Moving to Malta: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Malta: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income. The cheapest route to residence is eU registration (ordinary residence) or the Nomad Residence Permit (EUR 42k a year): about USD 1,500 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, with about USD 3,500 a month of income shown, in about 3 months. Living costs about USD 1,500 a month for one person in St. Paul's Bay, and around USD 1,250 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income |
| Foreign income | taxed only when brought to Malta (remittance basis); EUR 5k minimum tax for some |
| Gains · dividends | foreign gains not taxed even if remitted · remitted: taxed |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · none (duty on documents) |
| Cheapest residence | EU registration (ordinary residence) or the Nomad Residence Permit (EUR 42k a year) |
| Money needed | About USD 1,500 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment |
| Time | about 3 months |
| Doable yourself? | Yes, with a checklist |
| Days you must spend there | not resident elsewhere > 183 days for GRP |
| Citizenship | naturalisation; investor citizenship struck down by the EU Court in 2025 |
| Online business | 5% effective, about USD 6,000 a year to run: Malta Ltd 35% with a 6/7 refund to the shareholder ~5% effective; audit and refund claims ~EUR 5k+ a year |
| Living (one person a month) | St. Paul's Bay ~USD 1,500; bare minimum ~USD 1,250; family of four ~USD 3,900 |
| Good for | remittance basis for non-doms: foreign gains never taxed even if remitted; refund system for company shareholders (effective ~5%) |
| Common set-up | the Global Residence Programme (15% on remitted income, EUR 15k minimum) or the Malta Permanent Residence Programme; trading companies with the 6/7ths refund |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Residence Programme | USD 160k | 8 | Government contribution (EUR 37k with property purchase or EUR 58k when renting) + admin fee + EUR 2k donation + property (EUR 300k+) or rent (EUR 14k/yr), and EUR 500k assets. |
| Nomad Residence Permit | USD 300 | 2 | EUR 42k a year income; tax-free for the first 12 months, then 10% flat. |
Questions
- How much does residence in Malta cost?
- EU registration (ordinary residence) or the Nomad Residence Permit (EUR 42k a year): about USD 1,500 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, about 3 months.
- Does Malta tax foreign income?
- Taxed only when brought to Malta (remittance basis); EUR 5k minimum tax for some. In one line: foreign income: 0% unless brought to Malta (min. tax EUR 5k) · 35% top on Maltese income.
- What does it cost to live in Malta?
- Living costs about USD 1,500 a month for one person in St. Paul's Bay, and around USD 1,250 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Malta?
- Effective tax about 5% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 6,000 a year: Malta Ltd 35% with a 6/7 refund to the shareholder ~5% effective; audit and refund claims ~EUR 5k+ a year.
- What is the catch in Malta?
- Small, crowded; Refund system under pressure
- What residence or citizenship programmes does Malta have?
- Permanent Residence Programme: about USD 160k all-in for one person, ~8 months; Nomad Residence Permit: about USD 300 all-in for one person, ~2 months
Compare
- Monaco: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (French citizens excepted)
- Andorra: 10% on foreign income (credit for tax paid abroad) · 10% on local income · 10% top
- Switzerland (lump-sum taxation): lump-sum: a yearly fixed tax on living costs instead of tax on income (foreign income and gains included)
- Italy (flat tax for new residents): EUR 300k a year flat on all foreign income and gains, whatever the amount · 43% on Italian income
- Greece (non-dom): EUR 100k a year flat on all foreign income (+EUR 20k per family member) · up to 44% on Greek income
- Cyprus (non-dom): 0% on dividends and interest (non-dom, 17 years) · 20-35% on work income · 0% on securities gains
- Portugal (IFICI): 0% on most foreign income (IFICI, 10 years) · 20% flat on qualifying Portuguese work income · 48% otherwise
- United Kingdom (FIG regime): first 4 years: 0% on foreign income and gains (FIG) · up to 45% on UK income · then worldwide
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://cfr.gov.mt
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded