Malta Immigration Guide
Europe

Malta Immigration Guide

Complete guide to immigrating to Malta — Single Permit, Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), and official resources.

English-speaking EU island with a fast investor-residency track and gaming industry hub.Malta Permanent Residence Programme 🕐 Valletta · 09:58 PMReviewed: 2026-06-212 sources
0/100

RelocationHub Score™

Overall Score

Score Breakdown

Immigration Ease
50
Cost of Living
50
Job Market
50
Healthcare
75
Family Friendliness
88
Safety
100
Tax Friendliness
75
Community
25
Education
75
Quality of Life
75
Country checklist

What to line up before moving to Malta Immigration Guide

A practical staged checklist with 22 base and country-specific tasks.

Opens a print view to save as PDF.

Documents & Identity

4
Check passport validity for all family membersMust

Make sure each traveler has a valid passport with enough validity buffer for the destination and visa process.

When to do it: 3-9 months before move

Collect birth/marriage/divorce certificatesMust

Obtain official copies of civil records before translation, notarization, and apostille.

When to do it: 3-6 months before move

Prepare sworn translations, notarization, and apostilles for required documentsMust

Build a destination-specific document list and prepare both physical and digital certified copies.

When to do it: 2-5 months before move

Collect diplomas, transcripts, CV, and employment documentsMust

Especially relevant for work pathways, professional recognition, licensing, and dependent applications.

When to do it: 2-4 months before move

Visas & Legal Status

2
Confirm visa pathway and status for each family memberMust

Confirm main applicant, dependents, work rights, and entry/stay conditions.

When to do it: 2-8 months before move

Build visa application or port-of-entry document packMust

Gather work approvals, offer letters, proof of funds, insurance, temporary address, and supporting documents.

When to do it: 1-4 months before move

Israeli-side Administration

3
Review Israeli tax residency position before departureMust

Review center-of-life factors, possible tax residency disconnection, exit tax, Form 1348, and double-tax risk.

When to do it: 2-6 months before move

Plan Bituach Leumi and Israeli health fund statusMust

Understand whether to keep paying, possible waiting periods on return, and how this interacts with time abroad.

When to do it: 1-3 months before move

Arrange Israeli accounts, power of attorney, and mailing addressShould

Decide what stays active, who handles urgent matters in Israel, and how official mail will be received.

When to do it: 1-2 months before move

Health & Insurance

2
Export medical records, prescriptions, and medication supplyMust

Request doctor summaries, generic medication names, vaccinations, test results, and relevant medical history.

When to do it: 1-3 months before move

Arrange health coverage for the relocation gap periodMust

Ensure coverage from departure from Israel until local or employer insurance becomes active.

When to do it: 2-8 weeks before move

Family & Schools

2
Collect school/daycare records for childrenMust

Gather report cards, immunization records, transfer letters, evaluations, and special support documentation if needed.

When to do it: 2-6 months before move

Check military-service status implications for Israeli children abroadShould

Especially relevant for families with children who are Israeli citizens or dual nationals.

When to do it: Before move and during long-term stay planning

Housing, Flights & Arrival

2
Book temporary housing for the first weeksMust

Avoid rushing into a long-term lease before understanding the area, transport, and local document requirements.

When to do it: 2-8 weeks before move

Book flights after a safe visa/approval triggerMust

It is usually safer not to lock non-flexible flights before visa approval, entry clearance, or a firm employer trigger.

When to do it: After key approval milestone

Money & Banking

2
Build a 3–6 month cash bufferMust

Prepare reserves for temporary housing, deposits, furniture, salary delays, and setup costs.

When to do it: 2-6 months before move

Set up banking, FX transfers, and international cardsMust

Reduce unnecessary fees and make sure you can pay for essentials before opening a local bank account.

When to do it: 2-6 weeks before move

Logistics & Shipping

1
Decide what to ship, store, or sellShould

Make an inventory based on shipping cost, expected stay length, home size, and destination voltage standards.

When to do it: 1-3 months before move

Pets & Car

2
Check pet import requirementsConditional

Includes microchip, vaccines, blood tests, health certificate, airline rules, and quarantine where relevant.

When to do it: 3-6 months before move

Check driving licence conversion and car rulesConditional

Check whether you can drive with an Israeli licence, for how long, and whether conversion or testing is required.

