Hungary
Hungarian guest investor programme
with no minimum stay requirement
Onboard Golden Visa · Malta
Malta, with your own business – 3 years, then 5 more
The Malta Startup Residence Programme is for people who found an innovative company in Malta or move one there, investing at least EUR 25,000. Procedures in English, an EU home on the Mediterranean, and the option of long-term residence after 5 years. We handle your case from the business plan to the residence card.
Malta
The programme in brief
- Who it is for
- Non-EU founders or co-founders over 18 (up to 6 per company), and the company's core employees
- Investment
- At least EUR 25,000 in tangible investment or paid-up share capital; a further EUR 10,000 for each co-founder beyond the fourth
- The company
- Registered no more than 7 years ago, innovative, scalable; Malta Enterprise approves the business plan
- Validity
- 3 years
- Renewal
- For 5 years if the business is operating – 8 years in total
- Family
- Spouse and child under 18 – must be listed in the first application
- spouse : yes
- child under 18 : yes
- parent : no
the family must be named in the first application
- Presence
- Genuine presence in Malta and paying tax in Malta are expected; no specific number of days is set
- Submission
- Online, on the Malta Enterprise client portal; biometrics in Malta
- Official fees
- Application fee EUR 750 per person; residence card EUR 300; work permit EUR 690 (for 3 years)
- Route to settlement
- Long-term residence after 5 years; naturalisation after 5 years at the earliest, at the authorities' discretion
Benefits
Why it works for you
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Join a ready-made concept
We have an investment concept and programme plan operating in Malta that you can join as a co-founder – you do not start from zero; the backbone of the business plan is in place.
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A low entry point to an EU home
EUR 25,000 invested in your own company – not a fee or a donation, but the business's capital.
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Eight years on one programme
3 years first, then a 5-year renewal if the company is operating.
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Handled in English
English is an official language of Malta; company formation, banking and dealings with the authorities are in English.
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It works for teams too
Up to 6 co-founders per company can obtain a permit, and core employees can also be included.
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The family stays together
Your spouse and children under 18 receive permits for the same period as you.
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A route to long-term residence
After 5 years of continuous residence in Malta you can apply for long-term residence; naturalisation after 5 years at the earliest.
Who it is for
Who it is for – and who it is not for
Who it is for
- An entrepreneur with a genuine, innovative business idea or an existing young company to take forward from Malta.
- Teams: 2–6 co-founders starting together.
- Anyone who would actually live and work in Malta, not just on paper.
Who it is not for
- Anyone looking for a passive investment with no minimum stay requirement – the Hungarian guest investor programme is a better fit.
- Anyone whose activity is not innovative, knowledge-based or technology-based: the eligible areas are manufacturing, software development, industrial services, health and life sciences, eco start-ups and other innovative activities.
- Nationals of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, the DR Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen and Venezuela, or persons closely connected to these countries – the programme excludes them.
- Anyone refused a visa by a country with a visa-free arrangement with Malta, without receiving one from that country since.
Requirements
Requirements and documents
Requirements
- Malta Enterprise approves the business plan; the company passes national investment screening.
- At least EUR 25,000 in tangible investment or paid-up share capital; +EUR 10,000 per co-founder above 4.
- The company was registered no more than 7 years ago and did not result from an acquisition or merger; the co-founder holds a significant stake.
- For core employees: a full-time Maltese contract with an annual salary of at least EUR 30,000 gross.
- No criminal record and no pending proceedings.
- Health insurance covering Malta and other European countries.
Documents required
- Detailed business plan on the official template: company, product, technology, team · activity and employment in Malta · revenue, funding, 3-year forecast and cash flow
- Bank statement showing sufficient resources
- Passport and personal documents; for family members, civil status certificates
- Police clearance certificate
- Proof of health insurance
- For core employees: employment contract
Reasons for refusal
Why applications are refused – and how we prevent it
Two bodies assess the application: Malta Enterprise the business plan and the suitability of the business, the Residency Malta Agency the person and the family. Both must say yes. The requirements are set out in the programme's official rules (Eligibility and Requirements, August 2025 version).
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The business plan does not qualify
The business must offer a new or substantially improved product or process, be able to generate revenue in several geographical markets and belong to one of the supported sectors (manufacturing, software, industrial services, health and life sciences, green and blue technology, other knowledge-based activities). A local service business is not a start-up.
We: rework the business plan with you against Malta Enterprise's criteria before submission.
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The company's form rules it out
A company older than 7 years, the takeover of another company or a merger is not accepted.
We: check this at pre-screening.
