A Digital Nomad’s Guide to the Malta Nomad Residence Permit

The Nomad Residence Permit has been warmly welcomed by the digital nomad community, with many citing Malta's excellent quality of life and Mediterranean lifestyle as key reasons for choosing the island as their base.  

Since Malta became an iGaming hub, more and more have started exploring the island nation. The cosmopolitan country has the multi-cultural life that young digital expats look for! Malta’s corporate culture has also evolved into a fun and convenient space for employees. Imagine working as you lounge on Malta’s most beautiful beaches!   

With the NRP, digital nomads can:   

• Experience the island life without lagging on work.    
• Travel easily to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.    
• Access best-in-class healthcare.    
• Discover Malta’s rich history, heritage, tradition, culture, and arts.    
• Receive support and consultations for businesses.    

Malta is also the first EU country with a 5G mobile internet service nationwide. Connectivity is never a problem for freelancers and remote workers! Moreover, English is one of the country’s official languages so communication is a non-issue. 

To qualify for the Malta Digital Nomad Visa, the applicants must prove that they can work remotely through telecoms. Applicants must be third-country nationals who fit in any of these categories:     

• Working for an employer registered in a foreign country (with a contract of work);
• Conducting business activity for a company registered in a foreign country and of which they are a partner or shareholder; or
• Offering freelance or consulting services mainly to clients whose permanent establishments are in a foreign country (applicants must have contracts of work with these establishments). 

A contract of work with a foreign employer but the services are intended for a Maltese subsidiary will not be considered for the NRP. 

Apart from the above, applicants must also provide proof of the following:   

• A monthly income of €2700 gross of tax
• Valid travel documents
• Comprehensive medical insurance while staying in Malta.
• Valid accommodation. 

Applicants must also go through and pass a background verification check. 

The following family members may also be included in the application:     

• Applicant’s spouse     
• Minor children     
• Adult children unable to cope independently due to a medical condition or disability     
• Adult children economically dependent on the main applicant     

The applicant must consider a further 20% of the median wage for each family member, as established by the National Statistics Office, on top of their monthly income. 

The Nomad Residence Permit application consists of the following:     

• Application Form N1    
• Application Form N2 (if applicable)    
• Application Form N4     
• Letter of Intent    
• International Passport    
• Employment contract and official tax documentation in case of employment    
• Documentary evidence of all business owned in part or whole in case of self-employment    
• Documentary evidence of all freelance activities in case of freelance    
• Europass CV    
• Bank Statement    
• Local or international health insurance policy (once application is approved by the Agency) 
• Health declaration    
• Marriage Certificate    
• Birth Certificate of family members (if applicable)    
• Change of Name Documents (if applicable)    
• Affidavit of Dependency (if applicable)    
• Award of custody or guardianship (if applicable)    
• Proof of Accommodation (once application is approved by the Agency) 

The processing of applications is expected to take up to 30 days after all the required documentation is submitted to the Agency. The entire process includes the following steps: 

1. Completion of documents
2. Submission of application through email
3. Application review
4. Receipt of Nomad Residence Permit or National Visa 

The government application fees for the Nomad Residence Permit cost only €300 for the main applicant and €300 for every additional applicant. Legal fees vary according to the complexity of the application. 

Here is a list of countries where applicants have to hail from, to require an entry Visa: 

Third-country nationals who must have an airport transit visa when passing through an EU airport international transit area need to hail from: