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EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement Permanent Residence

MaltaLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

Permanent residence status under the Withdrawal Agreement.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

A Withdrawal Agreement beneficiary (UK national or family member) may apply for permanent residence status once they have lived in Malta for at least five consecutive years; the five-year count includes any time before 31 Dec 2020.

See recorded sources

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

Residence counts when it is actual and real (generally meaning at least 6 months in each year) and the person continued to meet one of the EU free-movement conditions throughout (e.g. as a worker, student).

See recorded sources

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

Brief absences of up to 12 months total for important reasons (study, military service, health) do not break the five-year period. Separately, leaving Malta for more than 6 months in a year is given as an example of ceasing to satisfy the Withdrawal Agreement conditions, which can cause the status to lapse.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The two absence statements on the source page are framed differently (12 months total for important reasons vs more than 6 months in a year); how they interact is not explained.

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

Applications are made to the Brexit Unit at Identità by email to brexit.identita@gov.mt; proof is required of lawful and continuous residence in Malta for 6 months a year for 5 consecutive years. The Permanent Residence card is generally valid for 10 years. Permanent status does not expire like a temporary card, but it is lost if the holder leaves Malta for 5 or more consecutive years. A permanent resident has an indefinite right to live, work and study in Malta under the Withdrawal Agreement and no longer needs to prove each year that free-movement conditions are met.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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