Everything you need to understand your options in Malta — clearly, simply, and independently. MPRP, MRP, Citizenship by Merit. 70+ expert FAQs.
FreeMalta.com is an independent data analytics platform and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Government of Malta or any official residency agency.
FreeMalta.com does not provide citizenship or residency services and does not act as a licensed professional under Komunità Malta. Content is provided strictly for informational purposes.
FreeMalta.com does not market, promote, or solicit applications for citizenship and residency programmes.
FreeMalta.com is an independent data analytics platform — not affiliated with any official residency agency. Content is strictly informational.
Citizens of third countries outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland can apply. However, citizens from sanctioned countries including Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela cannot apply.
Applications from the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus are currently not accepted.
Yes, parents or grandparents can be included if proven dependent at time of application.
Required Documentation
There is no specific age threshold. The key requirement is proving financial dependency on the main applicant.
No. The MPRP is exclusively open to the main applicant and their dependent family members only.
The main applicant must provide a sworn declaration stating the dependency situation.
Best Practice
All supporting evidence documents should be attached with the sworn declaration.
The Main Applicant must prove the dependent adult cannot live independently without their support.
Disqualifying Factors
A dependent adult cannot apply if they have accumulated wealth from: corporate connections, senior management positions, financial assets, or reasonable economic activities.
Yes, provided the pension income does not prevent the main applicant from being primarily responsible.
Required
A sworn declaration confirming that parents/grandparents are essentially dependent, despite receiving pension income.
The administrative fee is €60,000, paid in two stages:
Initial Payment (Non-refundable)
€15,000 within one month after submission.
Final Payment
€45,000 within two months after Letter of Approval in Principle.
Purchasing Property
€28,000 — Covers main applicant, spouse, and dependent children
If Renting Property
€58,000 — Covers main applicant, spouse, and dependent children
Additional Fee for Parents/Grandparents
€7,500 per parent or grandparent
Applicants must make a €2,000 financial contribution to an approved organisation.
Eligible Organisations
Registered local NGOs in: Charity, Culture, Sports, Science, Animal Protection, Arts — registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organizations.
Initial 5-Year Card
€137.50 per person
Renewal Fee
€27.50 per person
Residence Certificate
No expiration date — Valid indefinitely as long as programme obligations are met
Residence Card
Valid for 5 years, or until ages 14 and 18 (whichever comes first)
Yes! But you must wait until after your residence certificate is issued.
Important
The applicable contribution fee for dependents must be paid with the application.
No! You can apply first and sort out the property later.
Timeline
You have 8 months after receiving your Letter of Approval in Principle to purchase or rent a qualifying property.
Yes! As long as you continuously maintain a qualifying property.
Important Restriction
You cannot switch from owned property to rental during the first 5 years.
Absolutely! Start with a rental to get your residency sorted, then take your time finding the perfect property to buy.
No Hotel Rooms
Buying hotel rooms does NOT qualify as residential property under MPRP regulations.
Yes! South Malta property at €220,000 + €100,000 renovation = over €300,000 and this qualifies.
Key Requirements
Mandatory Requirement
Yes, an AIP permit is required for all property purchases under MPRP, regardless of location.
After 5 Years
You must continue to own or rent any residential property in Malta — no minimum value required.
If Purchasing Property
€500,000 net worth with minimum €150,000 in liquid financial assets
If Renting Property
€650,000 net worth with minimum €175,000 in liquid financial assets
Fixed Amount
Does NOT vary based on number of dependents.
No Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are NOT accepted as part of your financial assets.
Accepted Assets
Two Separate Requirements
Yes, completely separate! The property value does NOT count toward the €500K capital.
Your €500,000 capital must be monitored annually for the first 5 years via Form MPRP5.
1 Submission & Official Receipt
Agent schedules appointment. Official receipt issued requesting €15,000 non-refundable initial fee.
2 Due Diligence & Approval Board
After payment, due diligence conducted. If successful, submitted to Approval Board.
3 Letter of Approval in Principle
Main applicant pays contribution, purchases/rents property, makes donation, obtains health insurance.
4 Residence Certificate (within 7 days)
Issued within 7 days after all documents submitted and deemed acceptable.
5 Biometrics & Card Printing
Final Approval Letter, biometrics collected, residence card printed — approximately 2 weeks.
