For angel investors, venture investors and wealthy individuals considering Malta: residence and citizenship routes, tax programmes and investment incentives such as the Seed Investment Scheme. Added because investors are a distinct audience from founders.
Status key:
- ✅ Verified against an official page we read
- 🟡 Needs checking
- ⚪ No official source found
- 🔵 Unofficial source (guide or community, not a public authority)
Checked 22 October 2026. Row numbers (like 9.3) are used for cross-references.
13.1 Is there citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit, and who can apply?
Governed by S.L. 188.06 under Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188).
Applicants and dependants may qualify for an exceptional service to Malta or humanity, an exceptional contribution, or exceptional interest to Malta, in:
- science and research
- technology
- sport
- entrepreneurship (including job creation)
- culture and the arts
- philanthropy
Grants are discretionary and case by case. The process has three stages:
- Stage 1: a proposal letter to the Agency, assessed by a specialised board and due diligence, then approval in principle by the Minister (final, no reasons required).
- Stage 2: needs all of the following.
- at least eight months of residence in Malta
- proof of title to adequate residential property
- endorsement from a designated competent body
- knowledge of Maltese or English
- proof of ties with Malta
- Stage 3: the board reviews again and the Minister decides.
Approved applicants take the Oath of Allegiance. Citizenship can be withdrawn if a material commitment is not met.
Applicants may apply alone or through an authorised Competent Professional, and the Agency sets fees at each stage.
Official source: Community Malta Agency: Citizenship by Naturalisation on the Basis of Merit (legal basis) (Community Malta Agency)
Status: ✅ Verified · checked 2026-10-22 · For: Investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists
13.2 Can an investor still get Maltese citizenship by investment?
The Residency Malta Agency lists four residence programmes and no citizenship programme:
- Permanent Residence
- Nomad
- Startup Residence
- Family Office Residency
The merit route above is discretionary and does not set an investment amount.
Official source: Residency Malta Agency (Residency Malta Agency)
Status: 🟡 Needs checking · For: Investors
13.3 What is the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) and what does it cost?
Residency by investment for third-country nationals (not EU, EEA or Swiss), established in 2016.
Applicants need:
- stable resources
- capital assets of at least EUR 500,000 (including EUR 150,000 in financial assets) or EUR 650,000 (including EUR 75,000 in financial assets)
- a clean record
- health insurance
The application must go through a Licensed Agent.
Property: rent a qualifying home for at least EUR 14,000 a year or buy one worth at least EUR 375,000, kept for at least five years. A EUR 2,000 donation to a registered local NGO is required.
Fees on the page:
- EUR 60,000 administrative fee (non-refundable)
- EUR 37,000 government contribution
- EUR 7,500 for each adult dependant other than the spouse
- a EUR 500 residence card fee per person covering five years
All applicants go through multi-tiered due diligence. No fixed processing time is given. The page leads to permanent residence, not citizenship.
Official source: Residency Malta Agency: Malta Permanent Residence Programme (Residency Malta Agency)
Status: ✅ Verified · checked 2026-10-22 · For: Non-EU investors and families
13.4 What is the Individual Tax Programme (replacing the Global Residence Programme), and when does it start?
The official legislation page confirms that the Individual Tax Programme Rules, 2026 were published as Legal Notice 195 of 2026 on 14 July 2026. The page read shows only the title and gazette details, not the rules themselves.
Official source: Legislation Malta: Legal Notice 195 of 2026, Individual Tax Programme Rules, 2026 (Government Gazette no. 21,686, 14 July 2026)
Status: 🟡 Needs checking · For: Investors, wealthy individuals, pensioners
13.5 Is there public co-investment alongside private investors in Malta?
The press release lists a public venture capital co-investment fund of EUR 10 million, launched in 2024, matching private capital pari passu up to EUR 500,000 per startup.
It also lists:
- the Seed Investment Scheme 35% investor tax credit
- Start-up Finance of up to EUR 1.5 million per startup
- accelerator incentives
- the MDIA Pathfinder programme
It says the Ministry plans to expand co-investment.
Official source: Government of Malta press release, 18 July 2025 (Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects)
Status: 🟡 Needs checking · For: Investors, founders
13.6 How are an investor's returns and gains taxed in Malta?
No confirmed answer yet.
Source: none identified yet.
Status: ⚪ No official source found · For: Investors