Moving to Malta [2026]: Permanent Residence (MPRP), Nomad, Retirement and Work Visas, Cost of Living, Tax and Downsides

Malta is a small island nation in the Mediterranean with a population of about 590,000, and it is an EU member state where English is an official language. There are four main routes to living there long term: permanent residence by investment (MPRP), the Nomad Residence Permit for people who keep working for clients or employers abroad, tax-advantaged programmes for retirees, and local employment. For Japanese nationals aged 18 to 30, a working holiday scheme also started in 2026. The MPRP requires EUR 99,000 in government fees, contributions and an NGO donation, plus either the purchase of property worth at least EUR 375,000 or a lease of at least EUR 14,000 a year, and assets of at least EUR 500,000. There is no minimum stay requirement. On the other hand, following a ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union in April 2025, it is no longer possible to obtain Maltese citizenship (a passport) through investment. In daily life, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in popular areas such as Sliema has risen to EUR 1,100–1,500 a month, and summer heat, traffic congestion and overcrowding top residents' complaints. Based on information published by Maltese government agencies (Residency Malta Agency, Identità), Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Malta's National Statistics Office (NSO), this article sets out the types of visas and their requirements, costs, taxes, cost of living and the points people most often regret.

*Amounts and rules are as of 12 October 2026. This article is an English version of our Japanese guide, adapted for foreign residents of Japan and international investors.

Conclusion: four routes to living in Malta, and typical costs

Malta's strengths are that you can live and deal with paperwork in English, it is safe, you can hold EU permanent residence without any minimum stay, and the tax burden on pensions and foreign income is light. Its weaknesses are that the island is small and rents are high, the summers are hot, and the rules change frequently. Our office assists with applications for Maltese permanent residence and long-term stays.

Entry for Japanese passport holders: 90 days visa-free, working holiday from 2026

Malta is a member of the Schengen Agreement, and holders of a Japanese passport can stay visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (Japan and Malta have had a reciprocal visa waiver arrangement since 1973). Visa requirements differ by nationality, so foreign residents of Japan should check the rules for their own passport. From April 2026 the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational, and travellers register fingerprints and a facial image on entry. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) had not yet started as of October 2026; once it does, a EUR 20 fee is expected to apply.

A working holiday scheme between Japan and Malta started on 1 January 2026 (Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs). It is open to Japanese nationals aged 18 to 30, allows a stay of up to one year from entry, and has an annual quota of 100 places. For young people, it is a realistic way to spend a year living there before deciding to move.

To live in Malta for more than 90 days, you need one of the residence permits described below.

Permanent residence (MPRP): EUR 99,000 in government payments plus property and asset requirements

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is a residence-by-investment programme for nationals of countries outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. It started in 2021, succeeding an earlier programme (the MRVP, launched in 2016), and after two amendments in January and July 2025 (Legal Notice 310 of 2024 and Legal Notice 146 of 2025), the current requirements are as follows (Residency Malta Agency).

For a family consisting of the main applicant, a spouse and minor children, the government fees, contribution and NGO donation together come to EUR 99,000: the EUR 60,000 administrative fee, the EUR 37,000 contribution and the EUR 2,000 donation. On top of this come the property (for a purchase, EUR 375,000 plus stamp duty; for a lease, EUR 70,000 over five years) and the agent's fees. Adult children (unmarried, dependent and under 29 at the time of application) and parents and grandparents can also be included as dependants.

Due diligence typically takes 3 to 7 months (according to information published by licensed agents), and since the July 2025 amendment applicants can obtain a one-year temporary residence permit and live in Malta while their application is being processed. After approval in principle, a residence certificate is issued once the property, contribution and donation requirements have been met within eight months.

A key feature of the MPRP is that there is no minimum number of days you must stay (according to information published by licensed agents). You can keep EU permanent residence while continuing to live in Japan, and move freely within the Schengen area. However, the MPRP does not include the right to work, so a separate permit is needed to work in Malta. The property must be held for five years, and you must continue to maintain a residence in Malta after that.

