The Malta Nomad Residence Permit - Malta’s Digital Nomad Visa
Malta's Digital Nomad Visa, the Malta Nomad Residence Permit offers non-EU employed, self-employed, or freelance remote workers the opportunity to reside in Malta and work remotely for a total maximum stay in Malta of up to 4 years!
The best part is that remote workers or digital nomads who opt for this type of Malta (EU) Residence permit can also include their eligible family members in their Nomad Residence Permit application and obtain a Malta digital nomad visa and residence permit for their family members too. In other words, the whole family can efficiently benefit from the right to live in Malta, whilst enjoying visa-free Schengen travel for 90 out of every 180-days.
For more information on how to obtain your Digital Nomad Visa under Malta Nomad Residence Permit, you can schedule a free consultation meeting with Dr Russell Attard Baldacchino by clicking the link below:
What are the eligibility requirements for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?
Launched in 2021, the Malta Nomad Residence Permit was designed for individuals who can work remotely and independently using telecommunications technologies.
To be eligible for this permit, you must satisfy the following criteria:
Age: 18 years or older.
Income: A guaranteed minimum gross yearly income of €42,000.
Employment Status: Employed, self-employed, or freelance.
Documents: Your Passport, CV, documentary proof of your employment or self-employment status, evidence of your income and remote work, and your latest 3 months bank statements. If your spouse or children are tagging along, you’ll just need their passports, and marriage or birth certificates.
Background History: Applicants must be of good conduct and character, and successfully pass a background verification check.
Visa History: If you have been rejected for a Schengen visa, you are ineligible to apply unless a Schengen visa approval has been subsequently issued.
Nationality: You can’t apply if you’re a citizen of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. Nationals from, or who have close ties with, the following countries are also ineligible to apply; Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Belarus.
Accommodation: Post-approval, a valid shared accommodation or private residential lease agreement that covers the 12-month period of the residence permit to be issued, and registered with the Housing Authority Rent Registration Unit.
Health Insurance: Post-approval, a health policy (not a travel plan) with a minimum cover of EUR 30,000, including inpatient and outpatient treatment in Malta is required for the duration of the permit. If you’re a UK citizen, no private health insurance is required, instead treatment in Malta’s healthcare system is free for UK nationals.
Why engage a representative to apply for this permit?
You are not required to engage a representative. Whilst engaging a Malta Government licensed agent is a requirement to apply for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), this is not the case for prospective Malta Nomad Residence Permit applicants.
That being said, if you’re looking to mitigate risk and increase your overall chances of approval, then choosing the right representative with experience in the local immigration industry is something to consider. For additional reassurance, you can still opt for a Malta Government licensed agent, in which case you’ll be dealing with a Malta-certified accountant or warranted advocate, preferably one with some extent of experience in dealing with nomad applications. Professional fees are not capped or restricted by the authorities, but are at the discretion of each respective service provider; this means you can expect a range of professional fee quotations.
Attard Baldacchino’s dedicated team of focused professionals can take the pressure off you by successfully supporting you in the process from beginning to end, keeping it as simple as possible for you. Our team doesn’t stop there, you can reach out to us at any time during the validity of your permit, and if not, we’ll check in on you well ahead of your renewal deadline to help assess your future options.
A simple, signed, and witnessed declaration by the applicant to appoint Dr Russell Attard Baldacchino as your nomad representative is all that’s needed to make this happen. To us, it’s not just about delivering on our engagement, but building a relationship that lasts!
What is the application process for Malta’s Digital Nomad Permit?
The process is pretty straightforward, in fact we can walk you through it in 10 easy steps:
Step 1: Schedule your free eligibility assessment with Dr Russell Attard Baldacchino.
Step 2: If you’re eligible, send us your passport data page, CV, and proof of residential address so that we can run our preliminary due diligence checks;
Step 3: You’ll receive our Engagement Letter for signature via DocuSign (enough waste already) and our invoice will follow;
Step 4: We’ll set up a group chat on your preferred messaging app (we appreciate everyone’s unique security preferences)
Step 5: You’ll receive a tailor-made checklist of documents, specifically designed for your case. All you have to do is share the information and digital copies of the documents we request. There’s no need to fill in any forms, draft any letters or declarations, or try to figure out how to structure and submit your application; our team will do all of that for you!
Step 6: You’ll receive all the completed forms or documents that you’d need to print and sign in wet blue ink, and share just the scanned copies with us (you can hang on to those originals).
Step 7: Our Nomad team will submit your application to the Residency Malta Agency, and you’ll be kept in copy for all official correspondence.
Step 8: After an initial application completeness and admissibility check by the Residency Malta Agency, you’ll receive an official application submission receipt and application fee request (that’s just EUR 300 per applicant).
Step 9: Transfer the application submission fee directly to the Residency Malta Agency from your personal bank account. Once the receipt of funds is issued, your application processing will begin.
Step 10: Assuming no major feedback is raised by the agency during application processing, you can expect to receive the application decision within around 4 to 6 weeks.
Post-Approval, Final Approval, and Card Printing
Once your approval in principle is in your email inbox, you’ll need to submit proof of cover from your health insurance provider (not needed for UK citizens), as well as proof of your initial temporary accommodation booking, which covers a minimum of two weeks from your estimated date of arrival in Malta.
Within a few days after submission of the insurance and accommodation proof, the final approval letter is issued, at which point you may proceed to request for your biometrics collection appointment to be scheduled, and after that, your 12-month residence card will be printed.
