Malta digital nomad visa
Malta pairs an English-speaking, year-round-sunny Mediterranean base with one of Europe's most generous nomad tax deals: a flat 10% on foreign remote-work income once you're tax resident, and a full exemption in your first year. The Residency Malta Agency runs the permit directly, you can apply without an agent, and holding it gives you Schengen travel. The trade-off is a higher income bar than most and a small-island cost of living.
Nomad Residence Permit at a glance ✓ Verified 2026
- Income requirement: ~$3800/month
- Visa cost: ~$430
- Length of stay: up to 48 months
- Processing time: ~30 days
- Official source: government site
Requirements
- Gross income of at least €42,000/year (about €3,500/month), from active remote work — savings and investments don't count toward the threshold
- Be a third-country national (non-EU/EEA/Swiss); EU citizens don't need this permit
- Remote work in one of three forms: employment with a foreign-registered company, ownership of a foreign company, or freelance/consulting for clients based abroad
- Valid rental or purchase agreement for property in Malta
- Health insurance covering risks in Malta and across the EU
- Clean police conduct certificate
- Valid passport and completed background verification
How to apply
- Confirm you qualify on income (€42,000/year gross) and the third-country-national rule
- Line up Maltese accommodation — a rental or purchase agreement is required for the application
- Gather documents: passport, three months of bank statements and payslips, work contract, health insurance, police conduct certificate
- Submit the application directly to the Residency Malta Agency and pay the fees (about €300 application + €100 residence card)
- On approval (around 30 days), collect your residence card; the permit is valid one year and renewable up to four years total
Moving abroad means more than the visa — sort your travel insurance (many visa applications require proof of coverage), set up borderless banking, and land with data working.
First nomad visa? Our digital nomad visa guide explains how qualifying, applying, and taxes work across every country.
Frequently asked questions
If you spend more than 183 days in Malta you become tax resident, and foreign-sourced remote-work income is taxed at a flat 10% rather than Malta's normal progressive rates. In your first year on the permit, that foreign income is exempt entirely. You may still have home-country obligations depending on your citizenship, so confirm with a cross-border accountant.
No — it's only for third-country nationals (non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss). EU/EEA/Swiss citizens already have the right to live and work in Malta and don't need this permit.
Yes. Spouses and dependent children can be added to your application. You'll need to show additional income to support each dependent and provide their documents, but they're covered under the same permit framework.
The permit is issued for one year and can be renewed up to three more times, for a maximum of four years. Renewals depend on continuing to meet the income and eligibility requirements at each step.
More visas in Europe
Visa rules, income thresholds, and fees change — always confirm the current requirements on the official government source (linked here) before applying. This page is informational, not immigration advice.