Malta Global Residence Programme (GRP)

Key requirements

We model about USD 220k as the lowest property purchase floor (Gozo or Southern Region). Renting also qualifies at lower cash outlay, but you still owe fees and the €15,000 minimum annual tax.

• Income we use for estimatesNot set in data
• SavingsOften ~$220,000+
• Accepted income typesPassive income, Pension, Remote salary, Freelance income, Savings only
• Remote work allowedYes
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Often several weeks to a few months through your ARM

Your Authorised Registered Mandatary (ARM) should guide filing order. Property can be secured within 12 months after you take up residence under GRP.

1. 1

   Appoint an Authorised Registered Mandatary

   Choose an ARM who will file and keep your GRP status compliant with Malta tax and residence rules.

2. 2

   Run an eligibility and tax check

   Confirm you are not in another Maltese tax programme, can show stable resources, and understand the 183-day rule for other countries.

3. 3

   Arrange EU-wide health insurance

   Put comprehensive health cover in place for you and any dependants before you apply.

4. 4

   Submit the GRP application

   Your ARM files the application with identity, insurance, and self-sufficiency proof, then pays the non-refundable administration fee.

5. 5

   Take up residence in Malta

   Move into Malta under GRP rules and keep your address and immigration records aligned with your tax file.

6. 6

   Buy or lease qualifying property

   Within 12 months, secure a main home that meets purchase or annual rent floors for your zone (Malta island vs Gozo or Southern Region).

   • •The home must be your main residence and cannot be sublet.
7. 7

   Register for GRP tax treatment

   Complete Malta tax registration so foreign income remitted to Malta is taxed at 15% and foreign capital gains stay outside Maltese tax.

8. 8

   File annual tax returns and pay minimum tax

   Submit yearly returns through your ARM and pay at least €15,000 annual tax per family, plus any extra tax on remitted income above that floor.

9. 9

   Renew residence and keep property valid

   Maintain qualifying housing, insurance, ARM representation, and tax compliance so renewals stay straightforward.

10. 10

    Plan long-term tax and settlement goals

    GRP is mainly a tax-residence tool. Citizenship and permanent settlement follow separate legal paths with their own tests.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Malta GRP rules, property floors, and tax practice can change. Confirm current notices with the Commissioner for Revenue and your ARM before you apply.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-05-15

Citizenship & nationality

GRP is for people who are not EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens. EU nationals usually use Malta’s Residence Programme (TRP) instead. GRP is not the nomad permit or MPRP investment route.

• •You must show stable resources, EU-wide health insurance, and appoint an Authorised Registered Mandatary (ARM) for the life of the file.
• •Property minimums: buy from €275,000 in Malta or €220,000 in Gozo or the Southern Region; rent from €9,600 or €8,750 per year in those zones.
• •Foreign income remitted to Malta is taxed at 15%. Foreign income kept abroad and foreign capital gains are outside Maltese tax under GRP rules.
• •You pay at least €15,000 annual tax per family even when remittances are small. Malta-source income is taxed at ordinary rates up to 35%.
• •You must not be tax resident elsewhere, including by spending 183 days or more in any other single country in a calendar year.
• •Qualifying property must be your main home, cannot be sublet, and should be secured within 12 months of taking up GRP residence.

Check current GRP rules with the Malta Commissioner for Revenue and your ARM before you sign a lease or pay the administration fee.

Best for

• •People planning to stay several years with a clear residence record
• •Anyone weighing tax context alongside lifestyle and logistics
• •EU settlement plans (check Schengen travel vs national residence rules)

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Possible, but depends on your case
• Citizenship: Possible, but depends on your case

GRP can renew while you keep property, insurance, ARM representation, and tax compliance. Citizenship and permanent settlement use separate legal paths.

Practical difficulty

hard

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Rated hard because of property rules, ARM process, and strict tax-residence conditions, not because of a monthly salary test.