Nomad Residence Permit: remote work from Malta for non-EU nationals

Eligibility requirements

• Third-country national (non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss) who can prove the ability to work remotely using telecommunications technology, and who falls into one of three categories: employed under a contract with an employer registered abroad; a partner or shareholder conducting business for a company registered abroad; or a freelancer or consultant with contracts for clients whose permanent establishment is abroad.
• Gross annual income of at least €42,000 from that remote work, evidenced by contracts, payslips, invoices and bank statements. Contractors serving the Maltese subsidiary of a foreign company are not eligible.
• A valid property rental or purchase agreement in Malta, health insurance covering risks in the EU (including Malta) and the UK, a police conduct certificate and a passed background verification.
• No work for, or services to, employers or companies based or registered in Malta during the permit; breach may lead to revocation. This applies to dependants as well.
• Family: spouse or partner, minor children and principally dependent unmarried adult children (and adult children with a medical condition or disability) may be included at the outset; later additions are generally possible only at renewal, except newborns.
• Nationals of countries on the Agency's exclusion list, and applicants with adverse findings in due diligence, are ineligible.

Legal framework

Build the evidence

Prepare records that substantiate the relevant criteria. The final checklist depends on the applicant, route and filing authority.

• Employment contract, shareholder or partnership documents, or client contracts demonstrating remote work for entities established outside Malta, with evidence that the work can be performed remotely.
• Income evidence for the €42,000 threshold: payslips, invoices, tax returns and six months of bank statements.
• Lease or purchase agreement for Maltese accommodation and a health insurance policy covering the EU, Malta and the UK.
• Passport, police conduct certificate, a CV and a letter of intent describing the remote-work arrangement.
• For family members: marriage or partnership evidence, birth certificates, dependency evidence and their own insurance.

How to apply

1. 01

   Confirm the category and threshold

   Decide which of the three categories applies and check that gross income from that work is at least €42,000. Mixed arrangements that include Maltese clients do not qualify.

2. 02

   Apply online and pay the fee

   Submit the application to the Residency Malta Agency with the document set and the €300 application fee per person. Visa-nationals may need an entry visa after approval in principle.

3. 03

   Background verification

   The Agency conducts due diligence. Approval is discretionary and the Agency may request further evidence or an interview.

4. 04

   Collect the residence card in Malta

   Attend biometrics and pay the €100 card fee. The permit is issued for one year; Schengen travel of 90 days in any 180 is available while it is valid.

5. 05

   Manage tax and renewal

   Register for tax where required. Income from authorised work is taxed at 10 per cent after a 12-month exemption, subject to double-tax relief; other income follows ordinary rules. Apply for renewal before expiry, up to a maximum of four years in total.

After approval & family planning

• Dependants may reside in Malta with the holder but may not work for Maltese entities. Children may attend school in Malta.
• The permit must be renewed annually and may be refused at renewal; income, insurance and accommodation evidence are re-examined. There is no path from the permit to permanent residence.
• A holder who wishes to stay beyond four years must qualify under a different route, such as employment with a Maltese employer, the Startup Residence Programme or MPRP.

What this route builds, and what it opens

WG assesses every route on three returns: the knowledge it adds, the cognitive capability that sustained work abroad develops, and the institutional opportunity it opens or closes. Real work is the mechanism in each case.

Programme context. This permit is not an affiliate-employment route and does not satisfy any requirement for genuine service with a Maltese entity. It may be assessed where a participant's role is genuinely remote for a non-Maltese affiliate and the stay is temporary. Read the framework ↗

Frequently asked questions

Points to consider

• The employer's tax position should be reviewed. The 2023 rules address the individual's tax; whether the employer acquires a Maltese presence depends on the facts and on the employer's home-country rules.
• Social-security coverage is not addressed by the permit. Check whether a certificate of coverage from the home country is available.