Country Update 2026: MALTA

Contributed by: Marina Magri

May 2026

1. Legislative Changes

Legislative changes during this period have primarily focused on:

• The Introduction of the Temporary Residency Permit for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP);

• Tighter scrutiny of employment linked residence permits;

• Introduction of Merit Based Citizenship Framework within the Maltese Citizenship Act.

2. Business Immigration

A)    Business visitors

There have been no changes to Business visitor rules in Malta. 

B)    Temporary immigration categories

There have been no changes to Temporary Immigration  rules in Malta. 

C)   Employment-based immigration (work and residence permits)

The Skills Pass regime reached full implementation in January 2026. All third country nationals  employed within the tourism and hospitality sector, are now required to hold a valid Skills Pass.

Existing initiatives aimed at attracting specialised and highly qualified third country nationals remain in force, with a continued policy emphasis on qualifications, salary thresholds, and labour market needs rather than numerical expansion.

In July 2025, Malta introduced a major Labour Migration Policy reform that reshaped how third country nationals are recruited and managed in the labour market.

Employers must now:

• Advertise any position for at least two to three weeks before hiring a third country national,

• Vacancies must also appear on the Jobsplus and EURES platforms. 

The fee structure for such application has also been updated.

·       A fee of €600 for first-time applications and changes of employer,

·       €300 for changes of designation,

·       €150 per year for renewals, and

·       €150 for roles in the health sector and elderly or disability care.

There were measures introduced to place greater emphasis on language and integration requirements. While there is no strict standalone obligation to demonstrate fluency in Maltese, applicants are required to complete structured training modules as part of the Skills Pass and pre‑departure process. These include:

• Applicants must complete modules like “Living and Working in Malta” and “Rights and Obligations at the Workplace”.

• They must then attend an interview to confirm English language proficiency.

D)   Investment-based immigration (Investors/Entrepreneurs)

MPRP Programme- Key Reforms Under Legal Notice 146 of 2025:

The Malta Permanent Residency Program (MPRP) has undergone significant changes aimed at investors seeking permanent residency. Key updates include:

Agenda	Summary of Change
Temporary Residence Permit	Introduction of a 1-year temporary residence permit allowing applicants and dependants to reside legally in Malta while applications are processed.
Unified Contribution	A single €37,000 contribution applies to all main applicants, removing the distinction between rental and purchase options.
Administration Fee	Administration fee remains €60,000, payable in two stages: €15,000 at submission and €45,000 after Approval in Principle.
Dependants’ Fee Structure	Spouse and minor children: €0 (previously €10,000 each). Adult dependants: €7,500 (reduced from €10,000).
Property Use Flexibility – Owners	Property owners may rent out their qualifying property when not residing in Malta.
Property Use Flexibility – Renters	Rental applicants may sublet the qualifying property after five years, subject to landlord consent.

3. Family reunification

Policy discussions initiated in 2025 concerning the streamlining of family reunification procedures continued into 2026. While no comprehensive legislative overhaul has yet been adopted, authorities placed greater emphasis on documentary quality, consistency, and verification, leading to closer scrutiny of civil status documents (including authentication and certified translations), accommodation adequacy, and financial resources assessed against NSO wage benchmarks. Attention has also been directed toward dependency evidence in cases involving adult family members assessed under discretionary criteria.

4. Asylum

No mayor issues in this area.

5. Immigration appeals board

• Stricter deadline introduced - Appeals must be filed very quickly, within 3 days, or 15 days for visas.

• Overall time limit decisions - Appeals must be concluded within 60 to 90 days.

• More structured appeal process - More formal written submissions.

• Stricter procedural compliance - Appeals must be filed by the applicant personally (not the employer, unless authorised).

These changes occurred following various ECtHR judgements, mentioned below.

6. Deportation

No mayor issues in this area.

7. Citizenship

Citizenship developments during this period were largely shaped by changes to Malta’s legal framework following the judgment in Case C‑181/23. The Court found that the previous investor citizenship model was, in substance, based on a transactional exchange of nationality for predetermined financial contributions, which prompted Malta to reassess its approach on principles of genuine link.

In response, Malta moved away from a system based on predetermined financial contributions and placed greater emphasis on merit, contribution, and a genuine connection to Malta, including residence, integration, and long-term engagement with the country.

Legal amendments to S.L. 188.06 have changed the way in which foreign Nationals can apply for Maltese Citizenship, by enhancing the Maltese Citizenship by Merit Framework to include a broader spectrum of individuals that are eligible to apply.