Two agencies decide almost everything: Identità for work and residence permits, Residency Malta for the investment and nomad programmes — and the golden-passport era ended in 2025.
Overview
Malta has no points system. Selection runs through two agencies: Identità (the former Identity Malta Agency) decides employment-based applications — the single permit, the Key Employee Initiative (KEI), the Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) and the EU Blue Card — while the Residency Malta Agency runs the investment-based Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and the Nomad Residence Permit for remote workers. Since 1 August 2025 a new Labour Migration Policy applies: employers must advertise vacancies locally before hiring third-country nationals, the KEI salary threshold rose to EUR 45,000 and the SEI to EUR 30,000, and the first-time single permit fee rose to EUR 600. The MPRP was re-priced by Legal Notices 310 of 2024 and 146 of 2025. Citizenship by investment is gone: the Court of Justice of the EU ruled Malta's investor-citizenship scheme contrary to EU law on 29 April 2025, and Act XXI of 2025 replaced it with discretionary merit-based naturalisation. Verified against identita.gov.mt, residencymalta.gov.mt and curia.europa.eu as of June 2026.
Malta's Main Routes at a Glance (2026)
| Route | Who decides | Key threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Permit (work + residence) | Identità — Expatriates Unit | Job offer + vacancy advertised locally for 3 weeks | EUR 600 first application, EUR 150/year renewal (from 1 Aug 2025); combined work and residence authorisation under S.L. 217.17 |
| Key Employee Initiative (KEI) | Identità | Gross salary of at least EUR 45,000/year + qualifications or experience | Fast-track for managerial/technical roles; 2-week vacancy advert instead of 3; 1-year permit, renewable up to 3 years |
| Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) | Identità | Gross salary of at least EUR 30,000/year | Fast-track for specialist roles backed by relevant qualifications or experience; 2-week vacancy advert |
| EU Blue Card | Identità | 1.5x Malta's average gross annual salary + higher education qualification | Implemented by S.L. 217.27; threshold updates annually — confirm the current figure with Identità |
| Nomad Residence Permit | Residency Malta Agency | EUR 42,000 gross annual income (since 1 Apr 2024) | Third-country nationals working remotely for foreign employers/clients; health insurance covering the EU and UK, property agreement, police conduct certificate |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) | Residency Malta Agency | EUR 375,000 property purchase OR EUR 14,000/year rent + EUR 37,000 contribution + EUR 60,000 administration fee + EUR 2,000 NGO donation | S.L. 217.26 as amended by L.N. 310/2024 and L.N. 146/2025; assets of EUR 500,000 (EUR 150,000 financial) or EUR 650,000 (EUR 75,000 financial); apply only through a licensed agent |
| Naturalisation (ordinary or merit-based) | Minister, administered by Komunità Malta | Residence: 12 months immediately before applying + 4 years within the preceding 6 | Discretionary; merit route under Act XXI of 2025 requires exceptional service to Malta or humanity — it cannot be bought |
Employment Routes — How the Single Permit Machinery Works
- One application, two rights: The single permit combines the work and residence authorisation in one Identità decision. The employer drives the application; the worker cannot start work until the permit is approved, and third-country nationals in most job categories also need health-screening approval before Identità will process the application.
- Labour market test (from 1 Aug 2025): Before applying for a new third-country national, the employer must have advertised the vacancy on an appropriate local media platform for at least 3 weeks within the 2 months before submission. KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List roles need only 2 weeks. Health-sector jobs, carers for the elderly and persons with disability, recognised student workers, sportspersons and applications recommended by Malta Enterprise or similar authorities are fully exempt. Non-compliance makes the application ineligible.
- Fees (from 1 Aug 2025): EUR 600 for a first-time single permit, EUR 150 per year for renewals, EUR 600 for a change of employer and EUR 300 for a change of designation. Health-sector and elderly/disability-care occupations pay EUR 150 across the board.
- Grace period if you lose your job: Single permit holders whose employment is terminated from 1 August 2025 onwards get 30 days to remain in Malta and find new work, extendable by a further 30 days (60 total) on proof of financial self-sufficiency — an amendment to S.L. 217.17.
- KEI and SEI fast-tracks: Both are expedited single-permit streams for higher earners. KEI requires EUR 45,000+ gross and certified qualifications, a warrant or relevant experience; SEI requires EUR 30,000+ gross with relevant qualifications or experience. Initial permits run for one year and are renewable for longer periods, up to three years.
- EU Blue Card: Available under S.L. 217.27 for highly qualified workers with a higher education qualification and a salary of at least 1.5 times Malta's average gross annual salary. It is used far less than the KEI in practice but carries EU-level intra-mobility advantages.
Investment and Remote-Work Routes — Residency Malta Agency
- MPRP in its current (post-2025) form: Permanent residence for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals against a property investment (EUR 375,000 purchase or EUR 14,000 annual rent), a EUR 37,000 government contribution, a EUR 2,000 donation to a registered NGO, and a EUR 60,000 non-refundable administration fee paid EUR 15,000 within a month of application and EUR 45,000 within two months of the Letter of Approval in Principle. Each dependant adds EUR 7,500 to the administration fee.
- Asset test: Applicants must show capital of at least EUR 500,000 including EUR 150,000 in financial assets, or EUR 650,000 including EUR 75,000 in financial assets.
- Temporary card while you wait: Once the initial checks and the first administration-fee instalment clear, applicants may apply for a one-year temporary residence permit, renewable annually, while the full application is decided — introduced by the 2025 amendments.
