Moving to Malta: The Complete 2026 Expat Guide

Malta packs an EU and Schengen passport, an English-speaking civil service and a Mediterranean lifestyle into an archipelago smaller than most cities. It suits remote workers on the Nomad Residence Permit, retirees chasing a 15% flat tax, and EU citizens who can simply move in and register. Housing in Sliema, St Julian's and Valletta is the main budget line to plan around.

Updated: 3 September 2026 : Editorial Team, eVisa-Card.com

Who Malta Is Best For

Malta suits remote employees and freelancers who want an EU base without learning a new language, since English is co-official and used in courts, schools and hospitals. It also fits retirees seeking a mild climate and a low flat tax on pension income, and EU/EEA citizens who want the lightest possible paperwork. It suits budget backpackers less well: the islands are dense, English-speaking demand keeps rents high, and Malta is not a low-cost destination.

Visa & Residency Routes

Malta is in the EU and the Schengen Area. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a visa and simply register for an eResidence card past three months. Non-EU nationals choose among the routes below, all administered by Residency Malta Agency or Identità.

Nomad Residence Permit: the process

1. Confirm eligibility: non-EU national, remote employment or own business outside Malta, €42,000+ gross annual income.
2. Apply online through Residency Malta's portal with proof of income, health insurance, accommodation and a clean police record.
3. Pay the €300 non-refundable application fee.
4. Collect an approval letter, apply for a national D-type visa if visa-required, and travel to Malta.
5. Complete biometrics with Identità and collect the residence card, valid one year, renewable up to three times.

Malta has no dedicated country visa page on this site; for short Schengen stays before or between permits, see the Schengen Visa Guide 2026.

Digital Nomads & Remote Work

The Nomad Residence Permit is the dedicated route: it requires the €42,000 annual income threshold, an employer or clients based outside Malta, private health insurance covering Malta, and proof of accommodation for at least 12 months. Family members can be added, each paying the same €300 fee and needing extra income proof per dependant. Co-working spaces cluster in St Julian's, Sliema and Valletta, and the island's compact size means most nomads work from a short walk or bus ride from home.

Working Locally

Taking a Maltese job means the Single Permit: the employer initiates the application online with Identità, seeking Approval in Principle before the applicant travels or converts status. It bundles a work licence and residence permit in one card and is issued for the length of the employment contract, renewable while the job continues. Sectors with steady demand include igaming, financial services, aviation, tourism and IT, most operating in English.

Retirement

EU, EEA and Swiss pensioners with a pension making up at least 75% of their taxable income can apply for the Malta Retirement Programme, taxing that remitted foreign pension income at a flat 15% subject to a minimum annual tax, plus a modest sum per dependant. Non-EU retirees instead use the Global Residence Programme, which applies the same 15% flat rate on remitted foreign income under a comparable minimum tax. Both require a qualifying property purchase or rental in Malta and are administered by the Commissioner for Revenue.

Family & Dependants

Spouses, minor children and, in some cases, dependent parents can be added to a Nomad Residence Permit or Single Permit application, each generally paying the same administrative fee and requiring proof of an additional share of Malta's median wage per dependant. Under the MPRP, a spouse and minor children now attract no extra administrative fee, while adult dependants pay a reduced fee. Schooling and healthcare access for dependants generally mirror the main applicant's status.

Healthcare

Malta runs a public healthcare system funded through social security contributions. Employed Single Permit holders paying Maltese national insurance, and their registered dependants, get access to public hospitals such as Mater Dei on the same basis as citizens. EU/EEA/Swiss visitors can use a valid EHIC for temporary needs. Nomad Residence Permit holders and other self-sufficient residents are not automatically covered and must rely on private insurance instead; check current entitlement rules on gov.mt before relying on the public system.

Health Insurance

Private health insurance covering Malta for the full permit duration is a hard requirement for the Nomad Residence Permit, the Global Residence Programme and the Retirement Programme, and is strongly advisable even for those with some public access. Expect annual premiums broadly in line with other Western European private plans; insurers must cover in-patient and out-patient care in Malta specifically, not just worldwide travel cover.

Banking

Malta uses the euro, so incoming residents from the eurozone avoid conversion friction entirely. Local banks generally require a residence card or a confirmed application, proof of address and a source-of-funds explanation before opening a personal account, and due diligence can take several weeks for non-EU applicants. Many expats keep an EU-wide digital bank (Revolut, Wise) running alongside a local account for day-to-day payments while the Maltese account is set up. Landlords and utility providers in Malta typically expect a local IBAN for direct debits, so budget a few weeks of overlap between a digital account and a fully verified local one.

