Digital Nomad Visa Malta

Are you a digital nomad dreaming of an ideal destination to work remotely from while basking in the Mediterranean sun? Look no further than Malta!

In 2021, Malta launched its Digital Nomad Visa, which gives Digital Nomads the chance to live and work in Malta and the European Union for one year, which the possibility of renewal for three.

This already popular English-speaking, small island nation with 518,536 inhabitants is a growing hotspot for digital nomads thanks to its Malta Digital Nomad Visa program.

Note: The terms nomad visa, digital nomad visa, Malta digital nomad visa, Maltese digital nomad visa, nomad residency permit and Malta nomad residence permit are used interchangeably in the following article, but all refer to the same Malta digital nomad visa application and require the same application process.

Malta is also home to Evolve Coliving, a villa with 15 private bedrooms, lightening fast 1000/60Mbps WiFi, coworking, pool, gym, jacuzzi, a very social open plan double kitchen and lounge, ping pong and pool table plus a community of 25-45-year-old digital nomads, remote workers and entrepreneurs. 

Outside of Evolve, CoCoHub runs regular digital nomad meet-up events to connect with others on the island and the famous 150+ member-strong CoCoTalks.

These talks touch on topics like community, nomad network state, psychedelics, the human operating system and many more.

Apart from all the digital nomad-specific events and communities, there are a variety of super nice beach bars, live music, beaches, and locals who are as warm and welcoming as the 300 days of sun.

Malta's Mediterranean Sea also boasts the second-best water quality in the EU and some of the best dive sites in the world!

Digital Nomad or not, Malta is a great place to visit!

A cultural melting pot with a rich and diverse history, and its museums are a fantastic dive into that in addition to wandering around the illustrious and elegant capital of Valetta and the quaint and classic original capital of Malta, which was Midina.

There is 5G and fast mobile internet nationwide, and English is the official language. These basics make day-to-day life very easy and only fuel the growing expat-friendly atmosphere.

So considering the digital nomad visa, Evolve Coliving and CoCohub communities, the sun, sandy and rocky beaches along the beautiful coastline, breathtaking views, great food, fantastic diving & snorkelling, rich history and culture and a very relaxed lifestyle. It is easy to see why Malta has been a long-time top destination!

Now, let's dive into the Digital Nomad Visa!

• The Malta Digital Nomad Visa is specifically designed to offer a unique opportunity for remote workers to reside in Malta and work for clients or a company outside of Malta.

• Eligibility criteria include a minimum monthly income of €3,500 as of the 1st of April 2024, (previously €2,700), proof of remote work, valid health insurance, valid travel documents and background checks. This adjustment also does not affect current beneficiaries applying for a renewal.

• Advantages include visa-free access to other EU countries, tax exemptions and a high-quality lifestyle for digital nomads.

• It is a perfect fit for freelancers and remote workers who can prove to have employment from a third country.

• The visa is valid for a year and, as of application after April 1st 2024, can be easily renewed for another three years, this option is open to all applicants, even those who applied before April 1st 2024.

To facilitate your adventure and enhance your new Mediterranean lifestyle, you also have the option to stay at Evolve Co-living, a stunning, long-stay, 15-bedroom villa home to a community of 25-45-year-old digital nomads, remote workers and entrepreneurs, all living and working and together.

You will enjoy amenities such as an on-site pool, coworking, 1000/60Mbps wifi, gym, jacuzzi, pool table and ping pong table, all in the 1268m2 of shared space provided.

So with the Malta digital nomad visa, the beautiful island of Malta and the instant community waiting for you at Evolve Co-living, it is easy to see why the Malta nomad residence permit is among the most popular in Europe.

As a digital nomad, we know you want freedom, and the Malta digital nomad visa does not disappoint, as it allows you to stay in all Schengen and European countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without needing an additional visa. Remember that you must stay in Malta for five months of the year to maintain your current visa and qualify for a renewal.

With this in mind, consider Maltas' prime location in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe, North Africa, and most countries in the Middle East gives you unparalleled proximity to many countries.

In Malta, you can navigate through a comprehensive bus system, utilize taxi services like Bolt and Ryde, or opt for sustainable transportation with Bolt or GoTo's electric car-sharing and scooter rentals. There is also sea transport to the beautiful neighbouring islands of Gozo and Comino.