New Applications (From August 1, 2024)
At least €100,000 annually per beneficiary for all healthcare expenses in Malta and other European countries.
Old Applications (Before August 1, 2024)
At least €30,000 annually per beneficiary.
No Language Test
No language test will be conducted for the main applicant or dependents under MPRP.
No Automatic Employment Rights
MPRP does NOT grant any employment licence rights. Beneficiaries must apply for a work permit following normal procedures.
Business Establishment Allowed
The beneficiary or spouse can apply to establish a business in Malta as long as they meet current legislative requirements. Dependents can also establish businesses without losing their residence permit.
No Employment Rights in Schengen
MPRP does not grant employment rights within the Schengen Area. A work permit is required in each country.
Schengen Area Only
Visa-free travel limited to Schengen Area countries only.
90/180 Rule
Maximum 90 days within any 180-day period. Always carry both valid passport and residence card.
Residence Continues
No, they do not lose residence status as long as they continue to meet eligibility criteria.
The MPRP5 is a formal annual declaration confirming obligations have been fulfilled.
When to Submit
Annually for the first 5 years, submitted 1 calendar week before the compliance deadline.
Basic Requirements After 5 Years
Yes, First 5 Years Only
After year 5, the €500K capital requirement and €150K liquid assets no longer apply.
No Appeal Process
Decisions by the Approval Board are final and cannot be appealed.
Accepted
Direct bank transfer from the account declared in Form MPRP2.
NOT Accepted by Residency Malta Agency
Yes, Accepted
Unmarried partnerships are accepted, provided sufficient evidence of the partnership is submitted and approved by the Minister before the application.
Residence Permits Lost
Ex-spouse and ex-spouse's parents/grandparents lose their permits. Children affected are evaluated separately.
This Is Permitted
An EU citizen cannot apply for MPRP themselves, but their non-EU partner can apply as the main applicant, financially supported by the EU citizen.
DONOR — One-Time Gift
A one-time donation at a specific time. Requires copy of donor's passport.
BENEFACTOR — Ongoing Financial Support
Assumes responsibility for helping the main applicant meet financial requirements on an ongoing basis. Requires Forms MPRP2 and MPRP4, bank statements, passports, employment proof, sworn declaration, and police conduct certificate.
Yes, after meeting residence requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
Ministerial Discretion
Meeting requirements does not automatically grant citizenship.
Introduced in 2017, amended July 2025. A formal pathway for individuals demonstrating extraordinary value to Malta or humanity.
Legal Framework (2025)
Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Merit Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice 159 of 2025).
Family Inclusion
Spouse/partner and dependent children may be included.
Discretionary Grant
Granted on a case-by-case basis by the Minister, evaluated by an Evaluation Board.
No Fixed Financial Threshold
Assessment is qualitative, based on merit.
Due Diligence & Integration
Must meet robust integrity standards and explain how they intend to continue contributing to Malta after naturalisation.
1 Residency Stage
Satisfy an eight-month residence condition, evidenced through a residence permit.
2 Proposal Letter Submission
Submitted via Community Malta Agency to the Evaluation Board.
3 Due Diligence & Letter of Approval in Principle
Four-tier due diligence, Evaluation Board assessment, then Minister may issue approval.
4 Formal Citizenship Application
After at least 8 months of legal residence.
Full EU Rights
Right to reside, study and work in any of the 27 EU countries, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland.
Global Mobility
Visa-free travel to more than 180 countries
Dual Citizenship
Malta recognizes dual citizenship — no need to renounce your current nationality.
Full Dual Citizenship Rights
Yes! There are no restrictions on dual citizenship in Malta.
No Investment-Based Citizenship
The investor-based route was terminated by the 2025 Citizenship Reform after the 2025 CJEU Ruling.
Merit-Based Pathway Only
Exceptional contributions that benefit Malta's public interest.
Science, Research & Innovation
Groundbreaking research, scientific advancement, technological innovation
Art & Culture
Cultural preservation, artistic excellence, heritage contribution
Entrepreneurship & Technology
Business innovation, job creation, economic development
Philanthropy & Sports
Charitable work, social impact, athletic excellence
Processing Timeline
Generally takes around 15 months from initial submission to final approval.
