Malta Startup Residence Programme

To continue promoting and attracting new talent and highly innovative startups from around the world Malta has launched the Startup Residence Program. Its aim is to support third-country national entrepreneurs, and their family members and give them the opportunity to bring their ideas to a European market by conferring immigration rights. 

Beneficiaries of the Startup Residence permit are legally entitled to live and work in Malta – and have access to the Maltese market as a platform for European and International expansion. This, coupled with various support schemes and incentives that are specifically targeted to start-ups, and a business-friendly tax system, offer stability to both your business and family.

The validity of the permit is of three years, which can be extended by a further five years in the case founders, co-founders, and family members, and a further three years by core employees (as defined) and their family members. After this is up, one can apply for a (possibly indefinite) extension.

Eligibility Criteria of the Startup Residence Program

To be eligible one must:

• be 18 years old.
• be a Third Country National (TNC) – excluding EU, EEA and Switzerland and nationals from currently ineligible countries of (or have close ties with) Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela are not eligible. Additionally, applications from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus are currently ineligible countries may be revised from time to time by the Agency, at its discretion.
• have a concrete intention to develop and/or expand their business in Malta
• physical & tangible presence in Malta (not only from a business point of view but also in terms of living and paying their taxes in Malta)
• be the first to have set-up the start-up.

Startup requirements

Own an enterprise which:

• has been registered for not more than seven years anywhere globally (including Malta),
• has not taken over the activity of another enterprise,
• has not yet distributed profit, and has not been formed through merger.
• investment / paid-up share capital of more than €25,000 is placed. (additional funds need to be placed in case of more than 4 co-founders with a maximum of 6.)
• activities: manufacturing; software development; industrial services analogous to manufacturing; health, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life science; eco startups involved in the blue, green and sustainable industries; other innovative economic activities providing services or products which are currently not available in the relevant market
• is engaged in an eligible business project that meet at least two of the following criteria:
  • potential to generate income from various geographical markets;
  • new, innovative or substantially improved services/products compared to complementary products on the market;
  • uses substantially improved processes compared to those adopted in current complementary activities.

Other conditions apply such as submission of a detailed business plan approved by Malta Enterprise and compliance with timely monitoring procedures of the National FDI Screening office to ensure continuous suitability to the programme.

Core Employees

This programme is also open for core employees who are vital for the startup and who have specialised skills and earn more than €30,000. Their permit will be issued for three years, and can be extended to a further 3-year period. The application can be submitted online after the Malta Startup Residence permit is approved for the co-founders. They must be a third-country national, 18 years and older, have a full time employment contract in Malta with the company which has benefited from the Startup Residency programme, and declare at application stage the intention to hold their primary residence in Malta (a minimum of 183 days cumulative physical presence during a period of 365 days.)

In addition to the above, applicants (both co-founder or core employee) also have to have health insurance, sufficient financial resources and no criminal records.

Entry Visa

Third-country nationals who require a visa to be admitted to Schengen territory may opt to apply for this following the issuance of a Letter of Approval in Principle. Applicants may also apply for a Premium Visa Service which is the issuance of a National D Visa against an additional charge of €300 payable to Identity Malta Agency.

Family Members

The Malta Startup Residence Program is open to family members of startup founders and core employees. Their permits will have the same validity and include spouse, de-facto partner, minor and dependent adult children. The residence permit does not grant family members automatic access to the labour market. However, one can make use of an existing lean processes to submit the necessary applications to take up employment in Malta.