Malta is small, sunny, English-speaking and in the EU. It is also dense, busy and more bureaucratic than its size suggests. The paperwork is manageable if you do it in the right order – and painful if you don’t.
This guide is the practical side of the move: permits, registration, lease, bank, health cover, rents and a monthly budget. The tax side (refunds, non-dom, Global Residence Programme) lives in our Malta country guide. General information as of September 2026, not advice.
Which permit fits you#
| Route | Who it’s for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| EU registration (eResidence card) | EU/EEA/Swiss citizens | Apply via the Identità Expatriates Portal if you stay longer than three months; show work, self-employment or sufficient means |
| Nomad Residence Permit | Non-EU remote workers with a foreign employer, company or clients | €42,000+ gross a year, health insurance, lease or property in Malta, €300 fee |
| Single permit | Non-EU employees of a Maltese employer | The employer applies; tied to that employer and job |
| Global Residence Programme | Non-EU individuals living off foreign income | Property or rent above set thresholds, 15% on remitted foreign income, €15,000 minimum tax |
| Malta Permanent Residence Programme | Non-EU investors wanting permanent residence | Government contribution, admin fee, property or rent threshold, donation |
The GRP and MPRP numbers change the maths a lot, so we keep them in one place: the Malta country guide. If you’re still comparing islands and deserts, the digital nomad visas guide puts Malta next to the alternatives.
Your first 90 days#
From suitcase to settled
Before you go: permit and paperwork
Non-EU: file the Nomad application (about 30 working days from payment, then biometrics and card within three to four weeks, as of 2026) or have your employer start the single permit. EU: nothing to file yet, but gather documents and get them apostilled and translated where needed.
Before you go: tax exit and health cover
Sort out your departure from your old country first – the leaving Germany guide shows the logic. Book private health insurance that covers Malta from day one; your EHIC only covers temporary stays.
Week 1: flat and lease
Rent short-term first, then view long lets in person. Sign a written lease with an inventory and make sure your landlord registers it with the Housing Authority within 30 days. You’ll need the registered lease for almost everything else.
Week 1: mobile and a money bridge
Get a local SIM from Epic, GO or Melita (bring your passport). Keep paying with your home bank or an EU e-money account – you’ll need it for weeks.
Week 2: Identità registration
EU citizens apply for the eResidence card online via the Expatriates Portal. Identità usually replies within 48 working hours with a biometrics appointment and a document list. Apply well within three months of arrival; the card is valid for five years.
Month 1: tax and social security numbers
Once employed, your employer files the Jobsplus engagement form and your social security number usually follows automatically. Self-employed people register with Social Security and the tax authority (MTCA) themselves. Your tax number is usually tied to your Maltese ID or residence card number; if not, MTCA issues one.
Month 1: bank account
Book appointments with two banks, bring your eResidence card or appointment letter, registered lease, employment contract or client proof and source-of-funds documents. Expect interviews and follow-up questions. More in offshore banking.
Month 1: utilities
Electricity and water are billed by ARMS. Ask your landlord whether the account is on the residential tariff for the right number of residents – it makes a real difference to the bill.
Month 3: health, transport and driving
Employed and self-employed people paying Maltese social security contributions gain access to public healthcare. Get a personalised Tallinja card for free buses. EU licences stay valid; non-EU licences are generally accepted for up to 12 months, after which you exchange (if your country qualifies) or take the test.
Month 3: schools
State schools are free and bilingual (Maltese and English); church schools are low-cost, independent and international schools charge fees. Apply early – good independent schools have waiting lists.
Month 3: tax residence certificate
Once you live in Malta, have a tax number and your returns are up to date, you can request a tax residence certificate from MTCA. Your old country may ask for one to accept that you’ve left.
Finding a flat#
Rents on the island depend more on the view and the postcode than on the size. Numbeo’s Sliema page (September 2026) shows about €1,560 for a one-bedroom in the centre and about €1,090 outside it; Valletta sits around €1,260 in the centre. Other areas are our estimates from current listings.
| Area | One-bedroom per month | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Sliema / St Julian’s | €1,100–1,700 | Seafront, expat hub, cranes and nightlife |
| Valletta | €1,000–1,500 | Baroque, small flats, few parking spaces |
| Msida / Gżira | €900–1,300 (estimate) | Central, student-heavy, good bus links |
| South (Marsaskala, Żejtun, Birżebbuġa) | €700–1,000 (estimate) | Quieter, more local, longer commutes |
| Gozo | €600–900 (estimate) | Slow island life, ferry to everything |
How it works in practice:
- Long lets under the Private Residential Leases Act run for at least one year; a shorter agreement is treated as one year. Short lets are for people who don’t make Malta their main home.
- Deposit: typically one or two months’ rent, plus the first month in advance. Insist on a written inventory so the deposit comes back.
