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How to Move to Malta?

If you love a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, with its charming paved streets, beautiful countryside, and rich history, Malta should be a top option for you. According to surveys, Malta ranks among the top 10 most popular countries for retirement.

Moving to Malta is also financially advantageous due to its tax laws, which incentivize foreign investment and offer comprehensive refunds. Moreover, Malta is recovering well financially from the Covid pandemic, making it an even more attractive destination.

This article will explore the paths through which you can immigrate to Malta and why you should consider doing so.

Exploring Malta

Malta is a European country comprising three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. It has a varied heritage due to the multiple major empires that controlled it throughout the ages. In fact, it maintains these historical sites and centers its economic activity around tourism.

In addition, it provides a comfortable lifestyle. Due to its location in the Mediterranean, it has hot summers and mild winters. Plus, it has a large number of beautiful beaches you can visit.

How to Immigrate to Malta

As long as you meet the requirements, you can live in this country with ease. Their application system is straightforward. Therefore, you only need to choose the appropriate path for you.

With the help of experts in the field such as Vancis Capital, you can discover which solution below suits your particular situation. Moreover, we can verify your eligibility for these programs to ensure you have the best chance of a successful application.

By Investment

As a citizen of a country outside of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you can invest in this country and gain access to a permanent residence. You may also recognize this as the Malta Permanent Residence program.

However, you will need to meet specific monetary requirements and fulfill certain conditions. Once you do, you can access various tax programs, including one tailored specifically for retirees. More specifically, the two investment options you can make to gain this permanent residence involve making the following contributions:

Investments Investment Options
Full Contribution Reduced Contribution
Government €98,000 ($106,300) €68,000 ($73,700)
Maltese NGO €2,000 ($2,200) €2,000 ($2,200)
Real Estate €10,000 ($10,800) rented per year minimum €300,000 ($325,300) bought

These options rely on you maintaining these real estate properties for a minimum of 5 years. In addition, you need to prove you are able to subsist without working there and have no criminal record.

By Real Estate

Another path available to non-European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland citizens is to purchase or rent real estate. This is part of their global residency program. Malta’s visa requirements include:

  • Buying/Renting: You’ll need to buy or own an approved property in Malta or Gozo.
  • Tax Liability: Malta will tax your foreign income at a minimum of €15,000 ($16,300) a year.
  • Minimum Stay: You can only spend 183 days a year outside of the country.

By Ordinary Residency

As a citizen of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you have the simplest path: Ordinary residency. You only need to inform the local authorities that you intend to extend your stay beyond three months. Then, you can proceed to live there freely.

Why Should You Move to Malta?

According to reports, immigration to Malta is popular since over 20% of their population are expats. These foreign nationals come to the country to benefit in the following ways:

Favorable Tax Regime

Malta has special tax regimes which you can select based on your financial situation. At a maximum, your taxes may reach 35%. Nonetheless, leveraging their tax programs may allow you to reach 5% or less.

Furthermore, there is no wealth or inheritance tax. You can even avoid double taxation if Malta has a tax treaty with the country from which you are gaining income. Moreover, as a Maltese company shareowner, you can refund part of your taxes. Plus, when you import your personal belongings, you won’t have to pay import duties as long as they meet certain conditions.

Financial Opportunities

Since the Covid pandemic started, the country has recovered, allowing you to invest more confidently. According to reports, there was a record high of 3 million tourists in 2023. Since tourism is a major sector of the country's economy and its population is only just over half a million, spending power has significantly increased.

In addition to the tourism sector, you could also invest in:

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Vehicle Manufacturing
  • Plane Manufacturing
  • IT
  • Fishing

Path to Citizenship

Investing in the country or living there for at least 7 years makes you eligible for citizenship. Though you will need to meet other conditions, this relatively quick process guarantees that you can keep your original passport since Malta allows dual citizenship.

Excellent Healthcare

Another benefit of moving to this country is its healthcare. It has universal healthcare and a private system. Both are efficient in servicing patients. In particular, the private sector provides excellent service that rivals other Western healthcare services.

Comfortable Lifestyle

This country is a preferred tourism destination because it offers a great lifestyle. Hence, living there would give you year-round access to high-end shopping centers, yacht industry, beautiful beaches, and historical sites. Moreover, the Maltese people are welcoming, and with such a high number of expats, you are sure to feel at home. Plus, English is one of their official languages, simplifying many processes.

How to Move to Malta?

Conclusion

Now you know that there are several paths to immigrate to Malta, such as investing in the country and buying or renting real estate. If you are a citizen of the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland, you only need to inform the local authorities that you desire to live there on a long-term basis.

Knowing which investment is best for you is crucial in this decision-making process. In that case, you should rely on professionals such as Vancis Capital to better understand these programs, their benefits, and the requirements you need to meet to qualify for them.

Take charge of your future with our expert advisors

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your citizenship or residency by investment goals. One of our investment migration experts will contact you to discuss your case. With over 16 years of combined experience our team has helped hundreds of families achieve freedom.