The Malta Residence and Visa Programme Regulations published on 25th August 2015 in terms of the Immigration Act by means of Legal Notice 288 of 2015 are aimed at Non-EU nationals.
By applying through the services of an approved agent or authorised registered mandatory (ARM), the beneficiary and his dependants will be issued with a certificate from Identity Malta subject to various terms and conditions such as:
- he is a third country national and is not a Maltese, EEA or Swiss national;
- he is does not benefit from any other scheme with an exception to the Global Residence Programme;
- he holds a qualifying property for a minimum five (5) year period from the date of issuing of certificate;
- he holds a qualifying investment for a minimum period of five (5) years from the date of issuing of certificate;
- he is in receipt of stable and regular resources which are sufficient to maintain himself and his dependants without recourse to the social assistance system of Malta;
- he is and his dependants are all of a clean police conduct as specified in these regulations;
- he is and his dependants are in possession of a valid travel document;
- he is in possession of sickness insurance in respect of all risks across the whole of the European Union normally covered for Maltese nationals for himself and his dependants;
- he provides an affidavit declaring that from the date of the application onwards he has either an annual income of not less than €100,000 arising outside Malta or has in his possession a capital of not less than €500,000.
A certificate issued by Identity Malta in terms of Article 7 of the Immigration Act, in accordance with these regulations shall entitle the beneficiary of such a certificate and his registered dependants to reside, settle or stay indefinitely in Malta, provided that:
- the certificate shall be monitored annually for the first five years from its issue, and every five years thereafter, and it shall be considered to have been ipso iure withdrawn as soon as the beneficiary thereof infringes any of the provisions of these regulations;
- the said certificate shall not by itself entitle the holder thereof to any other rights mentioned in the Immigration Regulations.
Qualifying Property Holding
Beneficiaries under these regulations need to provide evidence of property purchased or leased at the following minimum requirements:
- Owned Immovable property situated in Malta other than in the south of Malta - €320,000
- Owned Immovable property situated in the south of Malta and in Gozo - €270,000
- Rented Immovable property situated in Malta other than in the south of Malta - €12,000 per annum
- Rented Immovable property situated in the south of Malta and Gozo - €10,000 per annum
An immovable property purchased before the date of coming into force of these regulations for a consideration which is less than the amounts indicated above shall be considered to be "qualifying owned property" insofar as the value of such immovable property, as declared on the date of application by the applicant, is not less than the amounts indicated above as supported by a separate and independent architect valuation including architect’s plan which are delivered to Identity Malta upon application.
Application and Authorised Registered Mandatory (ARM) / agent requirement
An individual, as duly represented by a registered approved agent and, or registered accredited person may apply to Identity Malta for the issuance of a certificate under these regulations by paying a non-refundable administrative fee of €5,500.
Once established that the individual qualifies as a beneficiary, Identity Malta shall prior to the issuance of the certificate, the applicant, as duly represented by a registered approved agent and, or registered accredited person, shall:
- pay the contribution of €30,000 less the non-refundable administrative fee already paid upon presentation of the application;
- present the necessary title to a qualifying property;
- present a certificate to a qualifying investment of €250,000 and
- present any other document as may be required from time to time by notice issued by Identity Malta.
No certificate shall be issued to the applicant unless the above conditions are satisfied to the full satisfaction of Identity Malta.
