For anyone bringing a partner or children, or joining someone who is already here. Each step points to the numbered questions on the topic pages, where the official sources are. Status labels are explained on the Starting in Malta.
1. Residency status for your family
All on 1. Entry & residency unless noted.
- Which rules apply: EU/EEA/Swiss nationals register under 1.2, and non-EU nationals need a permit (1.1). See 4. EU vs third-country national (4.1) for the differences.
- Non-EU on a Single Permit or similar: 1.18 covers Family Reunification. In short, the sponsor:
- needs a permit valid for at least a year and normally waits 12 months
- shows income above the median wage plus 20% per family member
- has €100,000 health cover per family member
- applies before the family travels
- can be exempt from the wait if a Key Employee or Specialist Employee Initiative holder
- Nomad permit: family can be included at application or added later (1.10).
- Startup Residence Programme: open to founders, co-founders, core employees and their family (1.11).
- Partners: 1.16 covers partners of Maltese citizens. The Family Members Policy lists spouses and children and does not list unmarried partners of non-EU sponsors, so ask Identità (this is flagged as needs checking).
- Can your partner work? Family permits do not automatically allow work (1.18). A change to a single permit is needed.
- Staying long term: 1.15 (still needs checking). Rights compared with Maltese nationals: 4.3. Other non-employment permits: 4.2.
- Identity documents: 8.3 on 8. Cross-cutting (still needs checking).
2. Health insurance and healthcare
All on 5. Healthcare.
- Insurance your permit requires: 5.1.
- EU citizens: the EHIC (5.2, 5.3). If you live in Malta but are insured in another EEA country, dependants can be covered through an S1 (5.5).
- UK nationals: 5.6.
- Public healthcare as a resident: 5.4 (needs checking) and what is covered for free in 5.8. Finding a GP or health centre: 5.7.
3. Schools and childcare
All on 12. Schools & childcare.
- School types, compulsory age (5 to 16) and kindergarten: 12.1.
- Enrolling, documents and the Ministry for Education one-stop shop: 12.2. Non-EU children are registered through it.
- A child who does not speak English or Maltese: the induction programme in 12.3.
- Fees and who gets free state education: 12.4.
- Free Childcare Scheme for young children whose parents work or study: 12.5. Private centres or nannies: 12.6 (no official source). After-school, breakfast club and holiday care: 12.7.
- Church and independent schools: 12.8. Learning support: 12.9.
4. Somewhere to live
- Proof of housing for your permit: 8.1 on 8. Cross-cutting. Your family request also needs accommodation details (1.18).
- Renting, lease registration, deposits and ending a lease: 9.2 to 9.6 and 9.18 on 9. Housing & living arrangements. A short-let booking is not a registered lease (9.12).
- Electricity and water: 9.11.
5. Money and daily life
- Income tax bands, including the tables for married persons, parents and families with children: 10.5 on 10. Tax explained.
- Bank accounts: 3. Banking 3.1, 3.2 and the list of banks in 3.6.
- SIM and internet (11.1), getting around (11.2) and driving licences (11.3) on 11. Daily life.
What we could not confirm yet
- How non-EU family members of an EU citizen register: not covered on the pages read.
- Fees for the family permit, and current processing times (the Servizz.gov.mt page shows figures that look wrong).
- GP registration and the general route to public healthcare for new residents.
See Open questions and gaps for the full list.