Permits and IDs

All matters relating to visas, residency, passports, and expatriate documentation in Malta are handled by Identità (formerly known as Identity Malta Agency). Their main expatriate offices are located in Msida, with branch offices in Gozo.

The ultimate goal for anyone moving to Malta for more than 90 days is to obtain an e-Residence Card. This physical, credit-card-sized ID serves as your official proof of address, immigration status, and permission to live (and usually work) on the islands. Without this card, you cannot open a bank account, sign a long-term lease, or register for public healthcare.

The type of e-Residence card you receive—and the process to get it—depends entirely on your nationality and your reason for being in Malta.

Under European freedom of movement laws, citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland have the automatic right to live, work, and study in Malta. However, if staying for more than 90 days, you are legally required to register your presence and obtain an e-Residence Card.

• How to acquire: Applications are submitted via the Expatriates Portal or by emailing Identità. You must prove the basis of your stay (e.g., an employment contract, proof of enrollment in a university, or proof of self-sufficiency/savings if retiring).
• Duration: EU residence documents are typically issued for 5 years.
• Cost: The process is essentially free, though there may be nominal administrative fees (usually under €30) for lost cards or specialized updates.

For Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) coming to Malta for standard employment, the Single Permit is the standard route. It combines both the authorization to work and the authorization to reside in Malta into a single procedure.

Crucially, this permit is employer-specific. You cannot obtain a Single Permit without a firm job offer, and if you leave that job, your permit becomes invalid (giving you a 60-day grace period to find a new employer and apply again).

To attract highly skilled foreign talent and alleviate standard processing delays, Malta offers fast-tracked work permits for TCNs who meet specific educational or salary thresholds.

• Key Employee Initiative (KEI): Designed for highly specialized or managerial roles.
  Requirements: Minimum gross salary of €35,000+ per year.
  Processing: Extremely fast, typically within 5 working days of document submission.
  Cost & Duration: ~€300-€500 fee. Initially issued for 1 year, but subsequent renewals can be granted for up to 3 years.
• Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI): Introduced recently for skilled workers who don't quite meet the KEI salary threshold.
  Requirements: Minimum gross salary of €25,000+. Must hold a relevant Bachelor’s Degree (MQF Level 6) OR prove 3+ years of relevant experience.
  Processing: Fast-tracked to approximately 15 working days.
  Cost & Duration: ~€300 fee. Valid for 1 year, renewable.
• EU Blue Card: For highly qualified workers earning at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Malta. It allows easier mobility across other EU states after 18 months.

TCNs attending English language schools, higher education, or vocational courses in Malta must apply for a National Student Visa (if the course is short) or a Study Residence Permit (for courses exceeding 90 days).

• Requirements: Acceptance letter from an accredited Maltese educational institution, proof of sufficient funds (around €750/month), return flight ticket, and health insurance.
• Cost: Varies, but usually around €100 - €150.
• Duration: Valid for the duration of the educational course.
• Working on a Study Visa: TCN students are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week. However, this right only begins after their first 90 days in Malta, and the employer must apply for an employment license with JobsPlus on the student's behalf.

Malta was one of the first European countries to launch a visa specifically for remote workers and digital nomads. This permit allows TCNs to legally reside in Malta while retaining their current employment or freelance clients based in another country.

• Income Requirement: Applicants must prove a stable, remote income. The threshold was recently raised, and applicants must now prove a gross monthly income of at least €3,500 (€42,000 annually). Additional income is required if bringing family members.
• Restrictions: You cannot provide services to local Maltese companies or clients. You must be completely location-independent.
• Cost: €300 application fee.
• Duration: Issued for 1 year, and can be renewed for up to 3 or 4 years total at the discretion of the Residency Malta Agency.

Malta offers some of the world's most robust (and heavily vetted) investment migration programs for high-net-worth Third-Country Nationals seeking European residency or a second passport. These are overseen by the Residency Malta Agency and the Community Malta Agency (CMA).

Often referred to as the "Golden Visa," the MPRP grants immediate permanent residency rights in Malta and visa-free travel across the Schengen Area.

• Requirements: You must show capital assets of at least €500,000 (with €150,000 in liquid financial assets).
• Investment: Requires purchasing a property (min. €300,000 - €350,000) OR renting a property (min. €10,000 - €12,000/year). Additionally, you must make a direct government contribution of €28,000 (if purchasing) or €58,000 (if renting), plus a €2,000 NGO donation and a €40,000 administrative fee.
• Duration: The permanent residency certificate does not expire, but the physical ID card must be renewed every 5 years.

This is Malta's pathway to a full European Union passport. It is subject to a strict multi-tier due diligence process and is capped at a limited number of successful applicants per year.

• Investment: Applicants must make an exceptional direct investment of either €600,000 (if applying after 36 months of residency) or €750,000 (for the expedited 12-month residency route).
• Real Estate & Donations: Alongside the investment, you must purchase real estate worth at least €700,000 or commit to a 5-year residential lease of at least €16,000 per year. You must also donate €10,000 to a registered philanthropic organization.
• Result: Grants full Maltese Citizenship, a Maltese Passport, and unrestricted rights to live, work, and study anywhere in the EU.

The system for applying for almost all of the above permits is now highly digitized via the Identità Expatriates Management System (EMS).

1. Online Submission: Employers (for work permits) or individuals (for study/nomad permits) upload all scanned documents to the portal.
2. Approval in Principle: If successful, Identità issues an "Approval in Principle" letter. If the applicant is a TCN still in their home country, they use this letter to apply for an entry visa at their local embassy.
3. Arrival & Medical: Upon arriving in Malta, TCNs must often undergo a chest X-ray and medical clearance.
4. Biometrics Appointment: The applicant attends an in-person appointment at Identità (Msida or Gozo) to capture their fingerprints, signature, and photograph. You must bring all original documents with you.
5. Collection: About 2 to 4 weeks after biometrics, the applicant receives a notification (often a PIN via post or email) to collect their physical e-Residence Card.