No Direct Switch
These two programmes are separate and independent.
What You Can Do
Withdraw the Citizenship application and then apply for MPRP — but must follow the complete MPRP process from the beginning.
A special tax residency scheme for retirees offering a 15% flat tax rate on foreign income remitted to Malta.
Key Eligibility Criteria
Employment Restrictions
Beneficiaries cannot be employed in Malta.
15% Flat Tax Rate
Only 15% tax on foreign pension income remitted to Malta (minimum €7,500/year)
Tax Exemptions
No tax on foreign income not remitted to Malta or foreign capital gains
Schengen Access
Visa-free travel across Schengen Area up to 90 days per 180-day period
75% Rule
At least 75% of total chargeable income must come from a pension, fully remitted to Malta
Minimum Pension Amount
€10,000 per year for single applicants, or €15,000 per year with a spouse
Buying Property
€275,000 minimum in Malta or €220,000 in Gozo/South Malta
Renting Property
€9,600 per year in Malta or €8,750 per year in Gozo/South Malta
Application Fee
€2,500 one-time non-refundable fee (covers applicant and all dependants)
Minimum Annual Tax
€7,500 per year, plus €500 per dependant
Processing Time
Typically 3–4 months from submission to approval
90-Day Rule
Must reside in Malta for at least 90 days per year (averaged over 5 years)
183-Day Restriction
Cannot spend more than 183 days per year in any other single jurisdiction
EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens
Citizens of EU member states, EEA countries, and Switzerland are eligible
Non-EU Citizens
Non-EU nationals from third countries are also eligible
Not Eligible
Maltese citizens cannot apply for MRP
Yes, Dependants Included
Spouse and dependent children can be included
Additional Tax Per Dependant
€500 per dependant or special carer added to the minimum annual tax of €7,500
Schengen Access
MRP beneficiaries can travel visa-free across the Schengen Area — up to 90 days within any 180-day period in other Schengen countries
Enshrined in Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188). Two grounds: exceptional services to Malta or humanity, OR naturalisation of exceptional national interest.
Economic Initiatives
Creating value to Malta's economy
Innovation & Leadership
Developing technological or cultural projects positioning Malta as a leader
Social & Charitable Causes
Supporting causes aligned with Maltese values
Sports
National sports associations registered with Sport Malta
Culture & Arts
Arts Council Malta or Superintendence of Cultural Heritage
Science & Research
Recognised tertiary institutions or Malta Council for Science and Technology
No Minimum Investment
Eligibility is based entirely on qualitative contributions and tangible value-add to Malta. No financial threshold exists.
Robust Integrity Standards
Comprehensive due diligence at multiple stages of the application process.
Post-Naturalisation Commitment
Applicants must explain how they intend to continue contributing to Malta. Ongoing commitment is monitored.
15% Flat Rate
Applies to foreign-sourced pension income remitted to Malta
Minimum Annual Tax
€7,500/year minimum, plus €500 per dependant
Tax Exemptions
Foreign income not remitted to Malta and foreign capital gains are generally not taxed
Minimum Age
Must be over 55 years old
Employment Restriction
Cannot be employed in Malta, though non-executive board positions are allowed
EU-Wide Coverage
Comprehensive health insurance covering all risks across the entire EU
Typical Cost
Around €300/year for private health insurance
No Tax Benefits
MPRP does not include any tax relief or incentives. Standard Malta tax provisions apply.
No Free Education Under MPRP
No, minors do not have the right to free education under MPRP.
Exception — Work Permit
If the main applicant or spouse obtains a work permit, children may be exempted from fees under the Education Act.
No Age 27 Limit
The 27-year age limit from previous legislation is no longer in force.
Form MPRP10 — GDPR
All applicants must sign Form MPRP10. For minor dependents, signed by one of the parents.
Disqualifying Condition
A Hepatitis B carrier — even if clinically healthy — will not meet the 'no communicable disease' criterion. Seek clarification from the Authority before applying.
Yes, With Evidence
Step-parents accepted if sufficient evidence of a genuine bond is submitted and approved by the Authority before application.
Core Documents
Supporting Evidence
No Fee Transfer
The MPRP administrative fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Try adjusting your filter
Residency is one decision. Here is everything around it.