Tax-advantaged residence programmes: GRP and MRP applications close at the end of 2026

Malta has programmes for residents that apply a flat 15% rate to foreign income. The Global Residence Programme (GRP) is for non-EU nationals, and the Malta Retirement Programme (MRP) is for pensioners.

Important changes have been decided. Under Legal Notice 195 of 2026, published on 14 July 2026, these programmes will be merged into schemes such as "Global Resident Status" from 1 January 2027. The application fee will rise to EUR 8,500, the property requirement to a purchase of EUR 700,000 or more or a lease of EUR 14,000 or more a year, and the minimum tax to EUR 35,000 a year (EUR 15,000 for pensioners). People who apply by 31 December 2026 will keep the current conditions until 31 December 2031 (Deloitte, Forvis Mazars). If you are considering living in Malta on a pension or passive income, applying during 2026 is advantageous.

Nomad permit, employment and long-term residence: EUR 42,000 income, EUR 45,000 for KEI

Nomad Residence Permit

This permit is for people employed by an employer outside Malta, shareholders of a company outside Malta, and freelancers providing services to clients outside Malta. The requirement is gross annual income of at least EUR 42,000 (EUR 3,500 a month) (Residency Malta Agency). The permit is valid for one year and can be renewed, up to a maximum of four years, if conditions are met, such as proof of having lived in Malta for a cumulative total of at least five months in the preceding 12 months. The application fee is EUR 300 per person (plus EUR 100 for the residence card), and you need health insurance covering the EU (including Malta) and the UK with cover of at least EUR 100,000 (one year paid in advance), and a lease or purchase agreement covering the period of the permit. Income from the authorised remote work is taxed at a flat 10%, and the first 12 months are tax-free (Legal Notice 277 of 2023).

Employment (Single Permit, KEI, SEI)

If you are hired by a Maltese company, the company applies for a Single Permit, which combines residence and the right to work. Under the new labour migration policy that took effect on 1 August 2025, the first-time fee is EUR 600 and renewals cost EUR 150 a year, and companies must advertise the vacancy locally for at least three weeks before applying (Identità). Professionals earning at least EUR 45,000 a year can use the Key Employee Initiative (KEI), and people earning at least EUR 30,000 a year with a degree or work experience can use the Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI), both of which offer faster processing. From 1 March 2026, certificates of completion of a pre-departure course are checked when work permit applications are made.

Long-term residence (EU long-term resident)

After living in Malta legally and continuously for five years (with no single absence longer than six months and no more than ten months in total over the five years), you can apply for EU long-term resident status. You need stable income at or above the minimum wage for the two years before applying, and you must complete the 100-hour "I Belong" integration course (scoring at least 75% in the final exam) and pass a Maltese language test (at least 65% at MQF Level 2) (Identità). Compared with MPRP holders, long-term residents have broader rights, including the right to work.

Citizenship (passport): citizenship by investment abolished in 2025; Japanese nationals lose Japanese nationality on naturalisation

On 29 April 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme (introduced in 2020) breached EU law (C-181/23). The reasoning was that granting nationality in exchange for predetermined payments amounts to the "commercialisation" of EU citizenship. The Maltese government amended the Citizenship Act on 24 July 2025 (Act XXI of 2025), abolishing naturalisation by investment.

The "citizenship by merit" route introduced in its place (Legal Notice 159 of 2025) is a discretionary scheme for people who have made an exceptional contribution to Malta or to humanity in fields such as science, culture, sport or entrepreneurship. There is no monetary threshold, and at least eight months of residence in Malta is required. On 5 February 2026, the responsible authority, Community Malta Agency, issued a notice stating that citizenship by merit is not a programme, scheme or pathway of the former investment citizenship regime, nor a continuation or replacement of it. In other words, in 2026 there is no way to obtain a Maltese passport with money.

