01
At submission
€15,000
- Covers
- First instalment of the administrative fee for the whole family
- Holding
- Non-refundable, even on refusal
- Best for
- Paid by the licensed agent when the file is lodged
Malta · MPRP
Malta permanent residency program
Malta Permanent Residence Programme fees, eligibility and application under the 2025 rules
The Malta permanent residency program (MPRP) is a government-run route to permanent residence: fixed fees of €99,500 for a single applicant, a property bought for €375,000 or leased for €14,000 a year and held five years, a decision in six to eight months, and no obligation to live in Malta. The rules below took effect on 1 January 2025.
Figures verified 27 September 2026 · Licensed CICC consultant, Toronto
Malta permanent residence guides
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP): key facts and fees
- Administrative Fee of €60,000
- €15,000 non-refundable at submission; €45,000 within two months of approval in principle
- Government Contribution of €37,000
- unified in 2025; the old €30,000 buy / €60,000 rent split no longer applies
- Property of €375,000 or Rent of €14,000/yr
- anywhere in Malta or Gozo; held five years
- Dependants at €7,500 per Adult
- spouse and children under 18 free; €500 card each person
- Charitable Donation of €2,000
- to a Maltese NGO registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations
- Asset Test of €500,000 or €650,000
- with €150,000 or €75,000 in financial assets, kept for five years
- Permanent Residence Status
- certificate for life; cards re-issued every five years; no stay requirement
- Run by the Residency Malta Agency
- since 2021; rules in Subsidiary Legislation 217.26 as amended in 2025
MPRP fees and payment schedule under the 2025 rules
The 2025 revision replaced the two-tier contribution with one flat figure and raised the administrative fee. All government amounts are non-refundable once paid. Worked examples on the cost page.
02
On approval in principle
€84,000 + €7,500 per adult dependant
- Covers
- €45,000 balance of the administrative fee, €37,000 contribution, €2,000 NGO donation
- Holding
- Due within two months of the approval letter
- Best for
- Paid only once due diligence has cleared, so a refused applicant never pays it
03
Property, buy or rent
€375,000 or €14,000 a year
- Covers
- Qualifying residential property for the whole family, evidenced by deed or a registered lease
- Holding
- 5 years; then keep a residential address
- Best for
- Renting for the lowest outlay; buying for an asset you recover
04
Residence cards
€500 per person
- Covers
- Card valid five years, re-issued on the same status
- Holding
- Payable at issue and at each re-issue
- Best for
- Every family member, including minors
Health insurance covering Malta and the rest of Europe is required before cards issue and must be kept. Dependants added after approval (a new spouse, a newborn) are filed separately with their own fee.
MPRP 2025 rule changes: advantages and drawbacks for applicants
What you gain
- Lower fees on the lease routeThe rent-route contribution fell from €60,000 to €37,000, more than offsetting the higher administrative fee. A single renter pays €99,500 in fees, against €102,500 under the old rules.
- One property threshold everywhere€375,000 to buy or €14,000 to rent applies across Malta and Gozo. Some agents still quote the old south-Malta discount; Residency Malta does not publish one.
- Purchased property may be letSince 2025 a purchased property may be rented to third parties while you are away, so the asset can generate rental income.
- Temporary permit while pendingYou can request a temporary residence permit after filing if you need to move early for school or work.
What could go wrong
- Higher fees on the purchase routeThe purchase-route contribution rose from €30,000 to €37,000 and the administrative fee from €40,000 to €60,000. Buyers pay €29,500 more in fees than before.
- Fee now charged for adult dependants€7,500 for each dependant aged 18 or over, including parents and grandparents. A couple with two adult children pays €116,000 in fees.
- Asset test held for five yearsYou must keep the €500,000 or €650,000 capital position through the property holding period and may be asked to evidence it.
- No passport at the endThe MPRP does not count toward any investor citizenship; that scheme ended with the CJEU judgment of 29 April 2025.
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Jane Katkova has advised on citizenship and residence by investment since 1998. We confirm eligibility, the complete fee schedule and the realistic processing time before you pay anything, and we advise against a programme when it does not fit your circumstances.
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How to get permanent residency in Malta: MPRP application steps
Six to eight months from a complete file. Residency Malta accepts applications only from licensed agents.
- 1
Screening 1–2 weeks
We test the asset position, nationality, residence history and any visa refusals, and we run a preliminary check before you commit.
- 2
File and €15,000 4–8 weeks to prepare
The agent lodges the application with the first instalment. Police certificates and bank letters must be recent, so we order them last.
- 3
Due diligence 4–6 months
Four tiers: agency checks, sanctions and database screening, external due diligence reports, and a final review. Every applicant aged 12 and over is vetted.
- 4
Approval in principle Within 2 months
You pay €84,000 plus adult-dependant fees, sign the lease or deed, buy health insurance and submit proof.
