2026 EDITION

Your Complete Malta
Employment Guide

Everything you need to know about wages, taxes, and benefits in one beautiful place

€242
Annual COLA
27
Vacation Days
0-35%
Tax Rates
€229
Min. Wage/Week
πŸ’°

Cost of Living Boost

Your 2026 salary increase

WEEKLY BOOST
€4.66
Every week, full-time
YEARLY TOTAL
€242.32
Annual adjustment
PER HOUR
€0.12
Part-time rate
πŸ’‘

Working part-time? No worries! Your COLA increase is automatically calculated based on your hours. Same fair treatment, proportional amount.

πŸ’΅

Minimum Wage Rates

What you should earn at minimum

ADULTS (18+)
€229.44
Per week
🎯
AGE 17
€222.66
Per week
UNDER 17
€219.82
Per week
βš–οΈ

Industry-Specific Rates

Some industries have their own minimum wages through Wage Regulation Orders (WRO). If your sector has a WRO, those higher rates apply to you. Part-timers get the same hourly rate, just proportional to hours worked.

πŸ–οΈ

Your Vacation Days

Time to recharge in 2026

TOTAL PAID DAYS OFF
27
Days (40-hour week)
β˜€οΈ
Standard Leave 192 hrs
Your basic annual leave
Bonus Days 24 hrs
3 holidays on weekends
Combined Total 216 hrs
All your paid time off
πŸ“Š

Not working full 40 hours? Your vacation days are automatically adjusted to match your schedule. Fair and simple!

πŸ“Š

2026 Tax Rates

Better rates for families with children

✨

New Family Benefits in 2026

Parents with children under 18 (or 23 if studying) can now enjoy lower tax rates. Here's what you need to know:

βœ… Who Can Apply
  • β€’ Maltese or EU/EEA citizens
  • β€’ Long-term Malta residents*
  • β€’ Anyone with child custody
  • β€’ EU couples with 90% Malta income**
πŸ“‹ Action Steps
  • β€’ Request updated FS4 form
  • β€’ Provide nationality proof
  • β€’ Submit child documentation
  • β€’ Employer processes changes

*Long-term residents: Qualify if your child was born and currently lives in Malta.

**EU/EEA special case: One spouse can be non-resident if 90% of combined worldwide income comes from Malta.

πŸ’‘

Special Provision for Caregivers

Are you single, widowed, divorced, or separated and caring for a disabled child earning under €3,400 yearly? You can choose to be taxed at married rates! Discuss with your tax advisor to maximize your savings.

πŸ‘€
Single
πŸ’‘
Married
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘§
Parent
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Families
πŸ‘€

Single Rates

Unmarried individuals

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 12,000 0% 0
12,001 - 16,000 15% 1,800
16,001 - 60,000 25% 3,400
60,001+ 35% 9,400
πŸ“Œ Who uses single rates? β–Ό

Applies to unmarried, widowed, divorced, or legally separated individuals without qualifying children or who don't meet parent/married criteria.

πŸ’‘

Married Rates

No children

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 15,000 0% 0
15,001 - 23,000 15% 2,250
23,001 - 60,000 25% 4,550
60,001+ 35% 10,550
πŸ“Œ Do we both qualify? β–Ό

Both spouses must be Malta residents. If you're EU/EEA and one spouse lives elsewhere, you can still qualify if 90% of your combined worldwide income comes from Malta.

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘¦

Married + 1 Child

One dependent

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 17,500 0% 0
17,501 - 26,500 15% 2,625
26,501 - 60,000 25% 5,275
60,001+ 35% 11,275
πŸ“Œ What counts as custody? β–Ό

You must maintain custody of your child, meaning they live with you. The child must be under 18 (or under 23 if in full-time education). At least one parent must be Maltese/EU/EEA or a long-term Malta resident with child born in Malta.

πŸ’‘

Married with 2+ Children

Two or more dependents

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 22,500 0% 0
22,501 - 32,000 15% 3,375
32,001 - 60,000 25% 6,575
60,001+ 35% 12,575
πŸ“Œ Big family benefits? β–Ό

Yes! Families with 2 or more qualifying children enjoy the highest tax-free threshold at €22,500. This means significantly more take-home pay compared to other categories. The benefits increase substantially with family size.

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘§

Parent Rates

Single parent

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 13,000 0% 0
13,001 - 17,500 15% 1,950
17,501 - 60,000 25% 3,700
60,001+ 35% 9,700
πŸ’° Paying child maintenance? β–Ό

Yes! Parent rates apply whether you maintain custody OR pay official child maintenance. You must still meet nationality requirements (Maltese/EU/EEA or long-term resident with child born in Malta).

πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘¦

Parent + 1 Child

One dependent

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 14,500 0% 0
14,501 - 21,000 15% 2,175
21,001 - 60,000 25% 4,275
60,001+ 35% 10,275
πŸ“Œ What's the FS4 form? β–Ό

The FS4 (Payee Status Declaration) is your key to claiming the right tax rate. The 2026 version includes fields for nationality, long-term residency status, and child information. Get it from your employer and keep it updated whenever your family situation changes!

πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§β€πŸ‘¦

Parent with 2+ Children

Two or more dependents

Income (€) Rate Subtract
0 - 18,500 0% 0
18,501 - 25,500 15% 2,775
25,501 - 60,000 25% 5,325
60,001+ 35% 11,325
πŸ“Œ Old rates still apply? β–Ό

Yes! If you don't qualify for the new 2026 rates (nationality/residency requirements), the previous tax rates continue to apply. You won't lose any existing benefits - the new system only offers additional advantages for those who qualify.

🀍

New Leave Rights 2026

Support during difficult times

πŸ’”

Miscarriage Leave

Legal Notice 274 of 2025

Time Off 7 days
  • β€’ Both parents are entitled
  • β€’ Applies before week 22 of pregnancy
  • β€’ Medical certificate required
  • β€’ Part-time adjusted proportionally
πŸ•ŠοΈ

Child Bereavement Leave

Legal Notice 275 of 2025

Time Off 7 days
  • β€’ For loss of child under 18
  • β€’ Both parents covered
  • β€’ Can postpone up to 2 weeks
  • β€’ Valid reason required for delay
🌍

Nomad Residence Permit

Tax guidelines for digital nomads & remote workers

πŸ—ΊοΈ Latest Update: The Malta Tax and Customs Administration has issued guidance on the Nomad Residence Permit (Income Tax) Rules, providing greater clarity on tax treatment for holders of the Nomad Residence Permit.

FLAT TAX RATE
10%
On qualifying foreign-sourced income
πŸ’Ό
TAX EXEMPTION
12
Months of 0% tax from permit date
🎁

✨ Key Highlights

πŸ’°

10% Flat Tax Rate

Income derived from authorised remote work is subject to a 10% flat tax rate, applicable only to qualifying foreign-sourced employment or self-employment arrangements.

πŸ“…

12-Month Tax Exemption

A 12-month exemption period from tax on authorised work may apply from the date of permit issuance or from 1 January 2024, whichever is later. This means 0% tax for your first year!

🏒

Foreign Employer Status

Foreign employers of nomad permit holders remain outside Malta's FSS (Social Security) system, as long as they are not resident or operating through a fixed place of business in Malta.

πŸ“‹

Compliance Requirements

Permit holders are required to maintain full compliance with Maltese tax obligations, including filing any required returns and supporting documentation.

βœ…

Who Qualifies?

Remote Employees

Working remotely for a foreign employer that is not established in Malta and has no fixed place of business in Malta.

Self-Employed / Freelancers

Operating your own business or providing services to foreign clients, with income sourced from outside Malta.

πŸ’‘

Important: These updates reinforce Malta's commitment to offering a clear and structured regulatory environment for international remote workers while maintaining the integrity of its tax system. For more details and official eligibility criteria, you can check the government portal via below button.

πŸ›‘οΈ

Social Security Contributions 2026

Class One (Employed) Persons

What you need to know: Social Security contributions and Maternity Trust Fund contributions are automatically deducted from your salary. Both you and your employer contribute based on your wage category. These contributions fund your future benefits including pensions, sickness, and maternity benefits.

Cat. From To Emp. Empr. Total Mat.
A €0.10 €229 €6.62 €6.62 €13 €0.20
B €0.10 €229 €23* €23 €46 €0.69
πŸ‘΄ Born ≀ 31 Dec 1961
C1 €229 €490 10% 10% n/a 0.30%
D1 €490 n/a €49 €49 €98 €1.47
πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’Ό Born β‰₯ 1 Jan 1962
C2 €229 €559 10% 10% n/a 0.30%
D2 €559 n/a €56 €56 €112 €1.68
E n/a n/a 10%
€4.38
10%
€4.38
n/a 0.3%
€0.13
F n/a n/a 10%
€7.94
10%
€7.94
n/a 0.3%
€0.24
CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
A: Persons under 18, earning ≀ €229.44/week
B: Persons 18+, earning ≀ €229.44/week
C: Weekly wage between indicated amounts
D: Weekly wage equal/exceeds indicated amount
E: Students under 18 (Student-Worker Scheme)
F: Students 18+ (Student-Worker Scheme)
IMPORTANT NOTES
*Category B: Employees can choose 10% of basic weekly wage instead, qualifying for pro-rata benefits
Calculation: Weekly rates calculated to nearest cent
Wage basis: Basic weekly wage or weekly equivalent of monthly salary
πŸ’š

Daily Benefits Rates (2026)

πŸ€’ Sickness Benefit
Single parent / Married maintaining spouse: €25.81
Any other person: €17.21
🩹 Injury Benefit
Single parent / Married maintaining spouse: €38.62
Any other person: €29.06