What if you need a Schengen visa to get to Malta?
If based on your nationality, a visa is required to enter Malta and the Schengen area, then unless you are already in possession of a valid Schengen visa, you would be required to apply for a Malta Schengen visa to enter Malta for your biometrics collection appointment. If you’re not sure about this, here is 30 minutes of our time to help figure it out.
The great thing about doing this under the Malta Nomad Residence Permit is that upon final approval, your case is immediately routed to the Central Visa Unit (CVU) and you could avail of Malta’s Premium Visa service. For just EUR 300, the CVU will send you a dedicated link, whereby you can upload your final approval letter and supporting documentation. A courier will then collect your passport from your specified address, bring the passport to Malta, have the visa attached to your passport, and deliver it back to your specified address in just a matter of weeks. In other words, there is no need for physical document submissions, no physical meetings, and not even the need to leave home to complete the process.
The only potential downside is that the Premium Visa Service is not currently available for all jurisdictions, and the list tends to vary from time to time. Checking whether the service is available for your location can be done at any point in time, so one can easily achieve clarity on this possibility. If you aren’t fortunate enough to be located in a country where the premium visa service is offered, you would need to apply through the nearest Malta Embassy or Consulate, or possibly through third-party service providers like VFS Global or BLS International. In any case, if you have the option, then go for the Premium Visa service!
How much does the Malta Digital Nomad visa cost?
The Malta Nomad Residence Permit is a relatively cost-efficient solution to acquire a temporary period of residency in Malta, while also benefiting from Schengen visa travel for 90 out of every 180 days. The fees may be broken down as follows:
Professional Fee: This would be the fee charged by the service provide or licensed agent that you may opt to engage for their professional experience to guide you through the application fees. Professional fees typically range from around EUR 3,000 to EUR 5,000 for a sole applicant, and additional fees may apply if other family members are also included in the nomad residence permit application and Schengen visa process. We offer 30-minute consultation sessions, whilst adopting a strictly confidential and no-obligation quotation process.
RMA Application Fee: A EUR 300 fee per applicant is paid directly to the Residency Malta Agency after submission of the application. An official application submission receipt and payment request is issued by RMA after verifying that the respective application was admissible. The RMA Nomad team are very efficient, and normally get this done in just a day or two.
Premium Visa Fee: A fee of EUR 300 applies for those who opt for this Premium Visa Service, and the great thing is that the fee is standard, even if there’s more than one passport.
Card Printing Fee: At the biometrics collection appointment, a fee of EUR 27.50 per residence card to be printed must be paid by the applicant using their bank debit or credit card at the Residency Malta Agency’s offices.
Health Insurance Coverage: Unless you’re a UK citizen, you’ll need to have an adequate Health Insurance Policy in place, with a minimum of EUR 30,000 limit, covering both in-patient and outpatient cover, for Malta. Including cover for Schengen travel is advisable if you’ll be moving around. Basic policies start at just a few hundred Euro, depending on the age of the insured.
Accommodation: Don’t underestimate the strict accommodation requirements or costs. Applicants must submit proof of a legal residential lease agreement that has also been registered with the Housing Authority Rent Registration unit, and that specifically covers the 12-month validity of the residence permit to be issued. While having the liberty to choose between a private or shared residential lease agreement, one should keep in mind that since shared accommodation lease agreements can only cover a maximum period of 6 months, in the case of shared accommodation lease agreements, two or more back-to-back agreements may be needed. You could find shared accommodation lease options starting at around EUR 400 p/m, and private units starting at around EUR 800 p/m. You can schedule an e-meeting for more details on qualifying accommodation options in Malta for digital nomads.
Here’s a summary of what you need to know…
What are the benefits of the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?
One-year Malta Nomad Residence Permit, renewable twice, for a total stay of a maximum of 4 years
Include your spouse and children (no age limit if unmarried and dependent)
Visa-free Schengen travel (limited to 90 out of every 180 days)
Who is eligible for Malta’s version of the Digital Nomad Visa?
Must be a Third-Country National (not EU, EEA, and Switzerland) aged 18 or over
Ability to work remotely and independently of location using telecommunications technologies.
May be employed, self-employed, or freelance.
Minimum gross yearly income of €42,000
How long does it take to acquire a Malta Nomad Residence Permit?
Compilation of application forms and documentation (1 to 2 weeks)
Submission of application and decision from the Residency Malta Agency (4 to 6 weeks)
Submit proof of health insurance and accommodation in Malta
Final approval and invitation for biometric appointment in Malta issued
Biometrics collected and Residence Permit ready for collection (1 to 3 weeks)
What are the requirements for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?
Proof of accommodation in Malta for the duration of the permit
Proof of health insurance cover in Malta for all applicants for the duration for the permit
Proof of the guaranteed minimum source of income
Can the Malta Nomad Residence Permit be renewed?
Renewable twice, for a total maximum stay of 3 years
Must still satisfy the minimum gross yearly income of €42,000
Submit proof of residence in Malta for a cumulative minimum of 5 months during the previous 12 months
A Malta Nomad Residence Permit...
does not allow the holder to offer services to clients based or registered iawn Malta and is not a work permit
does not lead to long-term residency, permanent residency, or citizenship in Malta
does not entitle the holder to free healthcare in Malta
does not entitle the holder to collect a pension in Malta
does not entitle the holder to social benefits in Malta
Are any persons banned or ineligible for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?
Nationals, or persons with close ties to, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela are not eligible to apply.