Malta will require non-EU applicants for its main residence tax status to buy property worth at least €700,000 from 1 January 2027. The previous minimum was €275,000.
The changes come under the Individual Tax Programme Rules, set out in Legal Notice 195 of 2026, published on 14 July 2026, according to BDO Malta.
What changes in Malta
The new programme replaces the Global Residence Programme, the Residence Programme, the Malta Retirement Programme and the UN Pensions Programme. It has four categories, including one for third-country nationals.
- Property: a purchase of at least €700,000 or rent of at least €14,000 a year. The previous rent minimum was €9,600.
- Minimum tax: €35,000 a year for global and EU/EEA/Swiss residents, up from €15,000. Retired pensioners pay at least €15,000 and UN pensioners €20,000.
- Tax rate: 15% on qualifying foreign income brought into Malta.
- Fees: €8,500 to apply and €2,500 to renew every five years, according to ACT Legal Malta.
ACT Legal adds that regional property distinctions have been removed. Anyone granted status, or whose application is received, by 31 December 2026 keeps the current terms until 31 December 2031.
How Greece compares
Malta’s programme is a tax status that carries residence rights, while Greece’s Golden Visa is an investor residence permit tied to the investment itself. Greece’s property thresholds are €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki and larger islands, €400,000 elsewhere and €250,000 for conversions.
On tax, Malta’s €35,000 floor still sits well below the six-figure annual sums charged by the flat-tax regimes of Italy and Greece, though advisers caution that such direct comparisons oversimplify actual tax bills.
What it means for buyers
From 2027, Malta’s property entry point will be close to Greece’s top tier and well above Greece’s €400,000 and €250,000 routes. Applicants who file in Malta before the end of 2026 can still use the older terms. Greece also has its own announced 15% transfer tax on non-EU home buyers, which has not yet been legislated.
Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant.
What happens next
The new Maltese rules take effect on 1 January 2027. The cut-off for the transitional terms is 31 December 2026.
