Malta · Digital nomad · Temporary residence

Malta Nomad Residence Permit

A renewable permit for third-country remote workers whose employers and clients are abroad.

Value scoreCheckingPassport data under review

5-year costCheckingone applicant, not recoverable

DecisionCheckingComparable time under review

Official program page

Value: what the Nomad Residence Permit gives you

Passport reach 25 pts weightChecking

Path to citizenship 25 pts weight0

Work, family, healthcare 20 pts weightChecking

Stay rule 15 pts weight18

Tax on foreign income 10 pts weight70

Policy stability 5 pts weightChecking

Passport: visa-free destinations: CheckingAwaiting the shared Henley edition.
Years to permanent residence: CheckingA program-specific permanent-residence pathway was not verified.
Years to citizenship: CheckingCounting this status toward naturalisation was not verified.
Leads to citizenship: NoOfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15The agency expressly says this permit does not lead to permanent residence or citizenship.
Can work for a local employer: NoOfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15Neither principal nor dependants may serve Malta-based employers or clients.
Same application for spouse and children: YesOfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15Spouse and minor children can be included in the initial application.
Public healthcare: CheckingAgency says no free healthcare; that alone does not settle eligibility for any paid public-system enrolment.
Minimum stay per year: 150 daysOfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15Renewal requires at least five cumulative months in the preceding twelve months; 5 × 30-day display conversion.
Tax on foreign income: Special regimeOfficialMalta Tax and Customs Administration, checked 2026-11-15Qualifying authorised-work income has a 10% regime, with conditional initial 12-month relief and foreign-tax provisions; other income follows ordinary rules.
Dual citizenship allowed: CheckingNationality-law position was not verified.
Rule changes, last 24 months: CheckingA complete 24-month policy-change audit was not available.

Cost: what the Nomad Residence Permit costs over five years

Government fees: $442.08OfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15EUR 400; EUR 300 application + EUR 100 residence card; excludes any nationality-dependent entry visa; Conversion: EUR 400 to USD at 2026-11-13 reference rates.
Non-refundable contribution: $0OfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15Inferred from the complete official eligibility and charge lists: no donation or non-refundable capital contribution is required.
Due diligence: $0OfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15The official charge list has no separate government due-diligence levy; application screening is covered by ordinary fees and document costs remain separate.
Compulsory extras, first year: CheckingRequired insurance/document costs lack an actual compliant quote; insured coverage is not a premium.
Renewal fees, first 5 years: CheckingA complete five-year renewal schedule and all associated fees were not verified.
Investment you may get back: CheckingA compulsory recoverable capital amount or its explicit absence was not verified.
Minimum income per month: $3,868.2OfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15EUR 3500; EUR 42,000 gross yearly income divided by 12; Conversion: EUR 3500 to USD at 2026-11-13 reference rates.
Extra for a spouse and two children: $1,326.24OfficialResidency Malta Agency, checked 2026-11-15EUR 1200; 3 additional persons × (EUR 300 application + EUR 100 card); excludes entry visas; Conversion: EUR 1200 to USD at 2026-11-13 reference rates.
Typical adviser fees (not in the total): CheckingThree comparable licensed-adviser quotations were not obtained.

USD estimates use the 13 November 2026 reference rates of the European Central Bank, Central Bank of Armenia and Central Bank of the UAE, and the Central Bank of Uruguay rate for UYU. The Panamanian balboa uses its official one-to-one parity.

Speed: how long the Nomad Residence Permit takes

Official processing time: Checking30 working days starts after receipt of funds and reaches approval in principle; final approval requires accommodation/insurance, so no comparable calendar-day total.
Reported processing time (median): CheckingNo median from at least two independent case-series sources was verified.
Approval to card or passport: CheckingAgency states 3–4 weeks for card issuance, but does not measure the entire interval from final approval through travel and biometrics.

Sources

Nomad Residence Permit — official information, Residency Malta Agency. Checked 2026-11-15.
Nomad residence permit income-tax guidelines, Malta Tax and Customs Administration. Checked 2026-11-15.

Every figure on this page last reviewed 2026-11-15. General information, not legal advice. Spotted an error? Email us from the contact page.

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