- Registration: the landlord registers the lease online with the Housing Authority within 30 days. If they don’t, you can register it yourself at their expense.
- Agents: most listings run through agencies. Ask who pays the agency fee before you view, not after you sign.
- Scams: never pay a deposit for a flat you haven’t seen or to someone who can’t show they own or manage it. “Owner abroad, keys by courier” is a classic.
What it costs per month#
Estimate as of September 2026, based on Numbeo data for Sliema and Valletta plus our own estimates for health insurance and transport. Ranges run from a modest life outside Sliema to a comfortable seafront one.
| Item | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed single, 2-bed couple) | €1,000–1,600 | €1,300–2,200 |
| Utilities (electricity, water) | €90–140 | €120–180 |
| Mobile and internet | €50–70 | €75–100 |
| Groceries | €300–400 | €550–750 |
| Health insurance (private) | €80–200 | €160–400 |
| Transport (free buses to own car) | €0–150 | €0–300 |
| Eating out and other | €300–500 | €500–800 |
| Total | €1,800–3,050 | €2,700–4,750 |
The bus is free with a personalised Tallinja card. A car is where the budget quietly explodes: insurance, parking and your nerves.
Documents to bring#
Valid for your whole planned stay, plus copies. EU citizens can use a national ID card.
Birth and marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates – apostilled and, if not in English, translated.
Diplomas and job references, especially for regulated professions or a single permit.
Required for the Nomad permit and often for single permits; check how recent it must be.
A policy that covers Malta (and, for the Nomad permit, the EU) until you are in the public system.
Employment contract, client contracts, recent bank statements, last tax return. Banks will want the same documents again.
A few biometric photos for forms, the Tallinja card and banks.
Your current licence; non-EU drivers should also check whether an exchange is possible.
The signed lease and the Housing Authority registration confirmation.
Common traps#
Things that go wrong in Malta
The €5,000 floor.
Non-doms with €35,000 or more foreign income pay at least €5,000 a year, even if they remit almost nothing.
Mixed accounts.
Paying income and old savings into one account makes it hard to show that what you bring to Malta is capital, not taxable income. Keep separate accounts from day one.
Nomad isn’t tax-free forever.
The 0% only covers the first 12 months and only if your presence stays casual; after that it’s 10%. Renewals need at least five months in Malta in the previous 12, and the permit ends after four years.
Unregistered lease.
Residence applications ask for proof of address, and an unregistered lease makes that, the utility tariff and any deposit dispute harder. Check the confirmation, not the promise.
Bank patience.
Onboarding can take weeks to months. Arrive with a working EU account.
Driving on the left.
Malta drives on the left, roads are packed and parking is scarce. Many people are happier with a scooter, the bus or a ferry.
Taxes and days#
Malta has no fixed day count for tax residence – it looks at where you actually live. That makes your records important on both ends: your old country will ask where your home and life are, and Malta will want to see a real address. The tax residency guide explains the tie-breakers, and our day tracker keeps the evidence. If you’re coming from Germany, read leaving Germany before you sign a lease.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. If you want to check whether non-dom, the Nomad permit or a Maltese company fits your numbers, book a strategy session – or compare Malta with other countries in the Jurisdiction Finder.
FAQ#
Do EU citizens need a visa to move to Malta?
No. You can enter with your ID card. If you stay longer than three months, register with Identità and get an eResidence card, which is valid for five years.
How much do I need to earn for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?
At least €42,000 gross a year for applications since April 2024, as of 2026. The fee is €300 per applicant and the permit is issued for one year.
Can I renew the Nomad permit indefinitely?
No. It can be renewed three times, for a maximum of four years. At renewal you must show you lived in Malta for at least five months in the previous 12.
Who registers the rental contract in Malta?
The landlord, online with the Housing Authority, within 30 days of the lease starting. If they don’t, you can register it and recover the cost.
How long does it take to open a bank account in Malta?
Usually weeks, sometimes longer, because banks ask detailed source-of-funds questions. Keep an EU account or e-money app running until then.
Is Malta tax-free for new residents?
No. Non-doms are taxed on Maltese income and foreign income remitted to Malta, with a €5,000 minimum once foreign income reaches €35,000. Details in the Malta country guide.
Sources#
- Identità – eResidence document application for EU nationals
- Identità – single permit for third-country nationals
- Residency Malta – Nomad Residence Permit eligibility
- Residency Malta – Nomad Residence Permit FAQs
- Residency Malta Agency
- Housing Authority – rent registration
- Malta Public Transport – Tallinja card
- EURES – living and working in Malta
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Malta, personal income tax
- EMD – the Private Residential Leases Act
- Numbeo – cost of living in Sliema
- Numbeo – cost of living in Valletta
