If you consider immigration to Malta as an investor, there are three main ways to do this. The local authorities created a set of programs that vary in requirements and terms and provide special advantages in each case.
This small European island attracts many people with a stable economy and safe conditions, as well as high-quality standards of living. This is suitable for investors from various parts of the world. The detailed comparison will help to make an informed decision and profit from it.
Overview of Malta Citizenship
Before one becomes a participant of this option, one needs to get a Malta citizenship or its equivalent. This is the quickest way toward this goal. It is based on the following funding:
- a donation of 750,000 euros for residents after 1 year or 600,000 euros after 3 years in this status;
- purchase of property for at least 700,000 euros or its renting for 5 years for 16,000 euros annually;
- providing of 10,000 euros to some local NGOs;
- administrative fees.
As explains Immigrant Invest expert Zlata Erlach, one can also include relatives in the process for 50,000 euros for every person. Thus, pricing is not the lowest compared to other initiatives but is quite competitive and attractive due to the additional profits that wait for the participant.
Benefits of Obtaining Maltese Citizenship
The current rules for obtaining Malta citizenship by investment were created in 2020. Still, the key attractive features of this passport remain the same and include:
- no limits for staying inside or outside the borders;
- access to 169 countries without special permits;
- the validity period of the document is up to 10 years.
The holder of the local passport gets the same rights as locals, and can freely live here. All the perks of education, healthcare, taxation, and other dimensions of life become available.
Overview of Malta Permanent Residence
The second way to move to this region is Malta permanent residence by investment. The majority of the countries with Golden Visa provide similar options. As for this one, it has the following thresholds:
- those who wish to become the owners of the local property should select it for 300,000 or 350,000 euros depending on the region and pay 28,000 euros to the government;
- those apt for rent should sign an agreement for 5 years from 10,000 to 12,000 euros and pay 58,000 euros;
- a donation to a local NGO should be 2,000 euros;
- a fee of 40,000 euros is also applicable.
Some other expenses may also appear, such as insurance costs or the translation of files. The inclusion of relatives is also possible. Thus, with a bit lower threshold this initiative is also of interest to those who search for applicable ways to expand business and enjoy life in a secure and awesome place.
Advantages of Permanent Residence in Malta
The local authorities require from 4 to 6 months for the consideration of the provided information. This is relatively fast and means that the document is issued after half a year at a maximum. It is valid for 5 years and can be renewed if needed.
The holder of this document may travel in and out of the island whenever he wishes. The free access to the 169 countries is also provided, as well as other services accessible to locals.
Overview of Malta Residence Permit
On average, five months are needed for consideration of the candidates for this document who can do the following:
- become a property owner for 275,000 euros;
- rent a property for 9,600 per year;
- pay a fee of 6,000 euros.
Pay attention that Gozo and southern regions of the main island have a bit lower threshold. Thus, the purchase here starts from 220,000 euros and renting is possible for 8,750 euros per year.
A few thousand euros are required for additional payments in the stage of applying for a Malta residence permit by investment. Still, it’s the most readily available option compared to others.
Key Features of the Maltese Residence Permit
Malta residency by investment is a temporary 1-year option and can be obtained the quickest. The maximum waiting time is 5 months. For the first-time applicant, it will be valid for a year. Then, it can be renewed for two years or the holder can apply for a passport according to the possibilities mentioned above.
The holders should be attentive to the fact of the need for a minimum stay in the country. One cannot spend more than 183 days per year outside the island. In addition, the list of countries available without special permits includes only the Schengen area. It is also quite wide a region but that is the difference between the options mentioned above.
At the same time, medical care, education, savory cuisine, and rich local culture become accessible without any limits. Therefore, one can explore the country and its offers to make further decisions and continuation of the stay.
How to Decide Which Option is Best for You
According to the experts of immigrantinvest.com, eligibility criteria for these programs are the same. The person has to be full of age, with a good reputation and health, and have transparent sources of income. All this data is checked through the due diligence stage and only then does the person make the required financial transactions as a fully accepted participant.
As for the final decision, the primary thing to think about is funds. Thus, one should provide at least 35,000 euros for a permit, 150,000 euros for residency, and 690,000 euros for a passport.
The permit for 1 year has the lowest threshold but provides the smallest list of opportunities. Still, it may be a good first step toward future citizenship. Consider your abilities and priorities and do not hesitate to learn more about these programs to make a proper decision.