You might utilise this transport to visit Valletta, The Three Cities, the Medieval Hilltop Town of Mdina, Rabat, Sliema and St Julian’s, Marsaxlokk, St Peter’s Pool, Mosta, Blue Grotto, Dingli cliffs, Mellieha, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, The Megalithic Temples of Malta, Blue Lagoon, Island of Comino or The Blue Grotto, golden Bay, Riviera, Gozo and much much more!

Want to minimise your taxes? As of December 7, 2023, Malta has introduced the Nomad Residence Permits (Income Tax) Rules, offering a flat 10% income tax rate for digital nomads, with the first year tax free.

This is a significant cut from the previous rate of up to 35%, and substantially better than other countries where double taxation applies. This move positions Malta as a very attractive destination for the global remote working community.

The cost of living in Malta is not the cheapest, but we believe you can live comfortably for €2000-€2500/m. Accommodation options vary significantly, with the cheapest around €500/m for a small room in a medium quality shared house well out of the centre, to €1500 for an apartment in a central area. Groceries can be around €300-400/m, and a main for a meal out is around €20.

To be eligible for a Maltese Digital Nomad Visa, the applicant must provide proof of submitting the required documents to prove they meet the following criteria.

• A monthly income totalling at least €2,700/m (€32,400/year).

• Evidence of remote employment, self-employment or freelancing work from a foreign country to prove they work remotely.

• Passed a background check.

• A valid travel document.

• A valid property rental/purchase agreement.

• A valid health insurance policy.

• Be a third-country national

• Be 18+ years old.

To obtain the Maltese Digital Nomad Visa and become a nomad residence permit holder, applicants must go through a straightforward process that we have broken down into three steps.

Stage one: Submit all the required documents detailed under the 'Approval In Principle' heading below for an 'approval in principle'.

Stage two: Submit the documents required outlined under the 'Final Approval' heading below for a final approval

Stage three: Enter Malta, set up your biometrics and receive your residency card.

You can complete the first two stages by emailing your required docs to the Residency Malta Agency at [email protected].

This stage requires the most documents, and everyone must submit the following seven documents:

• A valid passport - Submit a complete copy of every passport page (including blank ones) for each applicant. Ensure each person's entire passport is presented as a single PDF document.

• Letter of intent - A signed, dated declaration from the main applicant outlining reasons for moving to Malta from a foreign country and intent for the Nomad Residence Permit. It should also list the supporting documents for the application.

• Bank Statements - Last three months of the main applicant's bank statements, where monthly income is directly credited. Statements can be PDFs from online banking or scanned copies of stamped and signed bank-issued hard copies.

• CV - Revealing complete professional history and academic credentials.

• Application Form N1A: Personal Details (Main Applicant) – fully completed (typewritten)

• Application Form N1B: Income Details (Main Applicant) – fully completed (typewritten and signed)

• Application Form N4: GDPR (for each individual in the application) – fully completed (typewritten and signed).

Depending on your employment status, you will have to submit proof of one of the following three circumstances:

• Employed individuals - An employment contract outlining job duties and a clear declaration from the employer allowing remote work, irrespective of location, is needed.

• Self-employed individuals - A three-month bank statement showing self-employment income, along with a Certificate of Incorporation and Share Register for self-employment documentary evidence.

• Freelancers - Service contracts detailing obligations to the client, job responsibilities, and payment rates.

Note: For all employment types above, proof of a guaranteed income meeting set thresholds for at least 5 months from the application date is required. And those employed by a foreign company and serving its Malta subsidiary aren't eligible for the Maltese Nomad Residence Permit.

Depending on special circumstances you will have to submit the following forms:

• Application Form N2: Complete and sign if bringing dependents.

• Application Form N3: Changes to application form

• Marriage Certificate: Provide if the spouse is joining the Main Applicant.

• De Facto Partnership: Evidence required for unmarried couples for 2+ years (e.g., utility bills, joint accounts, photos).

• Birth Certificate: Needed for each child accompanying the Main Applicant.

• Change of Name: Provide documentation for any official name changes.

• Affidavit of Dependency: Needed for dependents over 18, except spouses.

• Custody/Guardianship: Present relevant court documents for minors. If not both parents are joining, get Residency Malta approval.

• Representative Declaration: Submit a signed declaration if using a representative for the application.

Once you have submitted the required documents to [email protected], Residency Malta Agency Customer Care Officers will vet the application, and after a successful submission, a Receipt of the Application will be issued with instructions for payment of €300 Administrative Fee (non-refundable) for each applicant via bank transfer.

