covers: Main applicant, spouse and minor children
• Holding: €15,000 at submission (lost on refusal); €45,000 within two months of approval
• Best for: The single largest item; it replaced the €40,000 fee in January 2025

Government contribution: €37,000

• Covers: Whole family, buy or rent
• Holding: On approval in principle
• Best for: Unified in 2025; the old €30,000 buy / €60,000 rent figures are obsolete

Adult dependants: €7,500 each

• Covers: Each dependant aged 18 or over other than the spouse
• Holding: On approval in principle
• Best for: A couple bringing two parents pays €15,000 more

NGO donation: €2,000

• Covers: One per application
• Holding: On approval, with receipt
• Best for: Any NGO registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations

Residence cards: €500 per person

• Covers: Every family member including children
• Holding: At issue, and again at each five-year re-issue
• Best for: A recurring cost at each five-year re-issue

Property: €14,000/yr rent or €375,000 purchase

• Covers: Whole family on one lease or deed
• Holding: Five years; then a residential address
• Best for: Rent for the lowest outlay; buy if you want the asset back

Health insurance for Malta and Europe, police certificates, translations, legalisations, and our professional fee are additional. On a purchase, Maltese stamp duty and notarial fees apply; we quote them with the property.

Malta permanent residence cost by family size: government fees

Rent route assumes €14,000 a year for five years. Purchase route replaces that €70,000 with €375,000, most of which you recover on sale. Children under 18 pay only the card.

Purchase route: single applicant €99,500 in fees plus €375,000 property, €474,500 committed with about €375,000 recoverable after five years. Family of four €476,000 committed on the same basis.

MPRP refund rules, payment schedule and additional costs

Refunds. The €15,000 paid at filing is not returned if the application is refused or withdrawn. Every other government amount is paid only after approval in principle, so a refused applicant loses €15,000 plus preparation costs, not €99,500. Once paid, the administrative fee, contribution, donation and dependant fees are non-refundable. Rent is not recoverable. A purchased property is yours to sell after five years.

Timing. €15,000 at filing. Within two months of the approval letter, typically six to eight months later: €45,000, €37,000, €7,500 per adult dependant, €2,000, the lease or deed, and health insurance. Cards at issue. Compliance checks in years one, three and five cost nothing but require proof that property, insurance and assets are in place.

Beyond the schedule. Health insurance for the family; police certificates, medicals, translations and legalisations (a few thousand euros for a family); one trip to Malta for biometrics; on a purchase, stamp duty and notarial fees. Our professional fee covers screening, the source-of-wealth file, the licensed Maltese agent, correspondence with Residency Malta through due diligence, the property step and card issue. We quote it in writing and it does not change mid-file.

Against the alternatives. Greece charges about €2,000 in fees on a €400,000 property (€250,000 for approved conversions) for a five-year renewable permit. Malta's fees are fifty times higher, and they secure permanence, no stay, and a family on one file with minors free. If you would never use the residence, Greece costs less; if you want a status that does not expire, this is the cost of the MPRP.

Figures verified 27 September 2026.

Malta permanent residence cost for US and Canadian applicants

For US and Canadian citizens

Treat the €99,500 as the price of a permanent option, not an investment: it returns nothing. The rent route commits €169,500 over five years; the purchase route ties up €375,000 you get back. Neither changes your tax unless you move to Malta for 183 or more days, at which point US filing continues and a Canadian departure triggers deemed dispositions.

For US and Canada residents on another passport

The comparison is with a Schengen visa every trip and no European fallback if your North American status ends. For a family of four, €101,000 in fees plus rent buys a permanent EU address and visa-free Schengen for life. Every euro, including the fees, must be traced to a lawful source, so the most practical route is the one you can fully document.

Request a written MPRP cost estimate for your family

Tell us who is on the application and whether you would rent or buy. Jane Katkova, licensed CICC consultant, sends you an itemised figure, government fees and ours separated. Book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Malta permanent residence cost for a family of four?

€101,000 in government fees: €60,000 administrative fee, €37,000 contribution, €2,000 NGO donation and four residence cards at €500. Children under 18 and the spouse pay nothing beyond the card. Add about €70,000 of rent over five years, or a €375,000 purchase, plus insurance, document costs and our fee.

Is any of the Malta MPRP cost refundable?

No government fee is refundable. The €15,000 first instalment is lost on refusal; the rest is paid only after approval, so an unsuccessful applicant does not pay it. A purchased property can be sold after five years, which is why buyers treat the €375,000 as recoverable capital rather than a cost. Rent is not recoverable.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy for the MPRP?

Renting costs less in cash: about €70,000 over five years against €375,000 to buy, with identical government fees since the 2025 rules. Buying costs more up front but most of it comes back on resale, and the property can be let while you are away. Clients who will use Malta usually buy; clients holding the status as an option usually rent.

How much do adult children or parents add?

€7,500 each, plus a €500 card, paid on approval in principle. A couple with two adult dependants pays €116,000 in fees. There is no cap on the number of dependants, but each must be genuinely financially dependent and each aged 12 or over is vetted.

This guide is part of our Malta Residency by Investment: Golden Visa (MPRP) overview.

Official sources and references

1. Residency Malta Agency — MPRP legal framework (S.L. 217.26)