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Europe · Maltese, English · updated 2026-10

Moving to Malta: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,250 a month to live in Valletta / Sliema, and a family of four about $4,800, including rent. Malta usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Nomad Residence Permit and the Global Residence Programme.

Monthly budget
$2,250
Low cost
Safety
84
Very safe
Stability
67
Stable
Family
76
Excellent
Main city
Valletta / Sliema
Language
Maltese, English
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Malta?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Malta, per month in US$

One person
$2,250
Family of four
$4,800
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Valletta / Sliema centre
$1,200
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,200
Estimate
Price level
69
US = 100
Income per person
$3,453
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
84
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.56
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+1.04
Rule of law+0.67
Control of corruption+0.18
Government effectiveness+0.76
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (67/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
76
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.709
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
5.3
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
83 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$3,623
per person / year
Education spending
4.7%
of GDP

English-speaking schools, and English is an official language.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Nomad Residence Permit€42,000 a year (€3,500/month) gross remote income.
Passive income
Global Residence ProgrammeTax-status residence for people buying or renting qualifying property.
Job offer
Key Employee InitiativeFast-track permits for highly paid specialists.
Investment
Malta Permanent Residence ProgrammeProperty plus government contribution.

Who gets easier access to Malta

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

Flag of AustriaAustriaFlag of BelgiumBelgiumFlag of BulgariaBulgariaFlag of CroatiaCroatiaFlag of CyprusCyprusFlag of the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicFlag of DenmarkDenmarkFlag of EstoniaEstoniaFlag of FinlandFinlandFlag of FranceFranceFlag of GermanyGermanyFlag of GreeceGreeceFlag of HungaryHungaryFlag of IcelandIcelandFlag of IrelandIrelandFlag of ItalyItalyFlag of LatviaLatviaFlag of LiechtensteinLiechtensteinFlag of LithuaniaLithuaniaFlag of LuxembourgLuxembourgFlag of the NetherlandsNetherlandsFlag of NorwayNorwayFlag of PolandPolandFlag of PortugalPortugalFlag of RomaniaRomaniaFlag of SlovakiaSlovakiaFlag of SloveniaSloveniaFlag of SpainSpainFlag of SwedenSwedenFlag of SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Citizenship by investment was struck down by the EU Court of Justice in 2025
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: identita.gov.mt

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Malta?

About $2,250 a month for one person and $4,800 for a family of four in Valletta / Sliema, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,200 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,200. Prices are 69% of US levels. Malta is the 55th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Malta safe to live in?

Malta scores 84/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 8th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.56 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Malta politically stable?

Malta scores 67/100 for stability (stable), ranking 33rd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Malta good for families?

Malta scores 76/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 28th of 76. Life expectancy is 83 years and under-5 mortality is 5.3 per 1,000 births. English-speaking schools, and English is an official language.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Malta?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Malta?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Citizenship by investment was struck down by the EU Court of Justice in 2025. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Malta without a job offer?

Yes. Nomad Residence Permit: €42,000 a year (€3,500/month) gross remote income. Global Residence Programme: Tax-status residence for people buying or renting qualifying property.

Does Malta have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Nomad Residence Permit. €42,000 a year (€3,500/month) gross remote income.

Who can live and work in Malta without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Malta can move