Malta MPRP: Residency By Investment In Malta

This article looks at the Malta MPRP (Malta Permanent Residence Programme) golden visa. 

We explain how the programme works, what the eligibility requirements are and break down its fee structure before finally exploring how it compares to similar European programmes. 

With Spain’s programme now closed and Portugal beset by backlogs and an ever-growing naturalisation timeline, is Malta’s MPRP now Europe’s best golden visa?

Malta Permanent Residence Programme: Overview

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is Malta’s residency by investment programme. 

It opened in 2021, replacing the older Malta Residence and Visa Programme, and has since been amended, reducing the application costs for dependents but raising the administration fee. 

The MPRP should NOT be confused with Malta’s now-defunct citizenship by investment programme, which ended in 2025 following pressure from the EU.

Though discontinued, the Maltese CBI programme continues to cast a long shadow, from under which the MPRP has yet to emerge.

That’s about to change real soon, however, as we expect the MPRP to start getting considerably more attention in 2026. 

The reason? Portugal. 

The Portuguese government have just dropped a bombshell, doubling the naturalisation period for Europe’s current most popular golden visa programme from five years to ten. 

So, with Portugal’s golden visa increasingly untenable, and neighbouring Spain’s programme already gone, Malta is set to be at the top of the list of the most in-demand European golden visas for HNWIs.

While we have long been advocates of Portugal, Malta has several key benefits which we believe will now give it the edge in becoming Europe’s leading golden visa program:

• Low tax, business-friendly jurisdiction
• Warm Mediterranean climate
• English-speaking
• Long-term residency 
• Family-friendly programme
• Fast processing times
• Minimal physical presence requirements

High temperatures, low taxes, and English language as standard – that’s three huge plus points for Malta right there. The last point about physical presence is also worth drawing attention to, however.

Beautiful though it may be, Malta is still an island, and a small one. Luckily, Malta’s relaxed approach to physical presence requirements means you don’t have to stay there all the time.

So whenever island life starts to feel a bit too constrictive, you’re free to spread your wings and explore further afield.  

Since Malta is a Schengen country, you get visa-free access to 29 European countries, all now open for you to explore.

To further sweeten the deal, you have the added incentive of being able to apply for citizenship in four to five years (versus Portugal’s revised timeline of ten). 

Malta MPRP: Requirements

If you’re unsure whether or not the MPRP is for you, Malta provides refreshingly unambiguous clarification. 

To avail of the Malta Permanent Residence Programme, you must have a net worth of at least half a million euros. 

This makes it pretty clear who the Maltese government is looking to attract with this programme. 

It’s also a clear signal of how much economic clout this tiny Mediterranean island has. 

Before you can apply for the MPRP, the Maltese government will need to see if you have either:

• €500,000 in assets with a minimum of $150,000 in financial assets

OR 

• €650,000 in assets with a minimum of €75,000 in financial assets. 

Other requirements include being of good health and good standing with no criminal record.

Applicants must be aged 18 years or older (though dependents can be added separately). 

Finally, you must own or lease a property in Malta and contribute to the Maltese economy through a combination of property investment and government contributions. 

The two current options are: 

1. Purchase real estate worth a minimum of €375,000 
2. Rent real estate for a minimum of €14,000

So let’s now look at both options in more detail. 

Malta MPRP: Property Purchase & Rental Options

The MPRP consists of multiple elements, of which the property is the primary component. 

One of the benefits of the MPRP is its flexibility, giving you the choice to either purchase or rent/lease a property. 

The first option is the real estate purchase option, which entails purchasing a property in Malta or Gozo worth a minimum of €375,000. We consider this to be the most attractive option for investors. 

The second option is the rent/lease option, whereby you rent a property in Malta/Gozo for a minimum annual amount of €14,000. 

In both cases, whether owning or renting, you must maintain that property for a minimum of five years.

Malta MPRP: Government Contributions & Donations

The MPRP programme also requires you to make both a donation and a government contribution, regardless of which real estate option you choose. 

The donation costs €2,000 and can be made to any of the qualifying charities or NGOs registered with the Commissioner of Voluntary Organisations. For example, you may decide to donate to sports, the arts, or to scientific research. 

Next up, we have the government contribution. Until quite recently, the amount you paid depended on whether you chose to purchase or lease, with the rental option contribution a full €30,000 cheaper.

This was subsequently amended in 2025, so that both options now have the same contribution amount of €37,000. 

By harmonising the contribution amount, the government has also removed any financial incentive for renting over buying. This means you can look at both options without bias to find the most suitable option.

Of course, we have our own bias here at Millionaire Migrant, since international investment is our raison d’être. So naturally, the real estate investment option is our preference. 

On the other hand, you may have different priorities. For example, you may wish to obtain EU residency for you and your family with minimal fuss, while also keeping costs low. 