Ordinary naturalisation requires continuous residence for the 12 months immediately before the application plus at least four years of residence in total during the preceding six years (effectively five years or more), knowledge of English or Maltese, and good character. The processing fee is EUR 450. Approval is at the Minister's discretion, and reasons for refusal are not disclosed.

Malta allows dual citizenship, but Japan does not. Under Article 11 of Japan's Nationality Act, a Japanese national who naturalises in Malta automatically loses Japanese nationality. For most Japanese nationals, the realistic options stop at permanent residence (MPRP) or long-term residence rather than nationality. Foreign residents of Japan should check whether their own country allows dual citizenship. For more on nationality decisions, see also Countries that allow dual citizenship.

Tax: foreign income taxed only when remitted; no tax treaty with Japan

Personal income tax

Foreign nationals who live in Malta but are not "domiciled" there (that is, Malta is not their permanent home) are taxed only on income arising in Malta and on foreign income remitted to Malta (the remittance basis). Foreign income that is not remitted, and foreign capital gains (even if remitted), are not taxed. However, a minimum tax of EUR 5,000 a year applies to people whose foreign income in the previous year was EUR 35,000 or more and who did not remit all of it (PwC). For 2026, the rates for a single person are 0% up to EUR 12,000, 15% up to EUR 16,000, 25% up to EUR 60,000, and 35% on the portion above that.

Property taxes

Non-EU nationals need an acquisition permit (AIP) to buy property, except for properties in Special Designated Areas (SDAs).

Taxes on the Japanese side

There is no tax treaty between Japan and Malta (Ministry of Finance of Japan, as of 1 October 2026; only the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters applies). Double taxation has to be resolved through Japan's foreign tax credit and Malta's domestic law. Whether you become a non-resident of Japan is determined by where your "base of life" is. People holding securities worth JPY 100 million or more are subject to Japan's exit tax, and Japanese inheritance and gift tax continues to apply to assets outside Japan until more than ten years have passed since leaving Japan. For details, see Tax and resident registration when moving abroad from Japan.

Cost of living: rent from EUR 1,100 a month in popular areas; average salary EUR 2,282 a month

Rent (one-bedroom, monthly)

These are estimates based on property portal data (FreeMalta, April 2026); the national average for a one-bedroom apartment is about EUR 900. Rents rose by more than 10% a year in 2021–2023 and by 6.8% in the first half of 2024, settled at 2–3% a year in 2025, and are expected to rise by around 4% in 2026. Leases must be registered with the Housing Authority, and since September 2024 residence permit applications by non-EU nationals require a lease certified by a notary or similar.

Income and prices

• Average basic salary of EUR 2,282 a month (April–June 2026, NSO). EUR 3,035 for professionals and EUR 1,632 for service and sales workers
• Inflation of 2.0% a year (August 2026)
• Electricity and water cost EUR 70–100 a month for a single person, rising to EUR 100–160 in summer due to air conditioning. If you do not register as a resident with the utility billing company (ARMS) after moving in, you pay higher rates
• Groceries cost EUR 600–800 a month for a family of four. Imported goods are 20–40% more expensive than on the European mainland
• Public buses are free on all routes with a Tallinja card registered as a resident. Owning a car costs EUR 250–450 a month
• Living costs for a family of four are roughly EUR 2,400–3,600 a month with state schools and a suburban home, and EUR 5,000–8,500 a month with an international school and a central location

Healthcare, education, safety and climate

Healthcare

The main public hospital is Mater Dei Hospital (Msida, over 1,000 beds), and treatment is provided in English. People who work in Malta and pay social security contributions (10% of salary) can use public healthcare on the same terms as Maltese citizens, but non-working residents such as MPRP, nomad permit and GRP holders must have private health insurance, which typically costs EUR 400–700 per person a year with a local insurer. Non-urgent specialist appointments in the public system can involve waits of several weeks to several months. Tap water comes from desalinated seawater and groundwater, and bottled water is recommended for drinking (Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs). The water is very hard, and some people notice effects on their skin and laundry.