Upon payment receipt, Residency Malta Agency will initiate the application process, which they say typically takes up to 30 working days (however, in reality, it is more like 60 working days from the feedback we get) from the fund acknowledgement date. This timeframe doesn't account for any additional visa issuance processing.

If the application is successful, an approval is principle letter is issued.

Within another 30 days of receiving your approval in principle, you'll need to provide the following to receive your final approval:

• Accommodation Proof: Evidence of your stay for the entire 12-month permit period. Have you considered staying at Evolve Coliving? A community for 25-45-year-old professionals who are Digital Nomads, remote workers and entrepreneurs in Malta. We provided leases that satisfy this requirement.

• Health Insurance: A year-long comprehensive, valid health insurance policy for you and any beneficiaries. Travel insurance won't suffice. It must be health insurance. British nationals are, however, exempt from providing health insurance.

• Travel Insurance: Necessary for beneficiaries travelling within the Schengen Area.

When all documents on the checklist have been submitted correctly, oftentimes within the same day, the Agency will send a final acceptance letter

From the date your final approval is granted, you have 90 days to schedule a biometrics appointment via email with Residency Agency Malta.

You may, therefore, proceed in one of two ways. If you do not require an entry visa to enter Malta, you may move to Malta right after getting the approval letter from the Residency Malta Agency and attending your biometrics appointment.

If an entry visa (Also referred to as a National Entry Visa) is needed, the Central Visa Unit will reach out to provide details about obtaining the entry visa and discuss the option for the Premium Visa Service offered by Identity Malta Agency for an additional fee of €300. (not for all nationalities)

This Premium Visa Service is an expedited door-to-door service, eliminating the need to visit a Maltese embassy for an entry visa. For more details, contact the Central Visa Unit at [email protected].

Again, once in Malta, you can attend your scheduled biometrics appointment.

After the biometrics appointment, the residence card is produced in 2-3 weeks, and once ready, Residency Agency Malta will email the applicant to collect it from their office.

Remember to bring your passport for verification, and that's it, your done!

Before you proceed with your own application online, best to review the following essential points to ensure a smooth and successful submission:

• Complete forms online and send them in PDF to the Agency. Sign manually in blue ink.

• Handwritten forms are not accepted.

• The Main Applicant signs for dependents under 18.

• Bank statements must be official, from online banking in PDF or stamped signed hard copies. No snapshots or self-generated copies. Details must be clear and unmasked.

• All documents should be in English; translations are required otherwise.

• The Agency might request extra documents.

• Submit all documents in PDF. Multi-page items, like passports, should be one PDF. Improper formats won't be accepted.

• Fees must be paid from the Main Applicant's bank account.

There are a lot of options in Malta. Airbnb, hostel, hotel. All with unique pros and cons. But hands down, Evolve Co-living will give you the best experience of this beautiful island and enhance your day-to-day life because of its digital nomad community & facilities. In addition, we do supply leases that make up the digital nomad visas required documents.

Yes, it is our business, yes, we wrote this article to make you aware of Evolve, and so yes, we have a huge bias, but our whole business model is built by digital nomads and entrepreneurs and for 25-45-year-old digital nomads, remote workers and entrepreneurs.

We write articles like this and run ads to attract the maximum number of people to Evolve so we can filter and handpick the best people for you to live and connect with.

We take a community-first approach by implementing a minimum of one month stay and move-in and move-outs only on the 1st or 15th of the month. I mean, where else do you find this?

This minimises disruption to the in-house experience and lets you know you will spend at least two weeks (typically one month or longer) with the people there when you move in, giving you a chance to form real connections and bonds.

We even have a "longer you stay, the less you pay" pricing model to encourage longer stays and build stronger community ties over time.

We have a 1650m2 villa in the Mediterranean with a pool, jacuzzi, coworking, 1000/60Mbps wifi from two providers on a custom dual band balancing router; all backed up with a USP for the best possible wifi experience, desks and chairs in every room, and a gym, pool and ping pong table.

The weather is amazing in Malta; we have 300 days of sun, and our winter is second to none in Europe. We have beach days in December, and Christmas is often spent in shorts, t-shirts and sunglasses! And the locals are as warm and welcoming as the Mediterranean Sea.

So what are you waiting for? Seriously, you are already this far, which means you are curious; dip your toe in a bit further and apply to Evolve now to learn more about availability, how it all works, the digital nomad visa and whatever else you have queries about. We are here to help!

To conclude, here is the full list of countries, where you can get a Digital Nomad Visa in 2023:

*Digital Nomad Visa introduced but not yet implemented