Malta
Malta student residence permit
The Malta student residence permit is the simplest way into Europe: a licensed school, a student visa, then a residence card, and student work of 20 hours a week alongside your studies.
News · Malta
Malta: minimum wage of EUR 229.44 a week in 2026, students must show more funds
The Maltese Government Gazette of 22 December 2025 carried Legal Notice 289 of 2025, which sets the national minimum wage at EUR 229.44 a week from 1 January 2026. For study residence, Identità (the Maltese immigration agency) requires proof of 75% of the minimum wage for every month of study, so the financial condition for students also rises.
Summary
In brief
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In the Budget 2026, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of EUR 4.66 a week; the DIER employment department's page gives this as the 2026 COLA.
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The National Minimum Wage National Standard Order, 2025 (Legal Notice 289 of 2025) was published on 22 December 2025 in Government Gazette no. 21,560.
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From 1 January 2026 the weekly minimum wage is EUR 229.44 from age 18, EUR 222.66 at age 17 and EUR 219.82 for employees aged 16 and under. In 2025 the adult minimum wage was EUR 221.78 a week.
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According to the Identità student checklist of 13 August 2025 (version 2.1), the funds must amount to at least 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study; the minimum health insurance cover is EUR 30,000.
Background
What happened
In Malta the minimum wage rises every year with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). In the Budget 2026 the Finance Minister announced a COLA of EUR 4.66 a week; the DIER page gives the 2026 minimum wage as EUR 229.44 a week and the 2025 figure as EUR 221.78 a week, and refers to the minimum wage agreement of the social partners of 25 October 2023.
The rates were fixed in law by Legal Notice 289 of 2025, published on 22 December 2025 in Government Gazette no. 21,560. According to the Bloomberg Tax report of 9 January 2026, from 1 January 2026 the order sets a minimum wage of EUR 229.44 a week for employees aged 18 and over, EUR 222.66 for those aged 17 and EUR 219.82 for those aged 16 and under.
For study residence, the financial condition is tied to the minimum wage. According to the Identità checklist for the student national visa of 13 August 2025, the funds must amount to at least 75% of the national minimum wage for every month of study, supported by bank statements for the last three months and a recent bank certificate. According to the Identità study residence page, the application must be submitted in person with an acceptance from an institution licensed by the National Commission for Higher Education, and the fee is EUR 50.
For you
What it means for you
- Higher funds: if you apply for Maltese study residence in 2026, the monthly amount to be shown follows 75% of the minimum wage, so it is higher than in 2025.
- Calculation: when you request a quote, we will calculate the exact amount for your period of study from the weekly minimum wage.
- Proof: the checklist asks for bank statements and a bank certificate; it is worth setting aside enough funds for the whole period of study in advance.
- Information: when you request a quote, we will brief you in detail on the current conditions of Maltese study residence and the submission process.
Programmes
Related programmes
Sources
Sources
Last checked:
- legislation.mt: Legal Notice 289 of 2025 – National Minimum Wage National Standard Order, 2025 – 22 December 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- DIER (Maltese employment department): National Minimum Wage – as at 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Bloomberg Tax: Malta gazettes legal notice setting 2026 weekly minimum wage rates – 9 January 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- MaltaToday: Budget 2026 shorts – 28 October 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Identità: student national visa – list of required documents, version 2.1 – 13 August 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Identità: residence permits for study, research, trainees, volunteers and interns – as at 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)