MPRP property requirements and options

Official property requirement

A qualifying property is either a qualifying owned property — a residential property purchased (or acquired by emphyteusis) for at least €375,000 — or a qualifying rented property — a residential property leased for at least €14,000 per year — situated in Malta or Gozo. In both cases it must meet the general health and safety standards in force in Malta and be "normal for a comparable family in Malta, as the Agency considers appropriate for residence". [Government of Malta — Subsidiary Legislation under the Immigration Act (Cap. 217)]

Timing

You do not need the property when you apply. Title must be presented within eight months of the Letter of Approval in Principle. A property bought or leased before submission is acceptable if it meets the rules. The lease should start close to the submission of the final proofs; the Agency applies a tolerance of up to three months.

Holding period and replacement

The property must be held for five years from the certificate date. Within that period, with the Agency's consent and without gaps, an owned property can be replaced with another owned property and a rented property with another rented or an owned property. Moving from owned to rented is not allowed. The Agency may carry out spot checks and must be given access.

Renovated property

A property bought before the application for less than €375,000 can qualify if works paid for by the applicant bring its value to at least €375,000, evidenced by an independent architect's detailed valuation with plans and a description of works. The Agency may appoint its own architect and decides whether the requirement is met.

What does not qualify

Hotel rooms, commercial premises and other non-residential property do not qualify. The regulations require a residential property.

Purchase route

See Property purchase: the AIP permit, Special Designated Areas, documents and the role of a notary.

Rental route

See Property rental: minimum lease term, Housing Authority registration, the documents the Agency expects and continuity of residence.

Locations

The regulations no longer distinguish between regions. Our Malta location guide describes towns and regions to help you choose, clearly separated from the official requirements.

Property market information

Market prices, rental yields and availability are general information, not MPRP requirements. Where we list properties from partner feeds, a listing marked as meeting the minimum threshold means only that its price or rent is at or above the regulatory minimum; whether a specific property qualifies is decided by the Agency.