For a third-country national with a Maltese employment contract lasting less than six months and a Jobsplus employment licence for the exact period.
Malta
Malta sits in Southern Europe. Its immigration system runs 46 distinct routes — led by family, work and residence-based status, each set out in official law. All 46 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 46across 17 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 46 of 46cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Family8 of the 46 routes — see them under Family below
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Capital
- Valletta
- Population
- 579,704
- Official language
- English, Maltese
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
Immigration routes
All 46 routes, grouped by purpose — 46 of 46 cite an official government source directly.
Work
7 routes
For a non-EU manager, specialist or trainee transferred from an overseas undertaking to a related Maltese entity.
For a third-country employee of a foreign undertaking temporarily posted to Malta after the posting is registered with the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations.
For a qualified researcher admitted by an accredited Maltese research organisation under a hosting agreement.
For a third-country national whose principal residence remains abroad and who has a fixed-term contract for seasonal activity with a Malta-established employer.
For a third-country national recognised by Jobsplus as a service provider and licensed to perform the specified service in Malta.
For a third-country national hired by a registered Maltese employer for employment exceeding six months.
Investment
1 route
For a fit-and-proper adult third-country national who applies through a licensed agent, meets one of two asset tests, secures qualifying property, pays the statutory fees and contribution, donates €2,000 and holds health insurance.
Business & self-employment
3 routes
For a third-country startup founder, co-founder or vital core employee developing an eligible innovative startup in Malta.
For a non-EU ultimate beneficial owner of an MFSA-authorised investment family office structure, together with qualifying senior employees such as the CEO, Head of Investment or Compliance Officer, and their dependants.
For a third-country national who first obtains a Jobsplus self-employment licence under one of four narrowly defined qualifying branches.
Talent & merit
3 routes
For a highly qualified third-country employee with a Maltese contract of at least six months and salary of at least 1.5 times Malta's average gross annual salary.
For a third-country national offered a managerial or highly technical Maltese position paying at least €45,000 gross annually.
For a specialist third-country employee with a Maltese employment contract, at least €30,000 gross annual salary and the specified qualification or qualification-plus-experience profile.
Study
2 routes
For a third-country national accepted into qualifying full-time study with a licensed Maltese institution.
For a third-country national undertaking a formal traineeship with a recognised Maltese host after both host and trainee are validated by Jobsplus.
Family
8 routes
For a qualifying immediate dependant supported by a recognised diplomatic official assigned to Malta.
For a dependent third-country child of a Maltese citizen who lived in Malta before age 21, already held Maltese residence and has no independent permit basis.
For a qualifying family member accompanying or joining an EU, EEA or Swiss national exercising residence rights in Malta.
For a family member of a third-country national who does not qualify under the statutory reunification rules but meets Malta's current ex-gratia family policy.
For qualifying family members of a person granted refugee status in Malta.
For a third-country parent whose Maltese child is a minor and would effectively be compelled to leave the EU if residence were refused.
For an adult third-country national in a genuine, stable and subsisting relationship of at least two years with a Maltese citizen residing in Malta.
For the spouse or minor child of a third-country sponsor who has lived lawfully and continuously in Malta for at least two years and meets support, accommodation and insurance conditions.
Independent means
2 routes
For an EU, EEA or Swiss national residing in Malta for more than three months with sufficient resources and comprehensive sickness insurance.
For a third-country beneficiary of an approved Maltese residence-investment, retirement or tax programme who obtains the required tax-authority certificate.
Digital nomad
1 route
— No eligibility summary published for this route yet
Residence-based status
4 routes
For an EU national or qualifying family member after five consecutive years of actual, lawful residence while exercising free-movement rights in Malta.
For a Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary with five consecutive years of actual and lawful residence in Malta.
For a long-term worker in Malta whose Maltese state retirement pension has been approved or is being finalised.
For a third-country national with at least five years of legal continuous residence, stable resources, accommodation and completed integration measures.
Free movement
4 routes
For a qualifying UK national or family member whose protected residence in Malta began by 31 December 2020 under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
For an EU, EEA or Swiss national residing in Malta for more than three months while genuinely self-employed.
For an EU, EEA or Swiss national residing in Malta for more than three months as a student.
For an EU, EEA or Swiss national residing in Malta for more than three months as an employed worker.
Youth mobility
1 route
For an Australian or New Zealand citizen aged 18 to 30 who has prior working-holiday authorisation and meets the programme's funds and insurance conditions.
Cultural, religious & volunteer
2 routes
For a member of an officially recognised religious order or church posted to Malta to serve its remit.
For a third-country national participating in voluntary service with a recognised voluntary organisation or a recognised youth-mobility voluntary project.
Short stay & visit
1 route
For a visit to Malta and the Schengen area of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, with an entry visa where nationality requires one.
Humanitarian protection
4 routes
For an exceptional, individually assessed humanitarian case that falls outside Malta's standard migration and international-protection statuses.
For a third-country national or stateless person in Malta seeking refugee status or subsidiary protection because return would expose them to persecution or serious harm.
For a rejected asylum seeker whom Malta's International Protection Agency chooses to protect on specified child, severe-medical or other humanitarian grounds.
For a covered Ukrainian national, protected person, family member or qualifying permanent resident displaced from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022.
Medical treatment
1 route
For a third-country national needing continued emergency care, privately funded planned treatment, or prolonged treatment unavailable in the country of origin.
Sports
1 route
For a third-country sportsperson invited to undergo trials by a national sports club registered and authorised by SportMalta or another qualified sports regulator.
Transit
1 route
For a traveller whose nationality requires authorisation to transit through the international transit area of a Schengen airport in Malta.
Official sources
- Community Malta CitizenshipGovernment
- You are being redirected...Government
- Nomad Residence PermitGovernment
- Startup Residence ProgrammeGovernment
- [NSO] National Statistics OfficeGovernment
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