On the 4^th July 2017, the Maltese government amended certain requirements relative to the Malta Residence and Visa Programme which effectively render the programme more attractive than it was previously.  The Malta Residence and Visa Programme is available to all non-EU applicants and grants the right to the successful applicant to reside in Malta as well as visa-free travel across all Schengen countries.

The noteworthy changes are the following:

• The €30,000 contribution fee now covers the main applicant, spouse and the children of the main applicant and/or the spouse at application stage;
• An additional €5,000 non-refundable contribution has been introduced, for each parent or grandparent of the main applicant or of the spouse at application stage;

• The Malta Residence and Visa Programme is available to all non-EU applicants and grants the right to the successful applicant to reside in Malta as well as visa-free travel across all Schengen countries

  Children over the age of 27 at the time of application can be included in the application since the age limit (previously set at 27) at application stage for unmarried economically dependant children over the age 18 has been removed;

• Children of the main applicant and/or his/her spouse, who would have qualified as dependants at application stage, will now not lose the residency rights on their 27th birthday, or if they become economically active or get married. If they marry, or enter into a similar relationship they may also be able to add their spouse/partner and their direct dependants for an additional contribution fee of €5,000 each and subject to successful due diligence checks;
• The main applicant and his/her dependants no longer need to spend a period that exceeds either six consecutive months or an aggregate period of ten months in any four-year period from the appointed day, outside of Malta. Accordingly the certificate issued under The Malta Residence and Visa Programme Regulations shall be deemed to constitute a permit issued in terms of Article 7 of the Immigration Act, conferring on the person to whom it is issued the right to land and to remain permanently or indefinitely in Malta. Moreover the main applicant and his/her dependants will become eligible to apply for Long Term Residence status subject to the respective requirements being satisfied; and
• The main applicant now has the option to apply for the inclusion on the main beneficiary certificate (subject to a successful due diligence check), against a non-refundable supplementary administration fee of €5,000 per person:
• • Children, born or adopted after the approval date, of a previously approved dependant child of the main applicant and/or the spouse, or of the previously approved dependant child’s spouse; and
  • Children, born or adopted after the approval date, of the main applicant or of his spouse.

The Malta Residence and Visa Programme grants various rights to the successful applicant other than the right to Maltese residency and visa-free travel across the Schengen countries, including the eligibility to apply for naturalisation as a Maltese citizen after a prescribed period of residence in accordance with the Malta citizenship laws and subject to any other additional requirements as may be imposed by the relevant authority/ies.