Malta digital nomad visa: Complete guide

Love the idea of working as you travel the world? If all you need is an internet connection to do your job, you might want to become a digital nomad.

Malta is a popular destination for digital nomads, thanks to its warm Mediterranean climate, vibrant culture and English-speaking population. It’s also known for having lots of co-working space, fast internet and a growing remote worker community.

In this guide, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about the Malta digital nomad visa. This includes what it is, how long it lasts and how to apply for it as a UK national, including what documents you’ll need and the application fees.

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Malta digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

Malta is one of many countries which has a digital nomad visa.

Known as the Nomad Residence Permit, this visa gives foreign citizens the legal right to live and work in the country for the purposes of carrying out remote work. It lasts for one year, with the option to renew.¹

You can include dependents with this visa, which is ideal if you plan to move to Malta with your family.

To meet the Malta digital nomad visa requirements, you must be:²

• A citizen of a third country - non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss
• Able to demonstrate a minimum gross yearly income of €42,000 EUR
• Working for an employer registered in a foreign country, the owner of a business registered in a foreign country or working as a freelancer/consultant with clients in foreign countries - the main point here is that you can’t work for clients or companies in Malta, even subsidiaries.

How much does it cost?

The Malta digital nomad visa costs €300 EUR in non-refundable application fees.³ This is per applicant, so you’ll have additional costs to pay if you’re applying with your spouse and/or children.

Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting private health insurance - which is a mandatory requirement for applicants.³

What documents do you need?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a digital nomad visa for Malta:⁴

• A valid passport (copies of all pages)
• Completed N4 application form - one for each person applying
• A signed and dated letter of intent - this should outline your reasons for moving to Malta and applying for this visa
• A copy of your CV
• Bank statements from the last 3 months
• A police conduct certificate from the UK
• Proof of employment/self-employment/freelance work - such as a contract of employment, official company documents if you own a business, or service contracts if you’re a freelancer
• Other documents - such as marriage or birth certificates if you’re applying with your family, and consent forms signed by both parents if children are on the application.

These are the documents you’ll need for the first stage of the application process. To complete the next stage, you’ll also need proof of health insurance and proof of accommodation - this could be a hotel booking, rental contract or mortgage/deed documents if you’ve bought a property in Malta already.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa in Malta

You can apply for the Malta digital nomad visa through the Residency Malta Agency website. This is the government agency responsible for managing residency programmes in Malta.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:³

1. Get your documents together
2. Check your eligibility - in particular, that you’re able to meet the minimum income threshold of €42,000 EUR a year
3. Go to the Residency Malta Agency website and read the application guidelines carefully
4. Select ‘Apply Here’ from the menu and choose ‘Submit or Renew Application’
5. Create an account
6. Start your application, providing all the required details and uploading your supporting documents when prompted.
7. Pay the application fee
8. Submit your application and wait to hear back. It can take up to 30 days for your application to be processed.
9. If successful, you’ll get a Letter of Approval in Principle. You’ll then need to submit evidence of a health insurance policy and proof of accommodation/address in Malta - you’ll need to do this within 30 days.
10. You’ll receive a Letter of Final Approval, and you can pick up your residence card around 3 to 4 weeks after that.
11. If you need an entry visa, you’ll be contacted by the Central Visa Unit at Identità with more information on the process.

With your visa sorted, you can get on with your other preparations, such as packing, booking your flights and perhaps opening a local bank account in Malta.This isn’t essential but could be useful to have, especially if you’re not able to keep your UK account open.

Once you’re in Malta, you may also need to make an appointment to have your biometric information taken.³

How long can you stay in Malta as a digital nomad?

The Malta digital nomad visa lasts for 1 year, and you can renew after that as long as you meet the conditions.¹

Taxes for digital nomads in Malta

You’ll be happy to hear that there’s no specific Malta digital nomad visa tax you need to know about.

In fact, it’s quite the opposite - anyone working in Malta on a digital nomad visa is exempt from income tax for the first 12 months. After this, there’s a flat rate of 10% tax.⁵

It’s different if you’re running a business in Malta, as the country does have some corporate taxes for businesses.

Save on your relocation costs with Wise

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Malta. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.

Before moving to Malta, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rate. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

FAQs

Can I work remotely in Malta for a UK company?

Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility requirements - including earning at least €42,000 EUR (or the currency equivalent) a year - you can work remotely for a UK company in Malta.

Does a Malta digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

No, the digital nomad visa doesn’t provide a route to citizenship or permanent residency in Malta.

If you want to move there permanently, you’ll need to look into other routes such as a work visa or citizenship by investment visa.

Can I bring my family with me on the Malta digital nomad visa?

Yes, with the Malta digital nomad visa, you can include family members in your application. You’ll need to provide extra documents (such as marriage and/or birth certificates to prove your relationships) and extra application fees may apply.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 30-Jul-2025