Startup Program Malta

In collaboration with Malta Enterprise, the Residency Malta agency has launched a new residence programme for beneficiaries under the Malta Start-Up Residence Programme. Like the Nomadic Residence Permit, the Malta Start-Up Residence Programme aims to attract entrepreneurial-minded individuals who wish to start their new business in Malta.

To be eligible to apply under this programme, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• They must be 18 years of age or older.
• They have the specific intention to establish and/or expand their business in Malta.
• They must be the founder or co-founder of a company that has been registered for a maximum of 7 years and meets the following requirements:
  • It has not been established through a merger
  • It has not yet distributed profits
  • It has not taken over the business of another company.
  • The founder and/or co-founders must have a physical and tangible presence in Malta, both in terms of residence (physical presence) and business activity.

Therefore, the beneficiaries must also pay their taxes in Malta.

• Be in possession of a health insurance policy covering all risks in Malta.
• Have sufficient funds in his/her own bank account to support him/her and other dependants.
• Have a clean police record and not pose a threat to national security, public order, public health or the public interest of Malta.
• They must not have had any previous applications for residence status or citizenship rejected in Malta or abroad.
• You must not be a national of or have close ties with Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or Venezuela.
• They must show a material investment and/or paid-up share capital of at least €25,000.
• The newly established company must be active in one of the following economic sectors:

1. Manufacturing
2. Software development
3. Industrial services analogous to manufacturing
4. Health, biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences
5. Eco-start-ups

• Other innovative economic activities enabled by knowledge and technology.

An eligible business project must meet at least two of the following requirements:

1. The proposal of services and/or products that are new, innovative or significantly improved compared to similar products on the market
2. The proposal of services and/or products that have the potential to generate income in different geographical markets
3. The use of processes that are new or substantially improved compared to those used in current complementary activities
4. Cooperation with the Maltese company must be maintained throughout the period of validity of the residence permit.
5. All immediate family members must be listed on the application and be entitled to a residence permit with the same validity as the sponsor (further requirements apply)
6. A business plan must be submitted on the template provided by the authority.
7. The application may also be submitted by key employees who are relevant to the start-up, have specialised skills and earn a minimum salary of €30,000 per year (further requirements apply)
8. Payment of the relevant fees, which are as follows:

€750 for each adult applicant and each dependent €82.50 to the Identity Malta Agency for each residence permit issued.

Upon successful completion of the procedure, applicants are issued with a residence permit for a period of three years. This can be extended for a further five years if the authority confirms that the start-up continues to operate, and the beneficiaries continue to meet the requirements.