The Malta Residence and Visa Programme (MRVP) provides for the acquisition of Maltese residency by investment. The MRVP was established in 2015 by the Malta Residence and Visa Programme Regulations (LN 288/2015) – subsidiary legislation issued under the Immigration Act.
MRVP targets applicants interested foreign investors who seek residence rights and not citizenship. These commonly come from countries that do not accept dual citizenship, e.g. China, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain etc. These countries prohibit dual citizenship and HNW families who want to spend more time at home, rather than going after citizenship through IIP, can wisely select MRVP residence scheme. This way only residency is issued rather than citizenship.
MRVP is open to third-country nationals meeting the programme’s eligibility requirements. There is no cap on the number of applicants. A Malta residency programme also allows 4 generation of families to apply. Applications may be rejected for failing due diligence, incomplete or omission of information.
NOTE: This scheme is closed replaced by MPRP program
MRVP Investment
- Investment of EUR 250,000 in government bonds held for five years.
- Lease of immovable property for a minimum annual rent of EUR 12,000 or EUR 10,000 (if in south of Malta or Gozo); Lease is not required if immovable property is purchased.
- Payment of the contribution of EUR 30,000 and where applicable,
- EUR 5,000 per parent or grandparent of the main applicant or of his/her spouse.
- Must prove annual income of atleast EUR 100,000 per annum or possession of EUR 500,000 in funds
Applicants must also pay the agent’s fees as per agreement between the agent and applicant.
European Union nationals are not eligible to apply. All other nationals are eligible, excluding nationals from Afghanistan and North Korea. In the future, applications from other countries may also be excluded in accordance with Government policies.
The competent authority for the MRVP is the Malta Residence and Visa Agency (MRVA) established in 2017. The application process takes five to six months
E-Residence card
All applicants must have entered Malta at least once prior to becoming MRVP beneficiaries. MRVP does not require the continuous physical presence of the investor in Malta
The residence permit is permanent (not time bound), but the e-Residence Card is renewed every five years.
MRVP beneficiaries and their dependants are granted the right to reside, settle or stay indefinitely in Malta and to move around the countries in the Schengen Area without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period, subject to conditions.
Beneficiaries and their spouses can apply for an employment licence and dependants can obtain free access to educational institutions in Malta once the beneficiary obtains the employment licence
Special Tax Status
Investors may also benefit from a special tax status through Malta’s Global Residence Programme (GRP)
Investors may also benefit from a special tax status through Malta’s Global Residence Programme (GRP)1 falling within the competence of the Commissioner for Revenue.
GRP applicants must have: stable and regular resources sufficient for maintaining themselves and dependants without recourse to Malta’s social assistance system; a valid travel document; sickness insurance with coverage in the EU; knowledge of one of Malta’s official languages; and proof they are fit and proper persons.
Investment requirements for the GRP consist of the purchase of immovable property for at least EUR 275,000 (or EUR 220,000 if in Gozo or in the south of Malta) or annual rent of property for at least EUR 9,600 (or EUR 8,750 if in Gozo or in the south of Malta).
Through the GRP, investors obtain the right to pay tax at the rate of 15 percent but the GRP does not in itself grant residence rights to its beneficiaries.
No residence card is issued under the GRP itself. GRP beneficiaries can apply for a residence certificate under the MRVP if they satisfy the additional eligibility requirements of LN 288/2015.3
Alternatively, GRP beneficiaries may apply for a uniform residence permit issued for a specific purpose under the Immigration Regulations
Maltese Citizenship
MRVP program leads to citizenship after 5 years of uninterrupted living under naturalization conditions.
