Startup Residency

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Startup Residency

Startups can take up residency in Malta and benefit from a package of incentives

Malta’s startup scene continues to gain momentum, with accelerators and incubators of global renown establishing a presence and new initiatives fostering a supportive ecosystem that is making waves beyond its shores. Central to these efforts is the Malta Startup Residence Programme (MSRP), which allows founders, core team members and their respective families who are not EU citizens to take up long-term residence.

Through the MSRP, beneficiaries obtain the stability needed to create and implement long-term business plans, supported by Malta Enterprise, the main contact point for startups and scaleups looking to set up operations in Malta. Notably, these support measures do not require founders to give up equity in the company. Apart from the many benefits of Malta’s business and cultural environment, startups also receive the kind of personal attention that is difficult to find in larger jurisdictions.

This openness to one-to-one dialogue and active engagement to find the right solutions is one of the features entrepreneurs and investors mention most frequently when asked about their experiences in Malta, cementing the country’s reputation as a natural home for innovation.

MSRP Tax Implications

Beneficiaries of the MSRP must live and pay taxes in Malta, and are subject to statutory Maltese tax rules.

MSRP Eligibility Criteria

Startups will be considered eligible if they are engaged in innovative economic activities enabled through knowledge and technology. They must provide services or products that are not readily available on the market, or which will be provided through a novel process. Preference is given to startups involved in high-end manufacturing, industrial services, software development, life sciences, and blue, green and sustainable industries.

Nationality

Applicants must be citizens of a country that is not in the EU or EEA, and cannot be Swiss. They also cannot be citizens of countries currently subject to international sanctions. It is recommended to refer to the MSRP FAQ on the Residency Malta website (residencymalta.gov.mt) for an up-to-date list of such countries.

Position

Applicants must be the founder or co-founder of an enterprise that has been registered for not more than seven years, and which has not taken over the activity of another enterprise or been formed through a merger. Core team members must have full-time employment contracts with the startup, with gross salaries of at least €30,000.

Investment

The startup incorporated in Malta is required to have a tangible investment or paid-up share capital of at least €25,000. If more than four co-founders apply for the MSRP, an additional €10,000 must be invested for each additional co-founder.

Income

Applicants must prove sufficient financial resources by providing a bank statement.

Background check

Applicants must have a clean criminal record and must not pose any threat to national security, public policy, public health, or public interest. They must also not have had previous applications for residency or citizenship rejected, in Malta or abroad.

MSRP Application

Application and duration

MSRP applications, including a business plan, can be submitted directly by the applicants themselves to Malta Enterprise. The permit is valid for three years and is renewable for another five years, as long as the startup still meets the eligibility criteria.

Application fee

Each applicant must pay a non-refundable administrative fee of €750. This only covers the individual, so the same fee applies to each dependant.

Applicants must also be in possession of a valid travel document, comprehensive health insurance and, when travelling across Schengen, must take out travel insurance.

More information about the Malta Startup Residence Programme can be found on the website of its operator, Residency Malta (residencymalta.gov.mt), a dedicated Government-run agency.