The Malta Residency and Visa Programme (MRVP), which was launched in August 2015, is a quick and easy option for non-EU investors to obtain a lawful European residence visa. Non-EU citizens can obtain a Malta residence permit quickly via the Malta golden visa program, allowing the investor and their family to enter and/or live in Malta, as well as travel freely across the EU Schengen Area, including Switzerland. There is no need to apply for a Schengen Visa if you have a Maltese resident permit and want to visit EU countries like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, or Greece.
The Malta Golden Visa (Malta Residence and Visa Program) permits high-net-worth persons to get a Maltese passport in one to three years by making a significant investment in Malta. In order to obtain a Maltese passport in a year, you must contribute at least €750,000 to the national development fund. After three years, a €600,000 investment will earn you a Malta passport. You and your family must live in Malta until you are eligible for citizenship under the new Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program. This implies that you must also invest in residential property.
Who can Invest?
The Malta Residence and Visa Program is run by Identity Malta, a recognized government organization, and its rules are legally binding. An applicant must meet three investment criteria to receive a Europe investor visa through the program.
Contribution of funds
A €30,000 monetary gift to the government is required to qualify for a Malta golden visa. A non-refundable administrative deposit of €5,500 is required at the time of application submission, with the balance due after approval in principle.
Purchase or rental of real estate
An investor must rent or acquire a suitable property in Malta to be eligible for the Malta residence program. To qualify by purchasing real estate, an investor must spend at least €320,000 on a property in Malta. If the property is in Gozo or Malta’s southern region.
The Malta Residence and Visa Programme aims to encourage foreign direct investment to the country in order to generate jobs and wealth, hence raising the country’s standard of living. As a result, applicants for Malta investor visas must make a qualifying investment of at least €250,000 in Malta. Applicants must be 18 years old to get an EU golden visa for Malta. Applicants must additionally submit an affidavit declaring that they have an annual income of more than €100,000 derived from sources outside of Malta, or that they own capital worth at least €500,000.
Documents Required When Applying for a Golden Visa in Malta
You must submit the following documents to apply for a Malta Golden Visa:
- A passport.
- All family members’ passports must be included in the application.
- a letter of introduction
- Proof that you’ve done your homework.
- Demonstrate that you have the requisite finances to make the investment.
- Proof that your funds were obtained legitimately.
- Bank statements from your own country.
- Marriage certificate, for example, is proof of family relationship.
- Certificate of birth.
- Certificate of divorce (if applicable).
- Documents pertaining to custody (if applicable).
- Documents demonstrating financial reliance (for adult children, parents, or grandparents).
- For yourself and all applicants over the age of 12, biometric data is required.
- Police certificates demonstrating that you have never been convicted of a crime.
- Reports on your own and your family’s health. Medical records are required to demonstrate that you do not have any communicable diseases that could put the public’s health in jeopardy in Malta.
- Any other documents requested.
How to Apply
- To make your investment, you have to travel to Malta.
- Gather all of the paperwork you’ll need to prove you’ve made an eligible investment.
- Submit an application for a Golden Visa to the Residency Malta Agency.
- Malta resident permits will be issued to you and your family.
- You must submit an application to ascertain whether you are eligible for Malta citizenship within 12 months after acquiring your residence permits.
- You will receive an Eligibility Letter of Approval if you are eligible.
- You must submit the relevant documentation to apply for Malta citizenship after 1-3 years of stay (depending on your investment).
- You and your family relocate to Malta, and after 1-3 years, you and your family become naturalized Maltese citizens and can apply for passports.
- The application process for a Malta Golden Visa is extensive and complicated, taking several months to complete. It also varies from person to person, based on the type of investment, nationality, and family situation.
