Malta Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements And How To Apply

Malta’s digital nomad visa is officially called the Nomad Residence Permit. It’s run by the Residency Malta Agency and it lets you live in Malta while you work remotely for an employer or clients based outside the country.

Who can apply

You need to be a third-country national, meaning you’re not a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland. Citizens of those countries already have the right to live and work in Malta and don’t need this permit.

You also need to work remotely in one of three ways:

• As an employee of a company registered outside Malta
• As a partner or shareholder running your own business registered outside Malta
• As a freelancer with clients based outside Malta

You must be at least 18 years old and hold a clean criminal record. The permit isn’t available to nationals of a small list of countries the Maltese government treats as ineligible on security grounds.

Income requirement

You need a gross monthly income of at least €3,500, which works out to €42,000 a year. This is the figure Residency Malta and PwC Malta both state, and it applies to applications submitted from April 2024 onward. If you got your permit before that under the older €32,400 threshold, you keep that lower figure at renewal.

You prove this with recent bank statements, plus your employment contract, business registration documents, or freelance client agreements, whichever fits your situation.

Required documents

• Full copy of your passport, including blank pages
• Proof of remote work: employment contract, business ownership documents, or freelance/client agreements
• Bank statements from the last three months
• Health insurance covering Malta and the EU, meeting Residency Malta’s minimum benefit table
• A rental or purchase agreement for accommodation in Malta covering the permit period
• A police conduct certificate, apostilled or legalised
• A letter of intent explaining why you’re applying, plus a CV
• A completed tax and GDPR declaration form

Proof of accommodation isn’t always needed at the first submission stage. Some applicants get initial approval first, then confirm a Malta address before the residence card is issued.

How to apply

1. Gather your documents.
2. Submit your application online through the Residency Malta nomad portal, along with the documents above.
3. Pay the €300 government fee by bank transfer as part of submission.
4. Residency Malta reviews your application and runs a background check.
5. If approved, you get a letter of approval. You then travel to Malta (with a visa first, if your nationality requires one for entry) to finalise your residence card.
6. Pay a separate €100 residence card fee to Identità in person, and provide biometric data.

Residency Malta states it processes applications within 30 working days of receiving your complete application and fee. That clock doesn’t include any separate visa processing your nationality might need before you can travel to Malta.

Costs and fees

• Government application fee: €300 per person, including any dependants included on the application. Non-refundable.
• Residence card fee: €100 per person, paid to Identità.
• Health insurance: varies by provider, but must meet a minimum annual cover of around €100,000.
• Optional: many applicants use an immigration lawyer or relocation agent, which typically costs an extra €1,500 to €2,500.

Permit duration and renewal

The permit is issued for one year at a time. You can renew it up to three more times, for a maximum total stay of four years. There’s no path from the Nomad Residence Permit to permanent residency or citizenship. It’s a temporary permit tied to remote work.

To renew, you need to show you actually lived in Malta for a meaningful part of the previous year, generally at least five months cumulative residence over the preceding twelve, and you still meet the income and work requirements.

Tax treatment

Malta doesn’t tax your authorised remote work income for the first 12 months you hold the permit. After that, a flat 10% tax rate applies to that income. If you already pay tax on the same income in another country, relief is available so you’re not taxed twice on it. Other income you earn outside your remote work is taxed at Malta’s normal progressive rates. Dependants’ income doesn’t get the 10% rate.

In January 2026, the Malta Tax and Customs Administration published guidance clarifying that the tax clock can start earlier than permit holders expect, based on when you actually become physically present and habitually resident in Malta, not just from your permit issue date. If you’re planning your move around the 12-month tax-free window, check your actual residency start date rather than assuming it matches your permit date.

FAQ

Do I need €3,500 a month exactly, or is that a minimum? It’s a minimum. You need to show gross income of at least €3,500 a month (€42,000 a year). Higher income doesn’t get you anything extra, but you can’t apply below this line.

Can EU citizens get the Nomad Residence Permit? No. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens already have free movement rights in Malta and don’t need this permit. It’s only for third-country nationals.

How long does the whole process take? Residency Malta states 30 working days for review once your complete application and fee are submitted. Add time for gathering documents beforehand and for visa processing afterward if your nationality needs a visa to enter Malta.

Is Malta in the Schengen Area? Yes. Once you hold the residence permit, you can travel within the Schengen Area under the normal resident rules for the length of stay allowed in other Schengen countries.

Can the permit lead to permanent residency? No. It’s capped at four years total (one year plus three renewals) and doesn’t convert into permanent residency or citizenship on its own.

What happens to my tax status after four years? The permit itself ends. If you want to keep living in Malta, you’d need to qualify for a different residence status, since the Nomad Residence Permit has a hard four-year ceiling.

See if this fits your situation

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