Education

State schools are free for residents, and lessons are taught in Maltese and English. International schools typically cost EUR 8,000–18,000 a year: the IB school Verdala International School charges EUR 11,325–16,375 for the 2026–27 academic year, and QSI charges EUR 17,100 for children aged five and over. Having a choice of schools that teach in English is a strength for families relocating for their children's education.

Safety

According to the basic safety information from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malta is generally safe and violent crime is rare, but pickpocketing and theft from cars do occur. In the nightlife district of Paceville, care is needed regarding assaults at night and illegal drugs. According to materials from the Embassy of Japan in Malta, about 17,000 crimes were recorded in 2023, up 13% on the previous year, with large increases in fraud and cybercrime. Please also check your own government's travel advice.

Climate

On 18 July 2026, Malta International Airport recorded 43.3°C, the highest temperature ever recorded in July. Summers are very hot, and air conditioning can more than double electricity bills compared with winter. Drainage is inadequate, and low-lying areas flood during heavy rain.

Downsides of moving to Malta: seven common regrets

1. Overcrowding and traffic congestion: The population was 588,254 at the end of 2025, up 2.4% on the previous year, with foreign nationals making up 31.1%. In an October 2025 opinion poll, overcrowding (22.3%) and traffic (20.3%) ranked as the country's biggest problems
2. High rents: EUR 1,100–1,500 a month for a one-bedroom apartment in Sliema. Housing costs are high relative to income
3. Summer heat and water: a record 43°C, hard water and air conditioning costs
4. Construction boom: Construction continues all over the island, and the noise and damage to the landscape are a source of complaints among residents
5. Slow administrative procedures: Following a forged ID card scandal in 2024, residence permit procedures became stricter, and incomplete documents can cause delays
6. Frequent rule changes: The MPRP was amended twice in 2025, the tax-advantaged programmes will be completely overhauled in 2027, and citizenship by investment was abolished in 2025
7. A small island with few Japanese residents: Malta is about half the size of Tokyo's 23 wards, and there were 332 Japanese nationals living there (as of 1 October 2025). Japanese groceries and Japanese-speaking medical care are limited. There are no direct flights from Japan, and the journey takes 16–20 hours via Istanbul, Doha or Dubai

Being able to live in English, the good level of safety and the ability to hold EU permanent residence without any minimum stay can outweigh these downsides. The important thing is to decide at the outset whether you will actually live on the island or simply hold permanent residence.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move to Malta?

For permanent residence (MPRP), you need EUR 99,000 in government fees, contributions and a donation, plus property (purchase of EUR 375,000 or more, or lease of EUR 14,000 or more a year) and agent's fees, and you must show assets of at least EUR 500,000. For the Nomad Residence Permit, you need the EUR 300 application fee and proof of annual income of EUR 42,000. For employment, the company handles the procedure, so your initial costs are essentially just living expenses.

What are the downsides of moving to Malta?

Overcrowding and congestion, high rents, extreme summer heat, the construction boom, slow administrative procedures, frequent rule changes and the distance from Japan. These are explained in detail in the previous section.

How do I move to Malta?

It depends on your purpose. Consider the options in this order: the MPRP (applied for through a licensed agent) if you want permanent residence through investment; the Nomad Residence Permit if you will keep working for employers or clients abroad; the MRP, applied for during 2026, if you will live on a pension; a Single Permit based on an employment contract if you will work locally; and, for young Japanese nationals, a working holiday to try it out first.

Can I buy Maltese citizenship (a passport)?

No. The citizenship-by-investment scheme was abolished in 2025. Ordinary naturalisation requires at least five years of residence, and Japanese nationals who naturalise lose Japanese nationality.

Can I live in Malta using English?

English is an official language alongside Maltese, and you can deal with government offices, hospitals, schools and banks in English. However, obtaining long-term resident status requires passing a Maltese language test.

What happens to my Japanese pension in Malta?