So rather than having €375,000 of your capital tied up in property for five years, you’re spending a minimum of €70,000 on rent instead.

Ultimately, it’s your call, and, since the combined donation and contribution amount remains €39,000 regardless, the decision becomes far more clear-cut. 

Malta MPRP: Administration Fees 

After the donation and contribution comes the administration fees. 

Once again, these fees remain the same, regardless of which option you choose. 

The administration fee cost for the MPRP is €60,000 for a single applicant. 

Previously, it cost €10,000 per additional applicant however, this value has since been reduced to €7,500 and, crucially, does not apply to spouses or dependents under the age of 18. 

This is good news for families as it helps position Malta’s MPRP as a family-friendly residency option. 

Another welcome change is how this admin fee is handled. The MPRP administration fee now has a split payment structure with an initial (non-refundable) fee of €15,000 when making your application, with the remaining €45,000 to be paid upon approval. 

Malta MPRP: Full Cost

Malta’s MPRP is composed of many different elements. Although the Maltese government has recently streamlined and simplified the programme, confusion regarding the programme remains. 

The table below provides a complete picture of Malta’s MPRP programme and the various fees and costs involved, to provide a total minimum cost. 

	Property Investment	Rent/Lease	Notes
Property (Min Value)	€375,000	€70,000	(€70k = €14k rent X five years)
NGO Donation	€2,000	€2,000	Mandatory charitable donation
Gov. Contribution	€37,000	€37,000	Equal values for both options as of 2025
Administration Fee	€60,000	€60,000	€15k up front, €45k on approval
Total Fees	€99,000	€99,000	Fees now equal for both options
TOTAL (5 Years)	€474,000	€169,000	Must hold property for 5 years

Note that this table is for single applicants only. A spouse can be added for free, as can dependents under the age of 18. Otherwise, it costs €7,500 per additional dependent.  

It should also be noted that the above table represents the minimum cost for the five-year period. You may indeed opt to invest in a property which exceeds the base €375,000 value, or lease a property which costs more than €14,000 per annum. 

Finally, be aware that the above cost table does not take additional costs into consideration, e.g. accountants, lawyers, real estate agents and other professional and administrative fees. 

MPRP: New Temporary Residence Permit

In addition to simplifying the fee structure and making it more family-friendly, another welcome change to the MPRP has been the introduction of a new one-year temporary residence permit for applicants. 

This lets you move to Malta and start living there while you apply for your full-time MPRP residency permit, provided, of course, that you meet all the requirements and submit all documentation in a timely fashion. 

As with the MPRP itself, this temporary residence can also be extended to family members, so the whole family can now move to Malta while their long-term residence is being processed. 

Malta MPRP: Pros and Cons

While others seek to make their programmes more restrictive, Malta continues to tinker with the MPRP to make it more flexible and family friendly. 

That said, Malta’s MPRP programme can hardly be described as inclusive.

The minimum requirement threshold is an instant dealbreaker for many, even those who comfortably exceed the €500,000 threshold. 

PROS	CONS
Permanent Residency: plus temporary residence provided on application	Fees: cost includes €99,000 minimum in non-recoverable fees
Minimal Physical Presence: don’t need to spend all your time in Malta	Five Year Duration: must maintain property/lease for five years
Flexible Options: property investment or lease options available	Rigid Requirements: €500k minimum assets a dealbreaker for many
Family Friendly: can include multiple generations – spouse and children free	Extra Costs: additional adults (excluding spouse) cost €7,500 extra.
Simplified Structure: Maltese government simplified fee structure in 2025	Moving Parts: multiple fee components can potentially cause confusion

Alternatives to Malta MPRP

So is Malta’s golden visa now the best of its kind in Europe? Possibly. 

Other alternatives exist, but fewer than there once were. Spain’s popular golden visa programme was shut down. Portugal’s programme battles on, but it’s a shadow of its former self, while traditionally less popular programmes have since become more popular by default. 

Portugal Golden Visa

Portugal’s golden visa has become a victim of its own success. The resulting flood of applications resulted in epic backlogs, while the programme itself has been tinkered with by successive governments to remove much of its appeal. 

For a while, it looked like the programme would close, much like the programme in neighbouring Spain did. Instead, the government decided to axe the real estate investment option. Then they raised the minimum investment threshold from €350,000 to €500,000. 

Meanwhile, the popular NHR tax regime was replaced by the less flexible IFICI, further diminishing Portugal’s overall appeal. 

Perhaps the most exasperating change of all came in 2025, when the government voted to increase the naturalisation period from five years to ten. 

This is on top of the pre-existing backlogs for golden visa processing, which can take two or even three years in some cases, creating a citizenship timeline stretching out to thirteen years. 

