Malta launches Nomad Residence Permit

In June 2021, Residency Malta Agency introduced a new temporary residency scheme entitled: the ‘Nomad Residence Permit’. The aim of this program is to enable non-EU individuals to work remotely whilst living in Malta. Holders of the Nomad Residence Permit may thus retain their current employment based in another country whilst legally residing in Malta.

Eligibility

To qualify, the applicant must be a third country national and must prove that they can work remotely irrespective of location using technology. The individual must furthermore satisfy any one of the following conditions:

1. Work for a non- Maltese company, under a contract of work; or
2. Offer freelance or consulting services under contract, mostly to clients not situated in Malta; or
3. Conduct business activities for a non-Maltese company in which they are a partner or shareholder.

In addition to the above proof of eligibility, applicants will also be required to:

1. Hold a valid travel document;
2. Have proof that they are renting or have purchased a property in Malta;
3. Have health insurance to cover their access to health services in Malta;
4. Earn at least Eur 2,700 monthly gross of tax.
5. Pass a background verification check.

Application and Renewal

The Nomad Residence Permit is issued for one year against an application fee of EUR 300. The permit can be renewed upon application, at the discretion of Residency Malta, if all the above eligibility criteria are still being met.

Applicants who satisfy all the above conditions but are interested in staying for a period shorter than a year will instead be issued a National Visa, valid for between 3 to 6 months, depending on the intended duration of the stay.

Dependents

An applicant’s spouse and children, both minor and adult, may also be considered. If any such family member depends on the main applicant, economically or otherwise due to a condition or disability, they may apply for a Permit under the same conditions together with the main applicant. On the other hand, if the spouse is not a dependent, decisions on spousal visas and permits will be made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Residency Malta.

Tax Considerations

Holders of the Nomad Residence Permit will not be subject to personal income tax in Malta as their employment is taxed at origin. Nevertheless, freelancing, and self-employed individuals who wish to offer their services to clients based in Malta will incur tax obligations in Malta on that income.

Ecovis Malta

If interested or would like to know more about the above or other services that we provide contact us by sending an email at: malta@ecovis.com.