- 5
Certificate and cards 2–4 weeks
Biometrics in Malta for each family member; the certificate of residence and five-year cards follow.
- 6
Compliance Ongoing
Residency Malta checks in years one, three and five that the property, insurance and assets are in place. After year five you keep only a residential address.
Malta MPRP compared with the Greece and Portugal golden visas
| Malta MPRP | Greece golden visa | Portugal golden visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government cost | €99,500 fees + €375,000 property or €14,000/yr rent | About €2,000 fees + €250,000–800,000 property | About €6,650 fees per person + €500,000 fund |
| Status | Permanent, for life | 5 years, renewable | 2-year cards, renewable |
| Minimum stay | None | None | 7 days a year |
| Decision | 6–8 months | 6–12 months | 18–24 months |
| Citizenship | Not a route | 7 years residence, B1 Greek | 10 years residence, A2 Portuguese |
MPRP limitations: no citizenship route and no automatic work right
It does not lead to a passport. Malta's investor citizenship was annulled by the Court of Justice of the EU on 29 April 2025; the replacement merit-based route is discretionary and not for sale, and ordinary naturalisation needs years of genuine residence. Apply for the MPRP for permanence, not for citizenship.
It does not let you work in Malta automatically. Permanent residents may apply for an employment licence or set up a company, but the MPRP card itself is a residence right. Most of our clients never need it; those who do plan it at filing.
Figures verified 27 September 2026 against the Residency Malta Agency's published legal framework.
Who the Malta permanent residency program suits
For US and Canadian citizens
The MPRP secures a permanent option: an EU residence your family can use now or decades later, with no renewal application. The card does not make you a Maltese taxpayer; living there 183 or more days does, on a remittance basis for foreign income, with the US–Malta and Canada–Malta tax treaties applying. Americans keep filing with the IRS regardless. Canadians who move for good trigger departure tax when they cease Canadian residence. We plan for that before you sign a lease.
For US and Canada residents on another passport
The MPRP is for third-country nationals, so it suits our Indian, Chinese, Nigerian, Vietnamese and Gulf-resident clients on work permits or PR. It gives Schengen travel on the card and a permanent EU address if your North American status ends. It does not affect your US or Canadian status, does not open the UK, US or Canada, and is closed to nationals of sanctioned countries, currently including Russia and Belarus.
Request an MPRP eligibility review and written fee estimate
Tell us who is on the application and whether you would rent or buy. You get a written figure from Jane Katkova, licensed CICC consultant, and a clear recommendation on whether Malta or Greece serves you better.
Jane Katkova on the MPRP
Video forthcoming: the 2025 fee change, due diligence, and the five-year compliance checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Malta permanent residence: your questions answered
What changed in the Malta permanent residency program in 2025?
From 1 January 2025 the administrative fee rose to €60,000 (from €40,000), the contribution became a single €37,000 for both buyers and renters (from €30,000 and €60,000), adult dependants pay €7,500 each, and the property thresholds became €375,000 to buy or €14,000 a year to rent everywhere in Malta. Renters pay less than before; buyers pay more.
Is the MPRP really permanent?
Yes. The certificate of residence has no expiry. You keep it by holding the qualifying property for five years and a residential address afterwards, keeping health insurance, and passing compliance checks in years one, three and five. Cards are re-issued every five years for €500 each.
Can I rent instead of buying?
Yes, and most of our clients do. A lease of at least €14,000 a year, held for five years, satisfies the property test; that is about €70,000 over the term compared with a €375,000 purchase. After five years the lease can be replaced by any residential arrangement in Malta.
Which family members can be included?
Spouse or partner, children under 18 (free apart from the €500 card), unmarried financially dependent adult children, and dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse, each adult at €7,500. Every dependant aged 12 or over goes through due diligence.
How long does the Malta MPRP take?
Six to eight months on average from submission, after one to two months of file preparation. Approval in principle triggers the second payment and the property step; cards follow biometrics in Malta a few weeks later.
Other residence programmes we advise on
- moving to Portugal as an investor or retiree
- the Greek golden visa programme
- the Cyprus Regulation 6(2) permit
- guest investor residence in Hungary
- Spain residency after the golden visa
- residence in Latvia after 2026
- investor residence in Panama
- US investor immigration routes
Compare them side by side: all residence programmes we advise on and European golden visas still open. Looking for a passport rather than a permit? See citizenship of Dominica by investment or Turkish passport by investment.
More on Malta
Guides
Questions answered
Official sources and references
- Residency Malta Agency — MPRP legal framework (S.L. 217.26)residencymalta.gov.mt
- Court of Justice of the EU — Commission v Malta, C-181/23, 29 April 2025curia.europa.eu
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Programme rules change; we confirm every figure before you commit.
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