Malta, a small island country in Southern Europe, attracts numerous global investors due to its residency by investment program, which offers multiple benefits to its investors. Moreover, the beautiful landscapes, including its three stunning islands, i.e., Malta proper, Comino, and Gozo, make the country an attractive destination for tourists and the country’s location around the Mediterranean Sea makes it popular for freight transshipment. The Maltese government has made some major changes in the Malta residency program in 2025 to increase the investors’ appeal by enhancing the program.
Malta Temporary Residence Card Immediate Issuance
The major and most advantageous change the government introduced in the program is the immediate issuance of temporary and renewable residency permits to the investors of the Malta residency by investment program. The residence card is for a one-year period and is issued at the time of submission of the Malta PR application. This is a significant benefit for the families seeking rapid relocation to Malta and starting their new journey there, as the instant residency permit will allow them to quickly relocate to the beautiful island country, Malta, without any delays.
The families can also explore the educational institutions and properties of Malta that will help them plan their future efficiently and quickly before the authorities grant them permanent residency. However, to benefit from this major change, the applicant must pay the initial administration fee of €15,000 and complete other processes that include going through the visa-level checks conducted by the authorities.
Reduced Family Fee For Malta Residency Program
Several investors want to travel to Malta with their loved ones, so to encourage those investors, the government has reduced the residency fee for families included in the Malta residency by investment program. The pricing is reduced, especially for the families choosing the rental route.
Those who chose the property investment option need to pay €38,000, while those who chose to lease a property have to pay €37,000 instead of the previous fee of €60,000. Hence, the applicants under the rental route now save €23,000.
Furthermore, previously, if the main applicant wanted to add a family member, including a spouse or minor children, to the application, then the contribution required was €10,000, but now, under this change, the contribution has been reduced to €7,500 for adult family members of age 18 or above. Thus, this has made family inclusion a lot easier for Malta residency program applicants.
Split-Payment Structure for Malta Golden Visa Administration Fee
According to the new split-payment structure introduced by the Maltese government, the €60,000 administration fee of the Malta residency by investment program can now be paid in two installments, i.e, €15,000 in advance and the remaining €45,000 later after the approval.
Property Flexibility in Malta Residency by Investment Program
Malta real estate investment is highly valuable for investors as it offers the opportunity to earn passive income in Europe. According to the recent government amendment, the applicants for Malta residency by investment can now lease out the property they buy and start earning the rental income immediately, without waiting for approval. This demonstrates Malta’s alignment with other golden visa programs like Greece golden visa, as both of them allow investors to immediately lease the property and earn rental income.
Malta Residency Program Investors Gain Subletting Rights
The Malta residency by investment program investors who choose the rental route can sub-lease the property after the completion of 5 years. However, the only condition is that the property can not be sublet to another Malta residency program applicant. This provides long-term flexibility to the Malta rental market, as the applicants can now rent a property from an owner who is using it for a short term at the same time. Hence, the change provides a benefit to Malta residency applicants as they can now make some money in the long run.
Transfer of Agent Licensing Authority
The Maltese government has transferred the agent licensing authority from Agenzija Komunita to the Residency Agency Malta, which will now have the authority to regulate licensed agents. The current licenses will remain valid till December 31, 2025, to give agents time to adjust according to the new system.
Conclusion
The Malta residency by investment program has become more reliable and cost-effective due to the recent changes made by the government, and is the most competitive program that provides the best pathway to instant EU residency in 2025.