Malta

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Showing Malta's requirements for Chinese citizens. Other passports:🇺🇸 US 🇬🇧 UK 🇿🇦 ZA 🇨🇦 CA 🇦🇺 AU 🇮🇳 IN 🇧🇷 BR All passports

Last updated June 2026Sources:residencymalta.gov.mt,nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt,nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt,ccmalta.com

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Nomad Residence Permit

Official nomad visa

What this visa gets you

Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
1 year initially, up to 4 years total
Permanent residency
Not via this programme
Citizenship
Not via this programme

Nomads who have lived in Malta for extended periods report it has a genuine Mediterranean appeal — kind locals, excellent weather, English widely spoken, great sea access — but warn of a frustrating undercurrent of civic disorder: heavy traffic, constant construction noise and dust, litter, and what several describe as corruption or unreliable public services. One commenter compared the vibe to 'if Egypt and Sicily merged.' Several say it's fine for a visit or short stay but not necessarily a great long-term base.

Nomads who have lived in Malta for extended periods report it has a genuine Mediterranean appeal — kind locals, excellent weather, English widely spoken, great sea access — but warn of a frustrating undercurrent of civic disorder: heavy traffic, constant construction noise and dust, litter, and what several describe as corruption or unreliable public services. One commenter compared the vibe to 'if Egypt and Sicily merged.' Several say it's fine for a visit or short stay but not necessarily a great long-term base.
r/expats ↗r/digitalnomad ↗r/malta ↗
One entrepreneur who has been in Malta for 1.5 years describes the tax laws as 'amazing and incredibly beneficial' for business owners, and notes that housing is affordable compared to major European cities and that prices generally feel reasonable versus places like Amsterdam or London. This sentiment is echoed by others, though those coming from Northern Europe with high civic expectations report feeling worn down by the lack of reliable public infrastructure over time.
r/malta ↗r/expats ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Income requirement: EUR 42,000 per year (gross)
Application fee: €300
Family allowed: Yes

Early community discussion of the permit flagged a question about whether applicants need to prove their income is already taxed in their home country, since the original framing was that income would not be taxed in Malta if taxed at source. One user questioned what happens if the income is not taxed at origin. This uncertainty pre-dates the newer 10% flat-rate structure but nomads suggest it's worth clarifying with officials or a local accountant before applying.

Early community discussion of the permit flagged a question about whether applicants need to prove their income is already taxed in their home country, since the original framing was that income would not be taxed in Malta if taxed at source. One user questioned what happens if the income is not taxed at origin. This uncertainty pre-dates the newer 10% flat-rate structure but nomads suggest it's worth clarifying with officials or a local accountant before applying.
r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

How do Chinese citizens apply for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?

Can Chinese citizens apply from inside Malta?

Yes. Chinese applicants may submit from inside Malta.

How long does the Malta Nomad Residence Permit really take for Chinese citizens?

18–20 weeks (≈ 4–5 months)

Police clearance (verified)1w
Apostille (typical)1w
Consular appointment (typical)4w
Processing 12–14w official12w
Post-arrival registration (typical)2w

Official processing: 12–14 weeks. The rest is doc gathering + waiting in a queue, none of which the consulate counts.

Avoid these

What do people get wrong about the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?

Underestimating timing by a factor of 2–3. The "60-day processing" line is real, but it's only the consulate's processing window. The door-to-door reality includes police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead, and post-arrival registration, so most applicants land between 4 and 7 months.
Skipping or mis-formatting the apostille. Apostille is the single most cited rejection reason. Every supporting document from your home country needs an apostille from the right authority, and they expire. Don't apostille more than 4 months before submission.

Documents

What Chinese applicants typically submit

Documents needing an apostille (Chinese authorities):

Notarial Certificate of No Criminal Record (无犯罪记录公证书), issued by a Chinese Notary Public Office on the basis of the Public Security Bureau record. This is the one document the checklist specifically tied to the apostille requirement.
Marriage certificate notarial certificate, where a spouse is included in the application
Birth certificate notarial certificate for each child accompanying the main applicant
Change of name or surname notarial certificate, where the applicant has changed their official name

Worth knowing: Malta is the rare European nomad route where the permit is never lodged at a consulate: a Chinese applicant files the whole thing on Residency Malta's online portal from home, and the consulate only enters the picture afterwards, to issue the visa that lets you physically arrive. That ordering is the single most important thing to grasp, because it means the EUR 300 application fee is spent before anyone has looked at whether you can get in. China sits in Annex I of Regulation 2018/1806, so a Chinese ordinary passport needs a visa for Malta, and there are two ways to hold one. If you are already in Malta on a valid Schengen C visa with at least 30 calendar days left to run, you skip the entry visa entirely and go straight to biometrics. Otherwise the Central Visa Unit contacts you after final approval and you lodge a national D visa through the Visa Extended Service, available in 15 Chinese cities, all run by VFS Global, all deciding back in Malta rather than at the Beijing embassy or the Shanghai consulate. The documentary sting is the police conduct certificate: Malta exempts Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and Canada from apostille, and China is not on that list, so the PSB record has to go through a 公证处 notarial certificate and then an MFA or provincial FAO apostille, plus an English translation. One more Chinese-specific trap sits in the fee mechanics: Residency Malta requires the EUR 300 to be transferred from the main applicant's own bank account, and the same file wants three months of unmasked bank statements showing income credited directly to that account, which is awkward for freelancers paid through Alipay, WeChat Pay or a third party.

