Malta Start-Up Residence Programme

The Programme is open to start-ups operating in the manufacturing, software development, industrial services analogous to manufacturing, health, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences, or eco industries.

Other eligible start-ups must operate innovative economic activities, enabled through knowledge and technology and which provide services or products which are not readily available in the relevant market, or which shall be provided through a novel process.

To be eligible for this residence programme the start-up must also satisfy the following conditions:

• Have a concrete intention to develop and/or expand their business in Malta.
• Have not been registered for more than 7 years anywhere globally, including Malta.
• Must not have taken over the activity of another enterprise, or been formed through a merger.
• Must place a tangible investment and/or paid up share capital of not less than €25,000. In case where more than four (4) co-founders apply for the Start-up Residence Permit, an additional €10,000 needs to be placed per additional cofounder. In any case, the maximum number of co-founders eligible for the Start-up Residence Programme is six.

The founder must:

• Be one of the first entrepreneurs to have set-up the start-up. This would also be reflected in the market cap table.
• Be a third country nationals, excluding EU, EEA and Swiss nationals. Nationals from (or have close ties with) Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Venezuela are ineligible. The list of ineligible countries may be revised from time to time.
• Have a physical and tangible presence in Malta not only from a business point of view but also in terms of living in Malta. Thus, those benefitting need to be living and paying their taxes in Malta.

All applicants (founders and core employees) must

• Be 18 years and older;
• Have a recognised health insurance covering risks in Malta for themselves and their dependants;
• Be in possession of sufficient financial resources;
• Have a clean criminal record and no pending criminal charges and does not pose any potential threat to the national security, public policy, public health, or public interest;
• Must not have previously had applications for a residence status or citizenship rejected in Malta or abroad.