Most published prices for Malta stop at the government fees. A family planning for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme needs the whole picture: the fees, the home, the cost of each extra family member, what you get back and what you do not. This guide adds it up.
The costs every family pays
The current fees were set by Legal Notice 146 of 2025. Until that reform, renters paid a higher contribution than buyers. The fees are now the same for everyone.
| Cost | Amount | When it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Administration fee | €60,000 | €15,000 on application, €45,000 after approval in principle |
| Government contribution | €37,000 | After approval in principle |
| Donation to a registered Maltese charity | €2,000 | After approval in principle |
| Residence card | €500 per person | When the cards are issued |
The administration fee and the contribution together make the €97,000 in government fees. They are the same whether you rent or buy.
The home: rent or buy
You must keep a qualifying home in Malta or Gozo for at least five years. There are two ways to do it.
Rent. The rent must be at least €14,000 a year, which comes to €70,000 over five years. This is the lowest outlay, but the rent is a cost. None of it comes back.
Buy. The property must cost at least €375,000. It remains yours and can be let out while you are away. Buying also brings stamp duty, normally 5% of the price, and notary and registration fees.
What each family member adds
The programme covers four generations on one application: you, your spouse, your children, your parents and your grandparents.
- Your spouse and minor children add no extra contribution.
- Each adult dependant adds €7,500. That means each parent, each grandparent and each adult child. Adult children qualify if they are under 29, unmarried and financially dependent on you.
- Every person needs a residence card at €500 and health insurance.
Three worked examples
A family of four, renting. Two parents and two children under 18.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent, five years at €14,000 | €70,000 |
| Government fees | €97,000 |
| Charity donation | €2,000 |
| Residence cards, four at €500 | €2,000 |
| Total | About €171,000 |
The same family, buying.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Property, at the minimum | €375,000 |
| Government fees | €97,000 |
| Charity donation | €2,000 |
| Residence cards, four at €500 | €2,000 |
| Total | About €476,000 |
Of that, €375,000 is a property you own. The money you do not get back is about €101,000, plus the taxes and fees on the purchase.
Adding two grandparents. Two adult dependants at €7,500 each, and two more cards at €500 each, add €16,000. The renting family's total becomes about €187,000.
The government fees are the same for everyone. The real choice is whether your housing money is spent or invested.
What those figures leave out
Four costs sit outside the examples.
- Health insurance. Every family member needs cover that is valid in Malta and across Europe. The price depends on ages and health.
- Professional fees. For preparing and filing your application. These fees vary with the size of the family.
- Documents. Certificates need to be translated and legalised, and each adult goes through background checks.
- One visit. The family travels to Malta once to give fingerprints and photographs for the residence cards.
We give you every one of these in writing after your consultation, before you commit to anything.
What you must show, not spend
Malta also asks you to prove your wealth. You need either:
- total assets of at least €500,000, of which €150,000 is in financial assets such as savings or investments, or
- total assets of at least €650,000, of which €75,000 is in financial assets.
This money stays yours. It is shown, not paid.
When the money is due
Very little is paid before Malta has approved you.
| Stage | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Application filed | €15,000, the first part of the administration fee |
| Approval in principle, about 4 to 6 months after filing | The remaining €82,000 in government fees |
| In the months after approval | The lease or purchase, the donation and the health insurance |
| Residence cards issued | €500 per person |
Until approval in principle, the main sum at risk is the first €15,000, which is generally not refunded if an application fails. The home, the larger fees and the donation all come after approval.
After the first five years
The five-year rule on your home then ends. You may sell the property, move, or end the lease. To keep renewing your residence cards you still need a home in Malta, owned or rented, and health insurance. The permanent residence status itself does not expire.
Rent or buy: how to decide
Renting suits you if you want the lowest total outlay, you do not want to manage a property abroad, or you are not sure how much time you will spend in Malta.
Buying suits you if you would use the home, you are comfortable holding property in Malta for five years or longer, and you would rather keep an asset than pay rent. Remember that property values can fall as well as rise, and that buying and selling both carry costs.
Neither route is quicker and neither improves your chance of approval. The decision is a financial one.
Our view
Malta is not the cheapest residence permit in Europe, but its costs are unusually clear. The government fees are fixed, the family rules are generous, and almost nothing is paid until you are approved. Ask for the full figure in writing, including insurance and professional fees, and compare that number, not the headline.
Figures are indicative and reviewed on 4 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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