Tax Residency

Malta taxes ordinary residents on a remittance basis if they are resident but not domiciled: foreign income and capital are taxed only when remitted to Malta, while Malta-source income is taxed at progressive rates up to 35%. Nomad Residence Permit holders pay a flat 10% on qualifying income from authorised remote work once their exemption period ends, under dedicated income tax rules; Global Residence Programme and Retirement Programme members pay the flat 15% on remitted foreign income described above. Always confirm your personal position with the Commissioner for Revenue, since thresholds and minimum-tax rules are set to change from 2027.

Housing: Renting & Buying

Most expats rent first: leases typically run one year with a deposit of one to two months. Buying is open to EU citizens broadly on the same terms as Maltese nationals; non-EU nationals need an AIP (Acquisition of Immovable Property) permit outside Special Designated Areas and are generally limited to one property for personal use. Inside SDAs such as Portomaso, Tigne Point, SmartCity, Fort Cambridge or Ta' Monita, any nationality can buy without an AIP permit or ownership-number restriction, and can let the property out immediately.

Best Cities & Areas for Expats

Cost of Living

Malta is one of the pricier Mediterranean bases, driven mostly by rent in Sliema and St Julian's. Figures below are indicative, editorial estimates for September 2026; check the National Statistics Office for official price indices.

Transport & Driving Licence

Public buses cover the whole island cheaply and traffic is often heavy at peak hours; many expats in Sliema, St Julian's or Valletta walk or use the buses rather than drive. Malta drives on the left. EU driving licences remain valid; non-EU licence holders can drive on their national or international licence for a limited period before needing to exchange it locally, and should confirm current rules with Identità or Transport Malta. Car-sharing and e-scooter schemes are common in Sliema, St Julian's and Valletta for shorter hops, and the Gozo ferry runs frequently for day trips or a quieter commute.

Schools & Education

State schools teach in Maltese and English and are free, but the curriculum favours long-term residents. Most expat families choose one of Malta's several English-medium international schools, concentrated around Sliema, San Gwann and the Swieqi/St Julian's belt, offering British, IB or American curricula; places should be secured well ahead of the school year as demand is high. Tuition is typically billed per term and ranges widely by curriculum and school reputation, so shortlist two or three schools and confirm current fees and waiting lists directly with them before signing a lease nearby.

Phone & Internet

Three main operators, Epic, GO and Melita, cover the islands with reliable 4G/5G and competitive fibre broadband, easily fast enough for remote work and video calls. A prepaid SIM with an ID document is available immediately on arrival; a residence card is generally needed for a postpaid contract or fibre account in your own name.

Safety & Emergency Numbers

Malta is among the safer EU countries for expats, with petty theft the main concern in busy nightlife areas. The single EU emergency number 112 covers police, ambulance and fire islandwide.

Moving Checklist

1. Confirm the right route: Nomad Residence Permit, Single Permit, Global Residence, Retirement Programme or MPRP.
2. Arrange private health insurance naming Malta as a covered territory.
3. Book short-term accommodation, then start viewing longer leases in Sliema, St Julian's or Valletta.
4. Gather income proof, a clean police record and passport-valid documents before applying.
5. Register with Identità for biometrics and the eResidence card after arrival.
6. Open a local bank account and get a local SIM.
7. Register for tax with the Commissioner for Revenue and clarify your tax residency status.

Pros & Cons

FAQ

What is the income threshold for Malta's Nomad Residence Permit in 2026?

Applicants must show a minimum gross yearly income of €42,000 from remote work for a non-Maltese employer or their own foreign-registered business, per Residency Malta Agency's published eligibility criteria.

How long does the Nomad Residence Permit last?

It is issued for one year and can be renewed at the Agency's discretion up to three times, for a maximum total stay of four years.

Is English an official language in Malta?

Yes. Malta has two official languages, Maltese and English, and English is the everyday language of business, healthcare and most government services.

Do EU citizens need a visa to live in Malta?

No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can move to Malta freely and only need to register for an eResidence card once they exceed three months of stay.

What tax rate applies under Malta's Global Residence Programme?

Qualifying foreign income remitted to Malta is taxed at a flat 15% rate, with a minimum annual tax, under rules administered by the Commissioner for Revenue.

Can non-EU nationals buy property in Malta?

Yes, with an AIP permit outside Special Designated Areas, or without any permit or restriction inside an SDA such as Portomaso, Tigne Point or Fort Cambridge.

Is ETIAS required to enter Malta in 2026?

Not yet. ETIAS pre-travel authorisation had not entered into force as of September 2026; visa-exempt travellers still enter under existing Schengen rules, alongside the EES border system operating since 10 April 2026.

Is public healthcare free for expats in Malta?

Employed residents paying Maltese social security contributions and their dependants get access to the public system; nomad and self-sufficient residents must hold private health insurance instead.

Official Sources

• Residency Malta Agency
• Nomad Residence Permit – official FAQs
• Identità (residence documents)
• gov.mt
• Commissioner for Revenue
• National Statistics Office

Related Guides