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Residency

Malta — Residency: Retirement Visa

The Malta Retirement Programme gives a special tax rate to pensioners with a documented pension as their main income and a qualifying property; the guidelines found are the 2020 version.

VerifiedGovernment / official sourceMalta Tax and Customs Administration — Malta Retirement Programme guidelines (Version 4.0, 2020)Last reviewed: 2026-10-23

Key facts

  • It targets pensioners who are not in employment, from EU, non-EU, EEA and Swiss nationalities, who draw a pension as their main income.
  • The pension must be documented and make up at least 75% of chargeable income, with all of it received in Malta.
  • Applicants cannot be Maltese nationals or Global Residence Programme beneficiaries, and must own or rent a qualifying property as their principal residence worldwide.
  • No one other than the beneficiary, dependants or household staff may live in the qualifying property.
  • Identita says Malta Retirement Programme and Global Residence Programme beneficiaries can apply for economic self-sufficiency residence permits; contact the Commissioner for Revenue for current terms.

Steps

  1. Apply for residence permit — The application process for a residence permit in Malta is complex and uncertain, and may involve submitting various documents and information

Common mistakes

  • Relying on 2020 property thresholds: confirm current terms with the Commissioner for Revenue.

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