When to do it: 1-2 months before move

First 30 Days After Arrival

2
Plan the first 7 days after landingMust

SIM/eSIM, local tax/ID number, bank, transport, clinic, address registration, and onboarding documents.

When to do it: Before departure + first week after arrival

Check residency card / residence permit processMust
Investment permanent residenceFeatured route

Malta Permanent Residence Programme

Best for Israelis seeking immediate EU permanent residence without employment requirement, via government contribution and property.

Processing4 to 6 months
Profile noteInvestment and due-diligence
  • No nationality restrictions; no minimum stay requirement to maintain status.
  • English as official language removes integration pressure for Israeli families.
  • Total outlay includes government contribution, property, and charitable donation; verify current thresholds.
Open checklistVisa detailsContact an Expert
Employer-sponsored employment

Single Permit (Employment)

Standard work and residence route for those employed by a Malta-registered company — well-suited to iGaming, finance, and tech.

Processing3 to 6 months
Profile noteEmployer-dependent
  • Malta has a major iGaming and fintech sector that actively hires internationally.
  • English-only integration — no language test required.
  • Housing market is tight; plan accommodation search before arrival.
Open checklistVisa detailsContact an Expert

Malta is a small EU island nation in the central Mediterranean with English as one of its two official languages, making it uniquely accessible to Israeli professionals and families who are comfortable in English. The country has established itself as a hub for iGaming, fintech, and financial services, attracting international talent and investment. Immigration is primarily administered by Identità (Identity Malta Agency) and the Residency Malta Agency.

Visa and Residence Framework

Non-EU nationals wishing to reside in Malta beyond 90 days require a residence permit. The Single Permit covers employed workers under employer sponsorship. For those seeking long-term residence without active employment, the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) provides a qualifying investment route to permanent residence. Malta applies a non-domicile tax regime for qualifying residents, with taxation based on remittances rather than worldwide income.

Pathways Covered on This Site

Work

  • Single Permit — Combines a work permit and residence permit in a single document, processed by Identità (Identity Malta). Requires an employer registered in Malta who submits the application on behalf of the foreign national. Applicable to roles across all sectors, with stronger demand in iGaming, financial services, fintech, and technology.

Investment/Residence

  • Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) — An investment-based permanent residence route administered by the Residency Malta Agency. Requires a government contribution (€30,000 if renting or €58,000 if purchasing property), a property commitment, and a €2,000 charitable donation. There is no mandatory minimum physical stay requirement for MPRP holders, making it suitable for those who need flexibility of movement within and outside the EU.

Key Facts About Malta

  • Capital: Valletta
  • Official language: Maltese and English
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)
  • Government: Parliamentary republic
  • Population: approximately 550,000
  • EU member: Yes

Living and Working in Malta

Malta's English-speaking environment is the country's defining advantage for Israeli immigrants. Government services, courts, private businesses, and schools all operate in English, eliminating the language barrier that characterises most other EU immigration pathways. The iGaming and fintech sectors are major employers of international talent, and Malta's Mediterranean climate offers over 300 sunny days per year.

Healthcare is provided through the public Mater Dei Hospital and network of health centres under GU Malta; private healthcare is widely used by expatriates for faster access. Education at public schools is conducted in both English and Maltese; international private schools are available in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian's. The Jewish community in Malta is very small with no established Israeli expat hub, so Israelis typically integrate into the broader English-speaking expat community.

The cost of living in Malta is moderate by EU standards, lower than Dublin or Amsterdam but higher than Eastern European EU capitals. Housing in the popular expat areas of Sliema, St. Julian's, and Valletta can be expensive relative to local wages, and it is advisable to research accommodation costs before committing to relocation.

Tax and Long-Term Residence

Malta's non-domicile tax regime allows qualifying residents to be taxed only on income remitted to Malta rather than on worldwide income. A minimum annual tax of €5,000 applies to non-domiciled residents under certain conditions. Corporate tax is nominally 35%, but the imputation refund system reduces the effective rate significantly for qualifying companies. There is no wealth tax or inheritance tax in Malta.

Permanent residence through MPRP is granted indefinitely subject to ongoing compliance. Standard naturalization for citizenship requires five years of legal residence. Specific rules and timelines should be verified with a licensed immigration attorney.

Official Resources

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently. Consult a licensed immigration attorney or accredited advisor before making decisions.