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The investment does not follow the rules
At least EUR 25,000 in tangible investment or paid-up share capital in the Maltese company (+EUR 10,000 for each co-founder beyond the fourth), from your own bank account and a proven source.
We: manage the order of the capital payment and the proof of the source of funds.
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Excluded nationality or connection
Nationals of Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen and Venezuela, or persons closely connected to them, cannot apply; the list may change.
We: check the current list at pre-screening.
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Personal grounds for exclusion
A criminal record or pending criminal proceedings; a visa refused by a country with a visa-free arrangement with Malta, without receiving one from that country since; a national security or public order risk.
We: ask about these at pre-screening – keeping quiet leads to refusal later.
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Family and insurance
Family members must be named in the first application, and later only by individual decision; insurance valid for Malta and Europe is needed for every dependant.
We: plan the family's inclusion from the start.
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After the permit
The approved activity must be maintained, the agencies can request evidence at any time, and periodic reports are due; the 5-year renewal after 3 years requires confirmation from Malta Enterprise and Residency Malta.
We: keep the reporting obligations in a calendar.
Legal basis: Malta Startup Residence Programme – Eligibility and Requirements V4.2 (August 2025); Residency Malta Agency and Malta Enterprise.
Process
How the process works
In total several months; there is no official time limit
- Pre-screening and business concept duration: 1 week
- Business plan duration: 2–4 weeks
- Submission and assessment (Malta Enterprise, Residency Malta) duration: no official time limit
- Company registration, investment, arrival, card duration: 4–8 weeks
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1. step: Pre-screening and business concept
we check whether the activity fits the programme's areas and how large a team you are starting with.
Duration: 1 week
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2. step: Business plan
on the official template – we write the text from your information.
Duration: 2–4 weeks
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3. step: Submission
on the Malta Enterprise client portal.
Duration: 1 day
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4. step: Approval-in-principle letter
applicants who need a visa apply for one with this letter.
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5. step: Company registration in Malta, making the investment, arrival, biometrics
collecting the residence card in Malta.
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6. step: Core employees
apply after the founders' permits.
Who does what
What we handle – what you need to do
We
- pre-screening
- preparing the business plan on the official template
- submitting the application and liaising with Malta Enterprise and Residency Malta
- arranging Maltese company registration and bank account opening with a local partner
- arranging accommodation
- applications for family members and core employees
- preparing the renewal
You
- the business concept and financial data
- making the investment
- original personal documents
- appearing in person for biometric enrolment
- genuine presence in Malta and running the company
Afterwards
After the permit
- at the start Permit for 3 years (permit)
- year 3 Renewal for 5 years (renewal)
- year 5 Eligible to apply for long-term residence (settlement)
- year 5 Naturalisation after 5 years at the earliest, at discretion (citizenship)
Leads to settlement after 5 years; naturalisation is discretionary.
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Renewal
for 5 years, if Malta Enterprise and Residency Malta confirm that the business is operating and the founders meet the requirements. Fees: card EUR 500, work permit EUR 1,150 (for 5 years).
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Long-term residence
after 5 years of legal, continuous residence in Malta (absences shorter than 6 months at a time, no more than 10 months in total); an integration course, basic Maltese, and proof of income, accommodation and insurance; fee EUR 500.
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Citizenship
naturalisation can be requested after 5 years of residence at the earliest (continuous residence in the 12 months before the application, plus at least 4 years in total in the 6 years before that), with knowledge of English or Maltese; the decision is discretionary.
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Family
family members' permits do not automatically give the right to work; this must be applied for separately.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much investment is really needed?
At least EUR 25,000 in your own company, as tangible assets or paid-up capital. With more than four co-founders, EUR 10,000 more for each additional one.
Can I move my existing company to Malta?
Yes, if it is no more than 7 years old, did not result from an acquisition and is innovative. The business plan must show the Maltese operation.
How long must I stay in Malta?
The programme expects genuine presence and tax payment in Malta, without a set number of days. Long-term residence requires 5 years of continuous residence, with limited absences.
When can I get citizenship?
Naturalisation can be requested after 5 years in Malta at the earliest, and the decision is discretionary – no automatic entitlement.
Can my spouse work?
A family member's permit alone does not give the right to work; a separate permit can be requested with a Maltese employer.
News
Related news
Sources
Sources and updates
Last checked:
- Residency Malta – Startup Residence Programme, requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Residency Malta – Eligibility and Requirements V4.2 (August 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Malta Enterprise – Startup Residence (opens in a new tab)
- Identità – long-term residence (opens in a new tab)
- Maltese Citizenship Act, Cap. 188 (opens in a new tab)