Malta (DNV)
Nomad Residence Permit
Launched 2021.
- Income req
- $4K/mo
- Initial validity
- 1 yr
- Renewable
- Yes
- Application fee
- $330
- Permit fee
- $305
- Processing
- 4-6 wks
- Path to PR
- No
- Path to citizenship
- No
Income requirements
- Monthly minimum (USD): $4K
- Monthly minimum (native): 3,800 EUR
3 months bank statements + employment contracts or freelance evidence; latest 6 months payslips preferred
EUR 3,500/mo gross — raised from EUR 2,700 in 2024. Family adds +20% (spouse) / +10% per child.
Tax treatment
- Becomes tax resident: After 183 days in Malta OR if Malta is center of vital interests
- Flat-rate regime: 10%
- Special regime: Nomad-specific 10% flat tax on foreign-source employment income for tax residents (effective from 2024)
- Foreign income: Year-1 stay: foreign income NOT taxed (visa-only stage). Years 2-4 as tax resident: foreign employment income taxed at 10% flat (Legal Notice 277 of 2023). Remitted income or Malta-source income taxed at standard progressive rates.
Malta's 10% nomad-specific tax (active from year 2) is the EU's most competitive structured rate. Standard non-dom remittance basis is also available.
Remote work requirements
- Must work for foreign employer: Yes
- Local clients allowed: No
- Local employment allowed: No
- Self-employed accepted: Yes
- Salaried vs freelance: both
Family inclusion
- Spouse: Yes
- Children under 18: Yes
- Dependent adult children: Yes
- Parents dependent: Yes
- + Income per dependent: $350
Spouse +20% (~EUR 700), each child +10% (~EUR 350). Adult dependents on case-by-case.
Path to PR & citizenship
Permanent residency
- Available: No
Nomad Residence Permit does NOT count toward 5-year EU LTR or Maltese long residence under regular Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP — see RBI).
Citizenship
- Available: No
Time on Nomad permit does not count toward naturalization. MEIN (Maltese CBI) struck down by CJEU April 2025 — citizenship now requires standard 5-year residence + Maltese language.
Eligibility requirements
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen
- Remote work for foreign employer OR business owner OR freelance with foreign clients
- EUR 3,500/mo income (single)
- Clean criminal record
- Health insurance
- Accommodation in Malta
Disqualifiers
- Maltese employer or clients
- Schengen entry ban
- Living in Malta in prior 12 months on another permit
Recent changes
- 2021-06
Malta Nomad Residence Permit launched.
- 2024-01
Income threshold raised from EUR 2,700 to EUR 3,500/mo; 10% flat tax on foreign income (year-2+) introduced via LN 277/2023.
- 2025-04-29
CJEU ruling against MEIN (Malta CBI) — no impact on Nomad permit but signals Malta's tightening EU stance.
Notes
Malta Nomad Permit pairs Schengen access + English-speaking + 10% nomad tax (year 2+). Drawback: no PR/citizenship path, 4-year max. Best for nomads wanting EU Mediterranean base with structured low-tax.
EasyPassport is a document-organization tool focused on citizenship by descent. This page is reference research, not legal or financial advice. Always verify with the official program authority.