Malta residence permits are issued for foreign citizens who want to move to Malta for the purpose of living, studying, working and creating a business in Malta.
Types of Residence Permits for Malta
There are two main types of residence permits in Malta: temporary residence permit and permanent residence permit:
| Temporary | Permanent | |
| Duration: | One to five years. | Indefinite |
| Conditions: | You must have a job offer, a letter of admission to a university, older than 18, a clear criminal record, etc. | You must live in Malta for five years to apply for a permanent residence permit. |
| Benefits: | You will be able to work, live, and study in Malta for the residence permit’s duration. | You can work and study without condition in Malta. After five years, you can apply for citizenship. |
How to Get a Temporary Residence Permit for Malta?
When applying for a temporary residence permit, follow these steps:
- Apply for a long-stay (D visa) to enter Malta.
- Contact the Identity Malta Agency in Malta.
- Gather and submit the required documents.
- Wait for an answer.
Apply for a Long-Stay (D Visa) to Enter Malta
Before you apply for a Malta residence permit, you need to apply for a long-stay visa first. You can apply for a long-stay visa at the nearest Maltese Embassy in your country. A long-stay visa will allow you to enter Malta and submit the application for a temporary residence permit.
Contact the Identity Malta Agency in Malta
To apply for a temporary residence permit, you must contact the nearest office of Identity Malta in Malta. Make sure you book an early appointment to submit your application so that you won’t face any delate.
| Note: One of the easiest and quickest ways to obtain a Maltese visa is to participate in the Global Residence Program (GRP) that the Maltese authorities have designed for foreign investors. |
Submit the Required Documents at the Identity Malta Agency
Having all the required documents is the most important step of the application, because any missing document can result in your visa rejection. See “Document Checklist for Maltese Temporary Residence Permit” listed below for further information regarding the requested documents. After collecting all the requested documents, submit them to the nearest Identity Malta Agency.
Wait for an Answer
After submitting the documents, the final step is to wait for an answer. You shall receive an SMS or an email from the Identity Malta Agency within the next three months.
Document Checklist for Maltese Temporary Residence Permit
To apply for a Maltese temporary residence permit, submit these documents:
- A valid passport. The passport must be valid at least three months after the return date, with at least two blank pages.
- Two passport-sized photos. Photos must be 35-40mm, colored, and with a light background.
- Application form. The application form must be filled in slowly and carefully with updated information. Make sure you do not leave any blank spaces and sign the application when you finish it.
- Travel health insurance. You need a valid health insurance policy within the Schengen area.
- Proof of accommodation. A document proving that you have a place to stay can be a rental agreement, a letter of invitation from a family member, a hotel reservation, etc.
- Bank statement. Proof that you are financially stable and can finance your stay in Malta.
- Flight itinerary. Document obtaining the flight date and time, airplane name, etc.
- Additional documents, depending on the purpose of your visit.
Temporary residence permit for work:
- A cover letter. Explaining everything regarding your trip, the purpose of your stay, flight date and time, etc.
- A CV that shows your previous work experiences. The CV must be up to date and filled in the best way explaining everything regarding your prior work experiences.
- A copy of your contract, the contract must be valid. Document proof that you have a job waiting for you in Malta.
- A documented proof from your employer describing your work position. It can be a work contract signed by your employer.
Temporary residence permit for family reunification:
- Relationship status. If you are married (marriage certificate), if you are a minor (birth certificate, copy of your parent’s passport), if you are adopted (document proof of the adoption), if you have lived together (rent agreement, joint bank account), etc.
Temporary residence permit for studies:
- A letter from the university. A letter of acceptance from the university you have applied to.
- Passed language test. Document proof that you have passed the language test.
- A cover letter. Document proving why you want to study in Malta. Make sure you explain everything regarding your trip in detail.
How Long Does It Take to Process?
The processing time for a temporary residence permit in Malta is three months from the day you submit your application.
Make sure you submit your application and documents in time to receive the response for your application in time. Because depending on many reasons, like the time you apply or depending on your case, there can be some delays.
Requirements for Maltese Permanent Residence
To apply for a Maltese permanent residence permit, you must fulfill the following criteria:
- You must be over 18.
- You must have a documentary proving that you have paid taxes within the last five years.
- You must write a cover letter to include the purpose of your stay.
- You must be financially stable.
- You must have a property or a place of accommodation in Malta for a minimum of 5 years.
- You must have a clean criminal record.
- You must have a valid health insurance policy.
- You must have proof that you have a stable job or income.
How to Apply for Permanent Residence in Malta
To apply for a Malta Malta permanent residence permit, you have to submit an application to the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs of the Identity Malta Agency. Make sure you have all the required documents that prove your eligibility for permanent residence:
- That you have lived in Malta for at least five years.
- That you are financially stable.
- That you have a clean criminal record.
After submitting the required documents, you have to wait for a response, which can take 6 or 8 months.
How Long After Permanent Residency Can I Apply for Maltese Citizenship?
After five years of living in Malta with a residence permit, you can apply for citizenship in Malta. To apply for Citizenship in Malta, you must meet the following criteria:
- You must be older than 18.
- You must live in Malta for five years with a residence permit.
- You must pass the Malta test language, history, and law exams.
- You must have valid Maltese health insurance.