At least one nomad reports successfully completing the Malta NRP application entirely solo without an agent. However, early permit holders also report being caught off-guard by unexpected communications from the tax authority after approval, suggesting the process has had administrative rough edges. One community member with an approved-in-principle permit notes they found an apartment before the permit was fully finalised, suggesting housing can be sorted in parallel.

At least one nomad reports successfully completing the Malta NRP application entirely solo without an agent. However, early permit holders also report being caught off-guard by unexpected communications from the tax authority after approval, suggesting the process has had administrative rough edges. One community member with an approved-in-principle permit notes they found an apartment before the permit was fully finalised, suggesting housing can be sorted in parallel.
r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Tax

How is Nomad Residence Permit income taxed for Chinese citizens?

Under the Nomad Residence Permits (Income Tax) Rules (S.L. 123.210, introduced by Legal Notice 277 of 2023, effective 1 January 2024), income from authorised remote work is exempt from Malta income tax for the first 12 months from the date the permit is issued (or from 1 January 2024, whichever is later), provided residence in Malta during that period is merely of a casual nature; the expectation is that the income is taxed in the home country instead. After that period a 10% flat tax applies to that authorised-work income, with relief where at least 10% tax has already been paid on it abroad. Main applicants may opt in to taxation earlier by written declaration (declaring residence not merely casual). The Residency Malta Agency does not provide tax advice and directs applicants to seek independent advice.

Tax treaty with ChineseYes

Social-security totalisationNo

Money, roughly (sourced)

Regime: Nomad Residence Permit, 10% flat on authorised work income (12-mo exemption first), about 10% effective tax on €60k/yr.

10% flat applies to 'qualifying income' from authorised remote work after a 12-month income-tax exemption; other Malta-source income stacks on top at progressive 0-35%. Double-taxation relief applies where >=10% foreign tax already paid. Benefit hinges on holding a valid permit and the non-dom remittance basis.

Capital gains: see note. No flat headline CG rate: Malta-source gains on immovable property/securities are taxed under specific rules (often an 8% property transfer tax or added to income), but for a relocating remote worker with a foreign brokerage the key fact is that foreign gains are untaxed.

Living comfortably to well in Valletta runs about €1,900–€2,650/mo for one person, incl. rent. Roughly 39% more than the same living in Shanghai, which runs about ¥10,550/mo (≈ €1,365).

Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →

Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.

Community members report that Malta's Nomad Residence Permit initially launched with a promise of zero local tax, but early holders received unexpected emails from Malta's tax authority (CFR) suggesting that promise may not have been properly legislated — one commenter called it 'banana republic-level.' More recently, nomads report the tax structure has been formalised as zero tax in year one and a 10% flat rate on foreign-sourced income thereafter, with no social security obligations on the foreign employer. Several users note cautious optimism but say the earlier confusion makes them want to

Community members report that Malta's Nomad Residence Permit initially launched with a promise of zero local tax, but early holders received unexpected emails from Malta's tax authority (CFR) suggesting that promise may not have been properly legislated — one commenter called it 'banana republic-level.' More recently, nomads report the tax structure has been formalised as zero tax in year one and a 10% flat rate on foreign-sourced income thereafter, with no social security obligations on the foreign employer. Several users note cautious optimism but say the earlier confusion makes them want to
r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗r/digitalnomad ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Recommended for your move

FAQ

Malta Nomad Residence Permit: common questions

Can Chinese citizens get the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?

Yes. The Nomad Residence Permit is open to Chinese passport holders as non-EU nationals. The main requirement is proof of gross income of at least €42,000 per year.

Can I apply for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit from inside Malta?

Yes. Chinese applicants may submit the Nomad Residence Permit application from inside Malta.

How long does the Malta Nomad Residence Permit take for Chinese applicants?

Official processing is 12–14 weeks. Door-to-door, including police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead time, and post-arrival registration, most Chinese applicants take about 12–14 weeks (roughly 3–3 months).

Do I need an apostille for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?

Yes. Supporting documents issued in China (such as your police clearance) must be apostilled by the competent China authority before submission. Apostilles can expire, so don't obtain them more than a few months ahead of applying.

How much does the Malta Nomad Residence Permit cost?

The government application fee is about €300. The consular fee paid in China is approximately 300 EUR. Budget separately for police clearance, apostille (if required), translations, and required health insurance.

Can I bring my family on the Malta Nomad Residence Permit?

Yes. Spouses and dependent children can generally be included as dependants, usually with a higher combined income requirement and their own supporting documents.

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Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.