Malta

Nomad Residence Permit

Malta's Nomad Residence Permit allows third-country nationals (non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss) to live in Malta while working remotely for employers, clients, or businesses located outside the country. The programme is administered by the Residency Malta Agency and targets remote workers, freelancers, and self-employed entrepreneurs who earn income from foreign sources. Launched in June 2021, the programme was updated in April 2024 to raise the minimum income threshold to €42,000 per year and extend the maximum stay from three to four years.

• Third-country national aged 18 or over
• Employed by a foreign-registered employer under a contract permitting remote work, or a partner/shareholder of a foreign-registered company, or a freelancer providing services to clients based outside Malta
• Minimum gross annual income of €42,000 from remote work sources
• Nationals of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, Venezuela, Russia, and Belarus are not eligible
• Persons contracted by a foreign company but providing services to that company's Maltese subsidiary are ineligible

• Application Form N4 for each applicant
• Signed Letter of Intent stating motivations for moving to Malta
• Complete copies of all passport pages
• Curriculum vitae
• Three months of bank statements showing direct income deposits meeting the threshold
• Police conduct certificate issued within the preceding six months
• Employment contract, Certificate of Incorporation and Share Register, or client service contracts depending on applicant category
• Marriage certificate, birth certificates, and custody documents where applicable
• Post-approval: proof of residential accommodation and comprehensive annual health insurance

• €300 per person non-refundable administrative fee
• €100 per person for residency card issuance
• Additional visa fees where an entry visa is required

Comprehensive health insurance covering Malta and European countries is mandatory. The policy must be fully pre-paid for one full year. Travel insurance and monthly payment plans are not accepted.

Permit holders are subject to a 10% flat tax rate on income from authorised remote work. Holders whose residence in Malta is merely casual are not liable to income tax on authorised work for the first 12 months. Holders are automatically registered for tax purposes upon receipt of the permit and must file an annual tax return.

The main applicant may include their spouse, minor children, and dependent adult children who are unmarried and principally dependent on the applicant. De facto partners may also be included with supporting evidence. Dependants can only be added at initial application, at renewal, or for newborns. Each dependant pays the same application and residency card fees.

Applications are submitted online through the Residency Malta Agency portal. Processing takes approximately 30 working days from receipt of the administrative fee. Upon approval, a Letter of Approval in Principle is issued, after which the applicant must provide proof of accommodation and health insurance within 30 days. Nationals from visa-required countries must obtain a National D Visa through the Central Visa Unit.

The permit may be renewed up to three times for a maximum total stay of four years. Renewal applications must be submitted two to three months before the current permit expires. To qualify for renewal, holders must demonstrate they have resided in Malta for at least five months over the previous 12 months, evidenced by bank statements showing payment transactions in Malta.

• Holders may only perform remote work for employers, companies, or clients located outside Malta
• Any employment or economic activity with Maltese-based entities is prohibited and may result in permit revocation
• The permit does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship
• The permit allows travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days per 180-day rolling period
• Accommodation must be a residential property; hostels, boats, and caravans are not accepted

Links

• https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/
• https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/nomad-eligibility/
• https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/

Other Digital Nomad Visas in Europe