Malta MPRP eligibility and application requirements

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) grants a certificate that allows a non-EU family to reside, settle and stay indefinitely in Malta. It is governed by Subsidiary Legislation 217.26, most recently amended by Legal Notice 146 of 2025, and administered by the Residency Malta Agency. The costs are substantial, but for many families the eligibility rules and the conditions that apply after approval matter just as much.

Our overview of European residence by investment programmes compares Malta with Cyprus, Greece and Portugal. The cost structure is set out in our comparison of Malta’s MPRP and Cyprus permanent residency. This article focuses on who qualifies and what the regulations require, as of October 2026.

Who can apply

Under Regulation 9, an individual aged 18 or over, represented by a licensed agent, may apply to the Agency. The applicant must be a third-country national, not a Maltese, EEA or Swiss citizen, and must not benefit from other Maltese residence or tax schemes, such as the Residence Programme, the Malta Retirement Programme or the Highly Qualified Persons Rules.

On submission, a non-refundable first instalment of €15,000 towards the administration fee is payable. The Agency may refuse the application if this is not received within one month.

The asset test

The main applicant must show assets of at least €500,000, of which at least €150,000 are financial assets, or at least €650,000, of which at least €75,000 are financial assets. A qualifying property purchased by the applicant may count towards the asset evidence. The capital must then be held for five years from the date the certificate takes effect.

Who counts as a dependant

The regulations define dependants broadly:

• a spouse or partner in a relationship of similar status, including a civil union;
• children of the applicant or spouse under 18;
• unmarried children aged 18 to 28 who are principally dependent on the applicant;
• parents or grandparents of the applicant or spouse who are not in full-time employment and are principally dependent;
• adult children certified as having a disability.

An additional contribution applies for dependent adult children and for parents and grandparents. The main applicant must also provide an affidavit confirming support for each dependant over 18, other than the spouse.

For a clear view of how your own family would be assessed, our Malta residency page outlines how we prepare MPRP applications.

Documents and due diligence

Applications must include a conduct certificate for the main applicant and each dependant over 14, issued by the country of origin and by any country where the person lived for more than six months in the last ten years. The agent must also carry out its own know-your-customer checks. Applicants confirm that they are in good health and will not place an unreasonable burden on the national health system, and documents not in English need an authenticated translation.

The Agency administers a multi-layered due diligence process, using third-party specialist providers and checks by law enforcement and anti-money laundering authorities, and reports its findings to an Approvals Board. Our article on due diligence in investment migration explains how such checks typically work.

Grounds for refusal

Regulation 13 lists minimum eligibility criteria. An application will not succeed if the applicant or a dependant has been indicted before an international criminal court, is listed with Interpol or Europol, appears on applicable sanctions lists, or has been convicted of or charged with serious offences, including money laundering, terrorism financing and offences punishable by more than one year of imprisonment. A previous refusal of an MPRP certificate or of Maltese citizenship is also disqualifying. The Agency also maintains a list of nationalities it does not accept, which should be checked before any commitment.

After approval in principle

Within two months of the letter of approval in principle, the balance of the administration fee and any dependant fees are due. Within eight months, the applicant must pay the contribution, present title to a qualifying property, make the required donation to a registered non-governmental organisation and provide health insurance covering all risks normally covered for Maltese nationals. While the application is pending, a temporary residence permit valid for one year may be requested.

Conditions to maintain

The certificate continues only while its conditions are met. The beneficiary must hold the qualifying property for at least five years and afterwards keep a residential property in Malta or Gozo, owned or leased. Stable and regular resources, valid travel documents, health insurance and the required capital must also be maintained, and the Agency reviews compliance annually for the first five years. The certificate ends if the holder becomes an EU, EEA or Swiss national.

If you would like to talk through how these rules might apply to your own circumstances, our team would be glad to help. You can call +357 979 42 388 or write to us through our contact page.

Sources

• Laws of Malta, Subsidiary Legislation 217.26, Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations, as amended by L.N. 146 of 2025.
• Residency Malta Agency, MPRP legal framework, as of October 2026.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Figures are stated as of 2026 and may change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and an independent adviser before acting. AT Express is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government or official programme.

Featured image: “Casa Mdina, Mdina, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-25, DD 157” by Diego Delso, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.