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MaltaDigital nomad

Nomad permit in Malta

The programme allows third-country nationals to work remotely for a foreign employer while living in Malta. It suits employees, the self-employed and freelancers who run a business or provide services outside Malta. A minimum gross income, health insurance and proof of accommodation are required. The permit is issued with the possibility of renewal up to a full four-year stay.

Visa term
Up to 1 year, renewable up to 3 years in total
Threshold
Gross income ≥€3,500/month (≈€42,000/year)
Processing time
A few weeks to a few months
Work
Remote work for foreign employers only

Source: residencymalta.gov.mt — Nomad Residence Permit

Who can apply

The permit is intended for third-country nationals (outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland) who can work remotely over the internet and earn a minimum income from sources outside Malta.

Employees

  • Employed by a foreign employer
  • Hold an employment contract that allows remote work
  • Income of at least €42,000 a year

Self-employed and partners

  • Own or are a partner in a foreign company
  • The company is registered outside Malta
  • Income of at least €42,000 a year

Freelancers

  • Provide services to foreign clients under contracts
  • Work over the internet from anywhere
  • Minimum annual income of €42,000

When the programme will not suit you

An EU, EEA or Swiss national

Rely on your freedom-of-movement rights in the EU

Work for a Maltese employer or a company in Malta

Apply for an employment or self-employment permit in Malta

Income below €42,000 a year

Find an additional source of income or wait until your income grows

A national of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Yemen, Venezuela, Belarus or Russia

These countries are on the list of excluded jurisdictions; see the agency's website for details

What it costs

Administrative fee for the applicationPer person, by transfer from the main applicant's bank, non-refundable300 EUR
Issue of the residence cardPer person, paid in person at the Residency Malta offices by card100 EUR
Change of residential addressBy transfer or at the agency's office+50 EUR
Issue of a new card if lostAdministrative fee for a new card+50 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Change of residential address” adds 50 EUR; “Issue of a new card if lost” adds 50 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.400–500 EUR

Paid separately

  • Health insurance — Paid separately to the insurer you choose; minimum cover of €100,000 for the year
  • Visa fees — If a visa is required, this depends on your nationality
  • Accommodation — Renting or buying a property is paid for by you

Documents to gather

The main documents are filed online through the portal at https://portal.residencymalta.gov.mt/landing. The further documents confirming accommodation and health insurance are filed after the application is approved.

  • Completed form N4 for each applicant
  • Letter of Intent explaining the move
  • Copy of every page of the passport (including blank ones) in PDF
  • CV with professional experience and education
  • Criminal-record certificate (original, no more than 6 months old, in English or translated)
  • Bank statements for the last three months showing all transactions (in PDF, unredacted, in English)
  • Employment contract or client contracts (as proof of remote work)
  • Company registration certificate (for the self-employed)
  • Marriage certificate (if a spouse is included in the application)
  • Children's birth certificates (if children are included)
  • Parental consent for minor applicants where there is no sole custody
  • Health insurance policy (filed after the approval in principle is issued)
  • Rental/purchase agreement for the property for 12 months (filed after the approval in principle)
  • ARMS bill (water and electricity, no more than 6 months old)
  • Photographs of the exterior façade of the qualifying property
  • Housing Authority approval for the property

How the process runs

Filing and assessing the application takes from a few weeks to a few months. All communication is by email to the address given at the time of filing.

  1. 1

    Filing the application online

    1-2 days

    The applicant completes the form on the portal at https://portal.residencymalta.gov.mt/landing and uploads the mandatory documents.

  2. 2

    Checking the application and issuing the receipt

    5-10 days

    The Nomad Client Relations and Compliance Officer checks that the documents are complete. A receipt is issued with instructions for paying the non-refundable administrative fee of €300 (by transfer from the main applicant's bank).

  3. 3

    Processing and security checks

    30 working days

    The clock starts once payment has been received. The agency carries out security checks on the main applicant and the dependants to confirm that they pose no threat to national security or public health.

  4. 4

    Issue of the approval in principle

    About 30-50 working days from payment

    If the assessment is successful, a Letter of Approval in Principle is issued by email. At this stage the applicant must provide proof of accommodation and a health insurance policy.

  5. 5

    Filing the accommodation and insurance documents

    30 days

    Through the online portal the applicant uploads: the health insurance policy (minimum cover of €100,000 for the EU and the United Kingdom), the 12-month rental/purchase agreement, the ARMS bills, photographs of the property and the Housing Authority approval. For temporary accommodation — a booking of at least 15 days and at most 1 month.

  6. 6

    Issue of the final approval

    5-10 days after the documents are received

    If the documents meet the requirements, a Letter of Final Approval is issued. It is valid for 30 working days for applicants with long-term accommodation.

  7. 7

    Visa processing (if required)

    Varies

    If the applicant needs an entry visa, the Central Visa Unit at Identità contacts them with instructions. Standard and extended visa services are available. Nationals of certain countries must obtain a visa.

  8. 8

    Entering Malta and giving fingerprints

    3-4 weeks after arrival

    The applicant enters Malta (within 90 days of the visa being issued, where a visa is required). On arrival they email nomad.residencymalta@gov.mt to book an appointment for fingerprints and biometrics.