Japanese pensions can be received while living abroad. Non-residents are in principle subject to 20.42% withholding tax, and because there is no tax treaty between Japan and Malta, there is no exemption by filing a treaty application. On the Maltese side, pension income remitted to Malta is taxed at 15% under the MRP (minimum EUR 7,500).

Summary

• There are five routes to living in Malta: permanent residence (MPRP), the Nomad Residence Permit, tax-advantaged residence (GRP, MRP), employment and the working holiday scheme
• The MPRP requires EUR 99,000 in government fees, contributions and a donation + property (purchase of EUR 375,000 or lease of EUR 14,000 a year) + assets of EUR 500,000. No minimum stay
• GRP and MRP applicants who apply by 31 December 2026 keep the current conditions (minimum tax of EUR 15,000 and EUR 7,500 respectively) until the end of 2031
• Citizenship by investment was abolished in 2025. Japanese nationals who naturalise lose Japanese nationality
• Tax is on the remittance basis, stamp duty on property is 5%, and there is no inheritance tax. There is no tax treaty with Japan
• Rent starts at EUR 1,100 a month in popular areas. Heat, congestion and overcrowding are common causes of regret

Related articles: What is a golden visa? How it works and a country comparison / How much does residency or citizenship cost by country? / Types of visas for moving to Portugal and their requirements / Types of visas for moving to Greece and permanent residence requirements / Best countries to move abroad

References (primary sources)

• Residency Malta Agency: Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) requirements
• Residency Malta Agency: Nomad Residence Permit requirements
• Residency Malta Agency: Legal Notice 310 of 2024
• BDO Malta: Amendments to the MPRP (Legal Notice 146 of 2025)
• Identità: Labour migration policy fact sheet (August 2025)
• Identità: Specialist Employee Initiative
• Identità: Long-term residence FAQ
• Deloitte Malta: Nomad Residence Permits income tax rules (Legal Notice 277 of 2023)
• PwC Malta: Global Residence Programme (2026 edition)
• KPMG Malta: Malta Retirement Programme
• Deloitte Malta: Individual Tax Programme Rules 2026 (Legal Notice 195 of 2026)
• Forvis Mazars: Malta's new individual tax programme rules
• AGP Law: EU court declares Malta's investor citizenship scheme illegal (C-181/23)
• Chetcuti Cauchi: Malta's new citizenship by merit law
• Community Malta Agency
• AIDA: Naturalisation requirements in Malta
• PwC Tax Summaries: Malta personal income tax
• Mondaq: Malta income tax rates for 2026
• PwC Malta: Budget 2026
• Malta Sotheby's: Property tax and stamp duty
• Ministry of Finance of Japan: Japan's tax treaty network (as of 1 October 2026)
• Residency Malta Agency: Nomad Residence Permit FAQ (renewal conditions, insurance)
• Community Malta Agency: Notice on citizenship by merit (5 February 2026)
• GVZH: Malta Retirement Programme rules
• Chetcuti Cauchi: MPRP requirements, costs and timeline (2026)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Republic of Malta basic data
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Launch of the Japan–Malta working holiday scheme
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Annual report of statistics on Japanese nationals overseas (as of 1 October 2025)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas Safety website: Malta basic safety information
• Embassy of Japan in Malta: Safety guide (February 2025)
• European Commission: ETIAS
• MaltaToday: Population at the end of 2025 (NSO)
• MaltaToday: Overpopulation is the top national concern (October 2025)
• Malta Business Weekly: Labour force survey for January–March 2026 (NSO)
• Seb Sauerborn: Salaries by occupation (NSO, April–June 2026)
• FreeMalta: Rent prices by area (April 2026)
• FreeMalta: Typical utility bills
• FreeMalta: Healthcare guide for foreigners
• Rozie: Cost of living in Malta 2026
• doris.school: Verdala International School fees
• Italpress: Malta records July high of 43.3°C (19 July 2026)
• Italpress: Stricter residence permit procedures (September 2024)

Amounts and rules in this article are as of 12 October 2026.