Malta — Complete Emigration Guide 2026
574,250 people · Capital: Valletta · Southern Europe
Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis
Overview
Malta is located in Southern Europe, with a population of 574,250. Its currency is the euro. Our database tracks 21 visa pathways for Malta, each linked to a named source.
See also: Malta country profile
Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.
Visa Pathways (21)
Sponsored Employment (4)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Card | — | €600 | 24 mo | — |
| Employment of less than six (6) months | €1,200/mo | €50 | 6 mo | — |
| Intra-Corporate Transferee | — | €300 | 12 mo | — |
| Single Permit | — | — | — | — |
Digital Nomad (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad Residence Permit | €3,500/mo | €300 | 12 mo | — |
Entrepreneur & Business (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malta Startup Residence Programme | — | — | 36 mo | — |
| Self-Employment | €2,500/mo | €1,000 | 12 mo | 30d |
Investment / Golden Visa (3)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granting of Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment | — | €150 | 36 mo | — |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) | — | — | — | — |
| Residency for Family Offices | — | — | 36 mo | — |
Passive Income (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Self-Sufficiency | — | €100 | — | — |
Study (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Visa | €1,000/mo | €50 | 12 mo | 30d |
| Study | — | €50 | — | 90d |
Working Holiday (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday Visa | — | — | 12 mo | — |
Family Reunification (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family reunification | €1,578/mo | — | 12 mo | 60d |
Spouse & Partner (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Registration | — | €150 | 3 mo | — |
General Residence (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exempt Status | — | — | — | — |
| Long-Stay Visa | €2,500/mo | €300 | — | 56d |
Permanent Settlement (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Residence | €993/mo | €500 | 60 mo | — |
Naturalisation & Citizenship (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Naturalisation | — | €450 | 12 mo | — |
Artists & Entertainers (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Trial Visa | — | — | 3 mo | 20d |
Cost of Living
| Item | Malta | W. Europe Avg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €1,025 | €1,200 | -15% |
| Rent (3BR) | €1,400 | €2,000 | -30% |
| Groceries | €241 | €350 | -31% |
| Transport | €26 | €80 | -68% |
| Utilities | €95 | €150 | -37% |
| Dining (meal) | €12 | €15 | -20% |
Salary & Employment
| Sector | Median (gross, €/yr) |
|---|---|
| Construction | €29,000 |
| Education | €26,000 |
| Engineering | €38,000 |
| Finance | €41,000 |
| Healthcare | €31,000 |
| Hospitality | €20,000 |
| IT | €42,000 |
| Retail | €18,000 |
Shortage Occupations
- Software Engineers (Information Technology)
- Data Scientists (Information Technology)
- Healthcare Professionals (Healthcare)
- Construction Managers (Construction)
- Nursing Professionals (Healthcare)
Tax
Healthcare
Education
| University | QS Rank | English Progs | Tuition (Intl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Malta | — | 120 | €4,500 |
| Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology | — | 45 | €3,800 |
| European University of Malta | — | 78 | €6,200 |
| Middlesex University Malta | — | 95 | €7,500 |
| St. Martin's Institute of Higher Education | — | 25 | €3,200 |
Practical Info
Banking
Driving
Phone & Internet
Credentials
Quality of Life
Official sources
The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 17 of the 17 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 17 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.
- data.globalcit.eu · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-12
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-22
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-23
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-22
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-21
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-10
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-09
- identita.gov.mt · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
Verified requirements — exact official citations
Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.
Economic Self-Sufficiency · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Fee €100 confirmed; savings threshold not published on official page — set to null” — identita.gov.mt
Minimum income: “Applications may be submitted by high-net-worth beneficiaries of local residence investment or tax programmes, including the Global Residence Programme, the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, Malta Retirement Programme and Acquisition of Citizenship. (The permit sets no…” — identita.gov.mt
Working Holiday Visa · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Working Holiday Visa; age 18-30; 12mo; free; eligible countries: AU/JP/NZ/AD + Maltese descent” — identita.gov.mt
Savings / proof of funds: “Possesses reasonable funds for his or her maintenance during the period of initial stay in Malta — no fixed amount set” — identita.gov.mt, 2026-07-06
Nomad Residence Permit · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Min gross income €42,000/yr (from Apr 2024); fee €300; 1yr permit; age 18+; no job offer” — nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt
Minimum income: “Moreover, an applicant must have a minimum gross yearly income of €42,000.” — nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt, 2026-06-26
Long-Term Residence · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “5yr permit; fee €500; stable/regular resources required (no specific floor confirmed officially)” — identita.gov.mt
Minimum income: “have stable and regular resources; have their own accommodation and; fulfil integration measures (outlined in Subsidiary Legislation 217.05)” — identita.gov.mt, 2026-07-09
Study · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Study residence permit; fee €50 confirmed; MQF level 5+ accredited institution required” — identita.gov.mt
Savings / proof of funds: “These regulations apply to third-country nationals accepted by an institution licensed by the National Commission for Higher Education to pursue a full-time course of study leading to a higher education qualification. The qualification must be recognised by the Malta…” — identita.gov.mt, 2026-07-06
Citizenship by Naturalisation · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “The application may be submitted against a fee of €450” — komunita.gov.mt
Student Visa · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Student Visa (Central Visa Unit); fee €50; for courses >90 days” — identita.gov.mt
Family reunification · 1 verified requirement
Minimum income: “The definition of the stable resources in order that family members become eligible for such reunification, that is, they should be equivalent to the median wage, as established by the National Statistics Office – the latest published amount is €18,940, in addition to a 20% of…” — identita.gov.mt
Blue Card · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “First-time applications €600” — identita.gov.mt
Self-Employment · 1 verified requirement
Minimum investment: “Before submitting an Application for a Residence Permit on the basis of Self-Employment, an application with Jobsplus should have been submitted for a request to obtain an Employment Licence (Refer to Jobsplus' Employment Licences Unit Guidelines...).” — identita.gov.mt
Intra-Corporate Transferee · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “first-time applications EUR 300” — identita.gov.mt
Citizenship by Registration · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Citizenship by Registration: spouses/descendants/former citizens; some routes allow minors; fee €150+€50” — komunita.gov.mt
Frequently Asked Questions
How many visa pathways does Malta have?
Our database tracks 21 visa pathways for Malta across 13 categories, the largest being Sponsored Employment, Investment / Golden Visa, General Residence. Each entry links to a named source — 95% direct to an official government portal, the rest to a named embassy or professional reference while we complete direct verification.
What is the minimum income for the Nomad Residence Permit?
The Nomad Residence Permit lists a minimum income of EUR 3,500 per month, according to the official source (last checked 2026-06-21).
What is the average salary in Malta?
The average gross salary in Malta is EUR 3,394 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 961 per month.
How much does rent cost in Malta?
A one-bedroom apartment in Malta averages EUR 1,025 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 1,400 per month.
What is the top income tax rate in Malta?
The top personal income tax rate in Malta is 35%. The standard VAT rate is 18%.
How long does it take to qualify for citizenship in Malta?
Among the pathways we track, the Granting of Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment lists 1 years to citizenship. Timelines vary by route and personal circumstances — check the official source for your case.
Start Preparing for Malta
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