Malta's Startup Residence Programme Gives Non-EU Founders a 3-Year Permit
The Malta Startup Residence Programme, sometimes called the Malta startup visa, is the residence route for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss founders building an innovative startup incorporated in Malta. It also covers co-founders, specialist core employees and immediate family. Applications go through the official programme site, and Malta Enterprise must approve the business plan.
The fact that matters most is the capital rule. The Malta company must make a tangible investment and/or have paid-up share capital of at least €25,000 (eligibility guidelines, V4.2). That is a company-level requirement, not a personal living-funds test, and we could not confirm a separate personal-funds figure. In return, founders get an initial 3-year permit that can be extended by a further 5 years if the conditions are met.
The Malta Startup Residence Programme at a Glance (2026)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa name | Malta Startup Residence Programme |
| Who runs it | Residency Malta Agency, with business plan approval by Malta Enterprise |
| Initial permit | 3 years for founders, co-founders and core employees |
| Renewal | Further 5 years for founders and co-founders, further 3 years for core employees, both conditional |
| Funds / investment | €25,000 tangible investment and/or paid-up share capital in the Malta company, plus €10,000 per co-founder beyond 4; personal living-funds figure not confirmed |
| Government fee | €750 application fee per adult applicant or dependant; €300 residence card per successful applicant; €690 employment licence for the first 3 years |
| Processing time | Not published |
| Path to permanent residence | No automatic conversion confirmed; Long-Term Residence Permit possible after 5 years of legal, continuous residence, subject to tests |
| Official source | startup.residencymalta.gov.mt |
Who Qualifies
Per the official guidelines, eligible applicants are founders and co-founders, specialist core employees vital to launching the startup in Malta, and specified immediate family. Founders, co-founders and core employees must be at least 18, and everyone must meet admissibility rules, including recognised health insurance and checks on criminality and public policy.
The company must:
- Be registered for no more than 7 years, and not have taken over another enterprise or been formed through a merger
- Be innovative or knowledge- or technology-enabled; eligible areas include manufacturing, software, industrial services, health and life sciences, and eco-startups
- Meet at least 2 of the listed innovation criteria: income from different geographic markets, new or substantially improved products or services, or new or substantially improved processes
- Meet National FDI Screening Office requirements
Up to 6 co-founders are eligible. Above 4, the €25,000 minimum rises by €10,000 per additional co-founder, so 5 co-founders means €35,000 and 6 means €45,000.
Core employees
A core employee needs a full-time employment contract in Malta with the approved company and a gross salary of at least €30,000 per year. They must be hired while the venture still qualifies as a startup and must intend to make Malta their primary residence.
How to Apply
- Write the business plan. The guidelines require one for every application, including those that also seek Malta Enterprise financial assistance.
- Apply online. Use the application process linked from the programme site, which leads to the Malta Enterprise client portal. Malta Enterprise approves the business plan.
- Set up the company. Before residence cards are collected, the startup must be incorporated in Malta and registered with the relevant local authorities, and founders living in Malta must be registered as its employees.
- Add core employees and family. Core employees apply online after the founders' permits are approved. Include immediate family in the first application; later additions are decided case by case.
Fees and Processing Time
The official guidelines list these fees:
- €750 application fee per adult applicant or dependant for the initial 3-year programme
- €300 residence card per successful applicant
- €500 card renewal for founders and co-founders (further 5 years); €300 for core employees (further 3 years)
- €690 employment licence for the first 3 years; renewal is €1,150 for founders and co-founders (5 years) or €690 for core employees (3 years)
The total depends on who applies and which permits apply. No official processing time is published: neither the programme site nor the guidelines give a number of days or weeks.
Permit Length, Renewal and Permanent Residence
Founders and co-founders get an initial 3-year permit. After successful completion, it can be extended for a further 5 years, which is conditional, not automatic. Core employees get 3 years, with a possible further 3.
The programme issues temporary permits, and we could not confirm an automatic path from it to permanent residence. Separately, Identità says a non-EU national may apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit after at least 5 years of legal, continuous residence in Malta, subject to its own tests:
- No single absence over 6 months, and no more than 10 months abroad in total during the 5 years
- An integration course of 100 hours with a 75% exam score
- Maltese language testing at MQF Level 2 with at least 65%
- Financial-resource requirements
Family Members
Eligible family members are a spouse or de-facto partner, minor children, and adult sons or daughters who are principally dependent. Include them in the first application: later additions are case by case and not automatic. Family permits follow the principal applicant's permit, and family members do not get automatic access to the labour market (guidelines).
What Changed in 2025-2026
The latest official eligibility document we could verify is Version 4.2, dated 27 August 2025. It says third-country nationals in Malta-based accelerator programmes approved by Malta Enterprise get a residence permit or visa for the accelerator's duration, and may then be considered for the Startup Residence Programme after finishing and submitting a business plan. It is not labelled as new, and we could not confirm any separate official announcement of a change in 2025 or 2026.
Where Malta Fits vs Other Founder Visas
Malta is the structured option: the capital figure, fees and 3-plus-5-year term are all written down, core employees and family are covered, and the accelerator route lets you be in Malta before applying to the full programme.
The trade-offs: at least €25,000 in a Maltese company, incorporation and local registration before cards are collected, no published processing time, and no automatic work rights for family. If those matter to you, compare our Portugal, Spain and Estonia founder visa guides.
Line Up Investors Before You Relocate
The permit gets you to Malta. It does not raise your round, so start your investor research before the move.
Browse VC firms in Europe on Round Funded →
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Comparing nearby options? See the Italy founder visa guide and Cyprus founder visa guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to invest for the Malta Startup Residence Programme?
The Malta company needs a tangible investment and/or paid-up share capital of at least €25,000, plus €10,000 per co-founder beyond 4. This is a company requirement, not personal living funds.
How long does the Malta startup permit last?
3 years for founders and co-founders, extendable by a further 5 if conditions are met; core employees get 3 plus a possible 3.
How long does processing take?
No official processing time is published in the programme site or guidelines.
Can I bring my family to Malta?
Yes: a spouse or de-facto partner, minor children and principally dependent adult children. Include them in the first application. They do not get automatic labour market access.
Can I hire non-EU staff through the programme?
Yes, as specialist core employees. They need a full-time contract with the approved company, a gross salary of at least €30,000 per year, and the intention to make Malta their primary residence.
Does the programme lead to permanent residence?
Not automatically. Non-EU nationals may apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit after at least 5 years of legal, continuous residence, subject to residence, financial, integration and language tests.
Can I join a Malta accelerator first?
Yes. Participants in accelerators approved by Malta Enterprise get a permit or visa for the accelerator's duration and may then be considered for the programme.
The Bottom Line on Malta's Startup Residence Programme
Malta gives non-EU founders a clearly defined deal: €25,000 in the company, published fees, and a 3-year permit with a conditional 5-year extension. Processing time and permanent residence are the open questions, so confirm both with the programme and build your investor pipeline in parallel.
