The Malta Startup Residence Programme (MSRP) enables third-country national entrepreneurs to obtain residence in Malta while establishing and operating innovative startups. Launched in October 2022 as part of the "Start in Malta" initiative, the programme is jointly administered by the Residency Malta Agency and Malta Enterprise. It targets founders, co-founders, and core employees of innovative startups and scale-ups, providing access to the EU single market and Malta's non-dilutive startup support ecosystem.
The startup must operate in an eligible sector and satisfy at least two of three innovation criteria (income potential across multiple geographical markets; new or substantially improved products/services; or new or substantially improved processes):
The initial residence permit is valid for 3 years for all categories. On successful completion, founders and co-founders (and their families) extend for a further 5 years, while core employees (and their families) extend for a further 3 years. Renewal requires Malta Enterprise and the Residency Malta Agency to confirm the startup is still operational and that eligibility criteria are met. Renewal fees apply: residence card €500 (founders/co-founders, 5-year renewal) or €300 (core employees, 3-year renewal), plus a Jobsplus employment licence renewal of €1,150 (founders/co-founders) or €690 (core employees).
Immediate family members (spouse, de-facto partner, minor children, and dependent adult children) of founders, co-founders, and core employees must be included in the first application, even if they do not intend to relocate immediately; later additions are handled case-by-case. Each adult dependant pays the €750 application fee and the €300 residence card issuance fee, and must hold recognised health insurance covering Malta and other European countries. Family of founders/co-founders extend for a further 5 years; family of core employees for a further 3 years. Family permits do not grant automatic labour-market access, though holders may apply separately to work in Malta.
Beneficiaries must reside in Malta and pay taxes locally under the Income Tax Act (Chapter 123). Individuals physically present in Malta for more than 183 cumulative days in a year are generally tax resident. Residents who are ordinarily resident and domiciled are taxed on worldwide income, while those resident but not domiciled are taxed on a remittance basis (foreign income taxed only when remitted to Malta).
Applicants first contact Malta Enterprise to discuss their project, then register on the Malta Enterprise Client Portal and submit the mandatory business plan for assessment on innovation, market potential, and viability. Upon approval of the business plan, the applicant submits a residence permit application to the Residency Malta Agency. After both agencies approve, the applicant proceeds with company incorporation in Malta (typically 3-5 days), registers as an employee of the startup, and completes biometric collection for the residence card (issued within 3-4 weeks). Core employee applications are submitted only after the founders'/co-founders' permits are approved. Fees are €750 per adult applicant/dependant, €300 for residence card issuance (to Identità), and €690 for the Jobsplus employment licence covering the first 3 years.