Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)

Two main risks

• Choosing an unreliable project or developer, or a property that does not qualify.
• Funds from an unlawful source, leading to the application being refused.
• IMM Group carries out due diligence on your file before any contract is signed, to help reduce source-of-funds risk.

Generally simpler than in the U.S., Australia, or Canada

• You only need to document 2 levels: the source of the funds being invested and the source of wealth that generated them.
• For example, for property sale proceeds, show when you bought the property and its value at the time.
• Every family's documentation is different — contact IMM Group for advice specific to your situation.

Choose one real estate option: purchase or lease

• Purchase a qualifying property for at least €375,000, or lease one for at least €14,000 per year, and maintain it for 5 years.
• A government contribution of €37,000, an administrative fee of €60,000, and a €2,000 donation to a registered charity or NGO in Malta.
• Proof of capital assets of at least €500,000, including €150,000 in financial assets; or €650,000, including €75,000 in financial assets.

Hold for at least 5 years

• You commit to holding the property or lease for at least 5 years.
• After 5 years, you may sell the qualifying property or end the lease, provided you continue to own or rent a residential property in Malta to keep your permanent residence.

No minimum stay required to maintain permanent residence

• You do not need to live in Malta to keep or renew your permanent residence.
• If you plan to apply for Maltese citizenship, you must meet the physical residence requirements set by law (see the citizenship question below).

Basic requirements

• Aged 18 or older, with no upper age limit.
• No degree, education, English-language, or management experience requirements.
• Pass security background checks and health checks, and show a lawful source of funds.

Multi-generational families

• Legal spouse.
• Children (including adopted children) under 29, unmarried, and financially dependent.
• Parents and grandparents of both spouses, if financially dependent.

Adopted children and stepchildren under 29 who are unmarried and financially dependent may be included

• Adopted children: a legally recognized adoption certificate is required.
• Stepchildren: legal documentation is required, together with a certified letter of consent from the spouse.
• IMM Group helps investors prepare these documents.

5-year residence card, renewable

• The residence card is valid for 5 years and can be renewed as long as you continue to meet the program conditions.
• After 6 years of permanent residence, you may be able to apply for Maltese citizenship if you meet the requirements.

Your spouse may apply for a work permit

• With Malta permanent residence, your spouse can apply for a work permit to work in Malta.

Short stays within Schengen — not yet the right to live or work across the EU

• Visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries under the 90/180-day short-stay rule.
• Travel to EU countries outside the Schengen Area may still require a visa, depending on your nationality and each country's rules.
• Full rights to live, work, and study in any EU country come with Maltese citizenship.

Schengen is not the same as the EU

• EU (European Union): a political and economic union of 27 member states.
• Schengen: a free-movement travel area, currently made up of 29 countries.
• Some EU countries are not in Schengen, and some Schengen countries are not in the EU. Malta is a member of both.

Naturalization requirements

• Aged 18 or older; resident in Malta for the 12 months immediately preceding the application.
• A cumulative 4 years of residence within the 6 years before that 12-month period.
• Meet the English or Maltese language requirement; no criminal record in Malta or abroad.

A long-term pathway

• Naturalization can take many years (for reference, 10–15 years), depending on the individual case and applicable rules.
• In the meantime, your family keeps its residence cards to retain its right of residence in Malta.

Full EU citizenship rights

• The freedom to live, work, and study in any EU member state.