Malta retirement visa (Malta Retirement Programme)

The Malta Retirement Programme Rules set out who can be a beneficiary. You must not be a Maltese national or in an employment relationship, must hold a qualifying property as your primary residence, and must receive a pension that is all paid into Malta and makes up at least 75% of your chargeable income. Pensions include state and occupational pensions, annuities and regular income from overseas retirement schemes, but not lump sums. You also need a valid travel document, sickness insurance covering all risks across the EU for yourself and your dependants, must not be domiciled in Malta or intend to become so within five years, and must be a fit and proper person.

You cannot combine the programme with other Maltese tax-residence schemes such as the Global Residence Programme or the Highly Qualified Persons Rules.

A qualifying owned property bought on or after 1 July 2013 must cost at least €275,000 in Malta or €220,000 in Gozo or the south of Malta. A rented property must cost at least €9,600 a year in Malta or €8,750 a year in Gozo or the south. Foreign income received in Malta is taxed at 15%, with double-tax relief available, and the minimum tax is €7,500 a year for the beneficiary and €500 for each dependant and special carer, paid by 30 April each year together with a return proving the conditions are still met. Other income is taxed separately at 35%.

Only an authorised registered mandatary, such as a Maltese advocate, notary or accountant registered with the Commissioner for Revenue, can file the application and all later returns and notifications for you. The administrative fee of €2,500 is paid on application. Once the Commissioner confirms in writing that you qualify, you apply to Identità’s Expatriates Unit for a temporary residence permit on the basis of economic self-sufficiency, which lists Malta Retirement Programme beneficiaries among those eligible. That application is made online on the Expatriates Unit portal with Form K, costs €100 for new and renewal applications, and requires you to already hold a valid visa or residence permit and a passport valid at least six more months.

The special status ends if you no longer hold a qualifying property, stop receiving the declared pension in Malta, lose your health cover, become domiciled in Malta or a long-term or permanent resident, live in Malta for less than 90 days a year averaged over five years, or stay more than 183 days in a calendar year in any other country. You must notify the Commissioner within four weeks of such an event; failure carries a €5,000 penalty.

Dependants are your spouse or stable partner, your minor children and children of you or your spouse who cannot support themselves because of serious illness or disability. They must live with you in the qualifying property and pay €500 minimum tax each a year. Household staff may also live there if the Commissioner is notified.