The Malta Startup Residence Programme

A Maltese Startup Company may apply for an employment license for the company’s Non-EU, EEA and/or Swiss shareholder/s, provided that certain conditions are met, some of which are included below:

• The individual is a non-EU, EEA and/or Swiss national;
• Has a concrete intention to develop and/or expand their business in Malta and is the founder or the co-founder of a company which has been registered for not more than 7 years anywhere globally, including Malta;
• The Maltese Startup is to have a tangible investment and/or paid-up share capital of not less than €25,000;
• The founder and/or co-founders are required to relocate and take up tax residence in Malta;
• Hold a health insurance policy to cover all risks across Malta for themselves and their dependents;
• Submit an application to Malta Enterprise with a business plan that will be approved by Malta Enterprise. Eligible startup undertakings include:
  • Manufacturing;
  • Software development;
  • Industrial services analogous to manufacturing;
  • Health, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and life sciences;
  • Eco startups involved in the blue, green and sustainable industries;
  • Other innovative economic activities which are enabled through knowledge and technology providing services or products which are currently not readily available in the relevant market, or which shall be provided through a process which is novel.
• Eligible business projects must meet at least two of the following criteria:
  • Propose products and/or services that have the potential to generate income from various geographical markets;
  • Produce products and/or services which are new, innovative or substantially improved compared to complementary products on the market;
  • Utilise products which are new or substantially improved compared to those adopted in current complimentary activities.

The Malta Startup Residence Programme is an immigration status and the individual’s tax status is to be assessed separately based on the criteria applicable for tax residence in terms of domestic law and any applicable double tax treaty.

Our experts can provide professional assistance with a variety of tax and immigration matters.