- Licensed agents only: MPRP applications can only be submitted through an agent licensed by the Residency Malta Agency; the agency publishes the agent register on residencymalta.gov.mt.
- Nomad Residence Permit: For third-country nationals who can work remotely by telecoms for a foreign employer, their own foreign-registered company, or foreign clients. Minimum gross income EUR 42,000/year (applications before 1 April 2024 keep the old EUR 32,400 threshold). Also required: health insurance covering risks in the EU and UK, a rental or purchase agreement, a police conduct certificate and a background verification check. People servicing a Maltese subsidiary of their foreign employer are excluded.
- Startup founders: Residency Malta also runs a separate Startup Residence Programme (startup.residencymalta.gov.mt) for founders and core employees of qualifying startups endorsed by Malta Enterprise.
Citizenship After the 2025 CJEU Ruling — What Changed
- The investor-citizenship scheme is dead: On 29 April 2025 the Court of Justice of the EU (Grand Chamber, Case C-181/23, Commission v Malta) ruled that Malta's 2020 citizenship-by-investment framework breached EU law, holding that the acquisition of Union citizenship cannot result from a commercial transaction.
- Act XXI of 2025: Published 24 July 2025, it amended the Maltese Citizenship Act to remove the monetised route while preserving discretionary naturalisation for persons who render exceptional service to the Republic of Malta or to humanity, or whose naturalisation is of exceptional interest to Malta. An Evaluation Board assesses cases individually; there are no fixed investment amounts, quotas or guaranteed outcomes — treat any agency promising a Maltese passport for a set price with extreme caution.
- Ordinary naturalisation still exists: Under the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188), administered by Aġenzija Komunità Malta, applicants generally need residence throughout the 12 months immediately preceding the application plus an aggregate of 4 years during the preceding 6, adequate knowledge of Maltese or English, and good character. Grant remains at ministerial discretion even when the criteria are met.
- MPRP is residence, not citizenship: The MPRP grants permanent residence rights only. Time spent in Malta as an MPRP beneficiary can count towards ordinary naturalisation residence requirements, but there is no automatic path and no entitlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What salary do I need for Malta's fast-track work permits in 2026?
Since 1 August 2025 the Key Employee Initiative requires a gross annual salary of at least EUR 45,000 plus certified qualifications, a professional warrant or proven relevant experience. The Specialist Employee Initiative sits at EUR 30,000 for specialist or technical roles backed by qualifications or experience. The EU Blue Card requires 1.5 times Malta's average gross annual salary — a figure that moves each year, so confirm the current number with Identità before negotiating your contract. Below those levels you are in the standard single permit stream, where the employer must first advertise the vacancy locally for three weeks.
Can I still buy Maltese citizenship through investment?
No. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled on 29 April 2025 (Case C-181/23) that Malta's investor-citizenship scheme was contrary to EU law, and Malta amended the Citizenship Act through Act XXI of 2025 (published 24 July 2025) to remove the investment route. What remains is discretionary merit-based naturalisation for people who render exceptional service to Malta or humanity — scientists, athletes, artists, entrepreneurs and similar — assessed case by case by an Evaluation Board with no price list and no guarantee. Citizenships already granted under the old scheme were not revoked by the judgment, but new applications on a pay-to-naturalise basis are no longer possible.
What does Malta permanent residence (MPRP) actually cost now?
Under S.L. 217.26 as amended by Legal Notices 310 of 2024 and 146 of 2025: a EUR 60,000 non-refundable administration fee (EUR 15,000 within one month of applying, EUR 45,000 within two months of the Letter of Approval in Principle, plus EUR 7,500 per dependant), a EUR 37,000 government contribution, a EUR 2,000 donation to a registered NGO, and a qualifying property — purchased for at least EUR 375,000 or rented for at least EUR 14,000 a year. You must also evidence assets of EUR 500,000 (EUR 150,000 financial) or EUR 650,000 (EUR 75,000 financial), and apply through a licensed agent.
Does my employer really have to advertise the job before I can get a single permit?
Yes, for applications from 1 August 2025. The vacancy must run on an appropriate local media platform for at least three weeks within the two months before the complete application is submitted, with the publication date clearly shown — otherwise the application is ineligible. KEI, SEI, EU Blue Card and Skilled Occupation List positions need only two weeks. Health-sector jobs, carers for the elderly or persons with disability, recognised student workers, sportspersons, and applications recommended by Malta Enterprise, the Civil Aviation Directorate, Gaming Malta or other relevant authorities are exempt entirely.
What happens to my Malta single permit if I lose my job?
For terminations from 1 August 2025, an amendment to Subsidiary Legislation 217.17 gives you a 30-day grace period to remain in Malta and look for new employment, extendable by a further 30 days — 60 in total — if you can prove financial self-sufficiency. A new employer triggers a change-of-employer application (EUR 600 fee). Do not simply overstay: if your permit is withdrawn or an adverse decision issues, the appeal window before the Immigration Appeals Board is only three working days, so act immediately and get advice early.
Do I qualify for Malta's digital nomad permit?
You must be a third-country national (non-EU/EEA/Swiss) able to work remotely by telecoms, and fall into one of three categories: employed by a company registered abroad, partner or shareholder conducting business through a foreign-registered company, or freelancer/consultant serving clients with permanent establishments abroad. Working for the Maltese subsidiary of your foreign employer disqualifies you. The income floor is EUR 42,000 gross per year for applications since 1 April 2024. You also need a valid travel document, health insurance covering the EU (including Malta) and the UK, a Maltese rental or purchase agreement, a police conduct certificate, and to pass Residency Malta's background verification.