So, much as we love Portugal, and despite being long-term advocates of its programme, it’s hard to justify paying €500,000 for a government fund when you can spend €375,000 on a viable property instead and obtain EU citizenship in less than half the time – and with far more relaxed physical presence requirements too. 

Greece Golden Visa

With the basic real estate option starting at €250,000, Greece’s golden visa is already cheaper than Malta’s. It’s also half the current base price for Portugal. 

As always, the devil is in the details. This entry-level real estate price is for a restoration project, whereas if you wish to have more flexibility in the type of property you wish to invest in, the cost rises again to €400,000, and upwards to €800,000 for Athens and other key population centres. 

Regardless of the specifics of your investment, you’re looking at a processing time of 6-12 months, leading to a five-year renewable permanent residence permit with full Schengen access, plus a naturalisation timeline of seven years. 

Cyprus Permanent Residence

At first glance, Cyprus’ golden visa looks amazing; EU residency in just 2-3 months for a minimum real estate investment of €300,000. There’s just one snag – no Schengen access. 

The unresolved issue in the north of the country means that, although Cyprus has been an EU member since 2004, it is not part of the Schengen zone, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon. 

Latvia

We’re getting further and further away from Malta now with our last country.

Latvia may have significantly lower temperatures in winter, but its golden visa programme also has a much lower entry cost. 

The basic company investment option costs just €50,000, but if you’re looking to invest in real estate, the price tag rises to €250,000. 

That’s still cheaper than Malta, though, and there’s no minimum assets requirement either. 

The trade-off in this instance is the physical presence requirements, which are notably stricter than in Malta, particularly if you plan to naturalise. 

Malta MPRP Golden Visa: Key Points

• Malta’s MPRP grants full Schengen access with minimal physical presence requirements.
• The programme is aimed specifically at those who can prove assets of at least €500,000.
• Processing times are quick, and you can also obtain a temporary residence while you wait.
• The basic real estate investment cost is €375,000, and you must hold the property for five years.
• Alternatively, you can lease for a minimum of €14,000 per year, over five years.
• There is a mandatory €2,000 charitable donation plus a €37,000 government contribution.
• Combined with €60,000 administration fees equals €99,000 in non-refundable costs.
• Your spouse and children can be added for free, additional adults cost €7,500 per person.

Malta MPRP Golden Visa: Conclusion

Its CBI programme might be gone, but Malta’s golden visa programme is still going strong and rapidly growing in popularity. 

With Portugal plagued by backlog issues and its naturalisation period extended to ten years, we think Malta’s MPRP could soon take Europe’s top golden visa crown. 

That said, the programme’s not for everyone, and that’s by design. The main stumbling point is the requirement that applicants have a minimum net worth of €500,000 – and that’s before we discuss the actual investment costs. 

While the government have, to their credit, simplified the payment structure, it’s difficult not to baulk at the €99,000 in non-refundable contributions, fees and donations. 

On the other hand, you get swift Schengen access plus a short pathway to citizenship in an English-speaking EU member state with favourable taxation and warm, year-round sunshine. 

With golden visas, it’s all about weighing up the pros and cons and knowing the finer details. Even so, when going it alone, there’s always the chance that there’s something else you missed.

Better to get the big picture from experts who will dig deep to find the best option to suit your needs. So if you’re thinking about Malta, don’t wait until it’s backlogged like Portugal is.

Get the jump on everyone and contact Millionaire Migrant today. 

Malta MPRP Golden Visa: FAQs

How long does the MPRP take to process?

Malta’s MPRP is one of Europe’s fastest golden visas, with processing times of around six to eight months. 

You and your family members can also apply for a temporary residence permit and move to Malta while awaiting your golden visa. 

What are the MPRP eligibility requirements?

Malta’s MPRP programme has quite strict eligibility requirements. In addition to standard requirements (18+, passing a background check, etc.), there is also a minimal asset threshold. 

You must hold a minimum of €500,000 in assets, with a €150,000 minimum financial assets. 

Alternatively, if you have just €75,000 in financial assets, your total assets must equal or exceed €650,000. 

How does Malta’s MPRP programme work?

Provided you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for the MPRP either by buying or leasing a property for five years. 

If buying, the property must be worth a minimum of €375,000. If leasing/renting, the property must cost a minimum of €14,000, or €70,000 over five years. 

How much does Malta’s MPRP cost in total?

Malta MPRP fee structure is multi-layered. In addition to the base cost (€375,000 for property purchase, €70,000 for rental), there is also a mandatory €2,000 charitable donation, a €37,000 government contribution, plus €60,000 in administrative fees. 

This brings the total of additional, non-refundable payments to €99,000. Which means the minimum you pay is €474,000 if purchasing a property or €169,000 if renting. 

Additional adults (spouse excluded) cost €7,500. This number also does not factor in additional fees for professionals such as lawyers, accountants and real estate agents.