Malta Start-Up Residence Programme

The Malta Start-Up Residence Programme grants a three-year residence permit, extendable for an additional five years. After five years’ residency, applicants may also apply for long term residency in Malta.

Intended for qualifying non-EU nationals, the programme is specifically designed to facilitate the setting up of innovative start-ups and scale-ups in Malta, whilst supporting the immigration process of their founders, core employees and respective immediate family members.

The programme offers support measures administered by Malta Enterprise, which offers an array of funding opportunities and assistance without the requirement to give up equity or company ownership.

A Malta-incorporated start-up company is required to have a minimum tangible investment and/or paid-up share capital of €25,000. In cases where more than four co-founders apply, an additional €10,000 needs to be placed per additional co-founder. The maximum number of eligible co-founders is six.

Founders and/or co-founders benefitting from this programme are required to have a physical and tangible presence in Malta, not only from a business perspective but also personally residing in and paying taxes in Malta.

Applicants must also have health insurance covering themselves and any dependants in Malta.

Start-ups will be considered eligible if they are, or intend to be, engaged one of the following activities:

• High-end manufacturing.
• Manufacturing industrial services.
• Software development.
• Health, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences.
• Eco start-ups involved in blue, green and sustainable industries.
• Other innovative economic activities that are enabled through knowledge and technology’ providing services or products that are currently not readily available in the relevant market or which will be provided through a novel process.

Eligible business projects must also meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Propose products and/or services that have the potential to generate income from various geographical markets.
• Produce products and/or services that are new, innovative or substantially improved compared to complementary products on the market.
• Utilise processes that are new or substantially improved compared to those adopted in current complementary activities.