  9. 9

    Issue of the residence card

    3-4 weeks

    The residence card is issued in person at the Residency Malta offices. The €100 fee is paid by card at the moment of issue. The card is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.

Who you can bring with you

The main applicant may include family members in the initial application. Each family member pays the administrative fee (€300) and the card issue fee (€100).

Spouse
May be included in the initial application or at renewal. Must meet the programme's security requirements.
Minor children of the main applicant and/or the spouse
May be included. Parental consent is required where necessary, together with proof of custody.
Adult children who are unmarried and financially dependent
May be included if financial dependence on the main applicant is proven.
Adult children with health limitations or a disability
May be included if they are unable to support themselves independently because of a medical condition.
Newborn children
May be added after the permit has been issued by filing forms N2 and N4 and the birth certificate to nomad.residencymalta@gov.mt — this is the only kind of dependant that may be added after the event.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Actual residence in Malta

The permit is valid for 1 year from the date the card is issued. It may be renewed a maximum of 3 times, for a total stay of up to 4 years. To renew, the main applicant must prove residence in Malta of at least 5 months (in aggregate) over the preceding 12 months, through bank statements showing transactions in Malta. The renewal application should be filed 2–3 months before the current permit expires. At the first and at later renewals dependants may be added (other than those included in the initial application). Renewal is at the agency's discretion — it is never guaranteed. After a renewal is refused, a new application may be filed only after 12 months.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

Nomad permitPermanent residenceProgrammes for specialists
Visa termUp to 1 year, renewable up to 3 years in totalPermanent status subject to compliance; property for 5 yearsIssued initially for 1 year; renewable up to 3 years
GroundsRemote incomeProperty + government contributionHigh qualifications
WorkRemote work for foreign employers onlyDoes not in itself grant the right to work; a separate permit is required (Single Permit)Yes — work for a specific employer
ResidenceActual residence in MaltaNo minimum presence requirementResidence in Malta

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Not provided for as a direct route

Route to citizenship

Not provided for directly

Frequently asked questions about Nomad permit

Who is eligible to apply for the programme?
Foreign nationals aged 18 and over who are third-country nationals (the EU, the EEA and Switzerland are excluded). Nationals of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, the DR Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, Venezuela, Russia and Belarus are not eligible. They must work remotely using the internet and earn at least €42,000 a year (applications filed before 1 April 2024 required €32,400). They may work only for a foreign employer or foreign clients — work for Maltese companies is not allowed.
How long does the application take to process?
About 30 working days from receipt of the administrative fee (€300). Plus the time for visa processing, if required (this varies). Then a further 3–4 weeks for the residence card to be issued after arrival in Malta. In total the process usually takes from a few weeks to a few months.
For how long is the permit issued?
The initial permit is issued for 1 year from the date the residence card is issued. It may be renewed a maximum of 3 times, for a total stay of at most 4 years. Once the permit has run its course a new application may be filed, but no earlier than 12 months later.
What must the health insurance cover and when must it be taken out?
The policy is mandatory but is only filed after the approval in principle (Letter of Approval in Principle) has been issued. It must cover at least €100,000 across the European Union (including Malta) and the United Kingdom for 1 full calendar year. Travel insurance and policies paid monthly are not accepted — a policy paid up front for the year is required. The permit holder is not entitled to free state healthcare.
Can the family be included in the application?
Yes, the main applicant may include a spouse and minor and adult dependent children in the initial application. Each family member pays the administrative fee (€300) and the card issue fee (€100). However, family members cannot be added after payment or approval — the only exception is newborn children. New dependants may be added when the permit is renewed (other than those included in the initial application).
Can I travel in the Schengen area on this permit?
Yes, while the permit is valid you may travel freely in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. To renew the permit, however, you must prove a stay in Malta of at least 5 months over the preceding 12 months.
Does the programme lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
No, the Nomad Residence Permit does not lead to permanent residence or Maltese citizenship. It is a separate programme with a maximum term of 4 years. That said, after approval for the Nomad permit you may apply for the separate Malta Permanent Residence Programme through a licensed agent, but you would have to give up the Nomad permit to do so.
What taxes will I have to pay?
Nomad permit holders are subject to Maltese taxation where certain conditions are met (see S.L. 123.210 — Nomad Residence Permit Income Tax Rules). However, the mere fact that the permit has been issued does not necessarily mean you are subject to Maltese taxation — that depends on your individual circumstances. Independent tax advice is recommended. The Residency Malta Agency takes no responsibility for tax compliance — that is the applicant's responsibility.
What happens if I lose the permit or the card?
You must file form N3, a police report (from the Maltese police, or a foreign police force if abroad), and pay the administrative fee of €50 for a new card to be issued. A new card is usually issued within 3–4 weeks. Failure to notify the agency of a change of address may lead to the permit being cancelled.
What is the minimum income required?
A minimum gross annual income of €42,000 (for applications after 1 April 2024). For applications filed earlier, €32,400 applies. The income must be guaranteed for at least 5 months (in aggregate) from the date of filing. Income is evidenced by the last 3 months of bank statements showing all transactions, in English and unredacted.

Other ways to move to Malta

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Malta.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.