Permanent Residence in Malta
3 documented routes of this kind in Malta, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Economic Self-Sufficiency Residence Permit
Residence permit for third-country nationals residing in Malta on the basis of self-sufficiency, often beneficiaries of the Global Residence or Malta Retirement Programme.
- Processing time
- Variable
- Validity
- Renewable
- Language requirement
- None
- Permanent residence
- Counts toward EU Long-Term Residence at 5 years
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation after broadly 12 continuous months plus 4 aggregate years in the previous 6 years
Requirements
- Hold valid authorisation to reside (often GRP/MPRP/Retirement Programme beneficiaries)
- Meet financial thresholds detailed in Form K
- Travel document valid at least 8 months
Required Documents
- Form K required
- Travel document valid at least 8 months required
- Evidence meeting financial thresholds detailed in Form K required
Official fees
- Application (new and renewal) 100 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Submit Form K
Submit Form K via the Expatriates Unit Portal (expatriates.identita.gov.mt).
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2
Assessment
Identita assesses financial self-sufficiency and issues the permit.
Official Sources
- Identita - Economic Self-Sufficient Official
EU Long-Term Residence (third-country nationals)
Permanent EU long-term resident status for third-country nationals after 5 years of continuous legal residence, governed by S.L. 217.05 transposing Directive 2003/109/EC.
- Processing time
- Variable
- Validity
- Status is permanent; permit issued for 5 years (renewable)
- Language requirement
- Integration measures per S.L. 217.05
- Permanent residence
- Granted after 5 years continuous legal residence
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation after broadly 12 continuous months plus 4 aggregate years in the previous 6 years
Requirements
- 5 years continuous legal residence
- Stable and regular resources
- Own accommodation
- Integration measures (per S.L. 217.05)
Required Documents
- Form L required
- Travel document valid at least 8 months required
- Evidence of stable resources and accommodation required
Official fees
- Application 500 EUR
Process Steps
-
1
Submit online
Submit Form L online via the Expatriates Unit Portal (expatriates.identita.gov.mt).
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2
Biometrics
Book a biometric appointment and attend with originals.
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3
Status granted
Status is permanent; the permit is issued for 5 years and is renewable.
Official Sources
- Identita - Long-Term Residence Official
Permanent Residence / eResidence for EU nationals
Registration route for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals staying in Malta longer than 3 months, with the permanent right of residence document issued after 5 consecutive years.
- Processing time
- Appointment response within 48 working hours
- Validity
- Document generally issued for 5 years; permanent right document (10-year) after 5 consecutive years
- Language requirement
- None
- Permanent residence
- Permanent right of residence document after 5 consecutive years
- Citizenship
- Naturalisation per the Maltese Citizenship Act
Requirements
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationality
- Staying in Malta longer than 3 months
- Category-specific basis (worker/self-employed, self-sufficient, student, family member)
Required Documents
- Original ID card or passport (plus copies) required
- Category-specific documents (worker/self-employed, self-sufficient, student, family member) required
Official fees
- eResidence document application
Process Steps
-
1
Register online
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals staying over 3 months register online via the Expatriates Portal; appointment response within 48 working hours.
-
2
Document issued
Document generally issued for 5 years; after 5 consecutive years the permanent right of residence document is issued.