Malta has introduced a new residence permit for digital nomads from non-European countries.
The Nomad Residence Permit gives third-country nationals, including those from the U.S. and Canada, the opportunity to live and work in Malta for up to 12 months. The permit is designed to tap into the globe’s growing pool of mobile workers, which has exploded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To qualify for the permit, applicants must:
- Be a verified remote worker with a foreign employer or foreign clientele
- Generate the equivalent of Є2,700 in gross income per month, with additional funds for accompanying dependents
- Have health insurance valid in Malta
- Have local accommodation
- Pass a background check conducted by Maltese authorities
- Pay a Є300 filing fee
- Be vaccinated against COVID-19
Successful applicants planning to stay in Malta for up to 180 days will receive a National Visa. Those planning to stay more than 180 days will receive a Nomad Residence Permit valid for up to 365 days.
The permit is renewable at the discretion of the Maltese government for as long as an applicant continues to meet eligibility requirements.
Malta is already a popular destination for EU-based digital nomads. The government hopes the new permit will attract remote workers from other areas of the world as more work-from-home professionals begin to explore the concept of digital nomadism.
“Malta has jumped on the bandwagon of increased demand for remote working globally, as the pandemic shifted goalposts and new trends are being set,” said Charles Mizzi, head of the government-run Residency Malta Agency, according to eTurboNews.
Mizzi noted that the Mediterranean archipelago has “much to offer,” including warm weather, an island lifestyle, a rich history and culture, top-notch broadband infrastructure, world-class health care services and a friendly, English-speaking population.
“Nomads will feel right at ease the minute they land here,” said Mizzi.