The MPRP application process
The stages from appointing a licensed agent to annual compliance, with the documents, responsibilities, official deadlines and legal references for each.
The stages below follow the sequence set by regulation 9 and the Residency Malta Agency's published procedure. Official deadlines are those written in the regulations; where we give an indicative duration it is labelled as general information. Processing times are not fixed by law and the Agency does not guarantee them.
The stages, step by step
Step 1 of 8
Appoint a licensed agent and prepare the application
Every application must be made through an agent licensed by the Residency Malta Agency. The applicant signs a power of attorney authorising the agent, who advises on obligations, gathers documents and performs know-your-customer checks. Only one agent may be authorised at a time, although the agent can be changed.
Documents
Power of attorney (full details of applicant, agent and witness; valid for the whole process); agent's KYC evidence; introductory letter from the agent explaining the applicant's motivation.
Who is responsible
Main applicant and licensed agent
Official deadline
No statutory deadline for this stage.
Indicative duration (general information)
Document gathering commonly takes several weeks, depending on how quickly certificates and translations can be obtained (general information, not an official timeline).
Potential considerations
Agents set their own fees; the Agency publishes no fee guidelines. Choose an agent from the Agency's public register.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the MPRP application take?
The regulations set deadlines for the applicant (initial fee within one month of submission; fee balance within two months and property, contribution, donation and insurance within eight months of the Letter of Approval in Principle) but no statutory processing time for the Agency. The Agency says decisions are communicated within a reasonable timeframe commensurate with due-diligence checks. Any overall timeline you see elsewhere is an estimate.
Can I live in Malta while the application is being processed?
Since Legal Notice 146 of 2025, on submission of the application the applicant may apply for a temporary residence permit valid for one year for themselves and their dependants, renewable for further one-year periods provided all application documentation is submitted within six months of the application.
Do I have to use a licensed agent?
Yes. The regulations require every application to be made through an agent licensed by the Residency Malta Agency. The Agency publishes a public register of licensed agents. Agents set their own professional fees.
Why can an application be refused?
Grounds include failing the fit-and-proper criteria in regulation 13 (criminal charges or convictions, sanctions listings, threats to public policy or security, previous refusals), providing false or misleading information or omitting requested information, not paying the initial fee within one month, and not fulfilling the property, contribution, donation and insurance requirements within the deadlines after approval in principle. Agency decisions are discretionary and not subject to appeal.
Sources & Verification
Verified 30 September 2026 against the sources below- Legislation
Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations (S.L. 217.26), consolidated
Government of Malta — Subsidiary Legislation under the Immigration Act (Cap. 217)
Subsidiary Legislation 217.26 — Malta Permanent Residence Programme Regulations, L.N. 121 of 2021 as amended by L.N. 57 and 310 of 2024 and L.N. 146 of 2025
- Published
- 29 Mar 2021
- Effective
- 22 Jul 2025
- Last checked
- 30 Sept 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: SL-217-26Official requirement - Government Publication
Residency Malta Agency — MPRP Frequently Asked Questions (V2.6.1)
Residency Malta Agency (Government of Malta)
Frequently Asked Questions — Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), version 2.6.1
- Published
- 01 Jul 2024
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 30 Sept 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: RMA-MPRP-FAQ-2-6-1Official requirement - Official Authority
Residency Malta Agency — Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) page
Residency Malta Agency (Government of Malta)
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) — eligibility criteria, application & programme requirements, benefits
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 30 Sept 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: RMA-MPRP-PAGEOfficial requirement
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Written by
Malta MPRP Guide Editorial Team
Research & editorial
The editorial team researches the Malta Permanent Residence Programme directly from the consolidated regulations (S.L. 217.26), the Legal Notices that amend them and the Residency Malta Agency's published material. Ever…
Reviewed by
Fact-check & source review
Responsible for reviewing published pages against the current text of S.L. 217.26 and the Agency's official pages, recording the verification date and flagging any page that needs an update after a legislative change. R…