Immigrant Invest

Immigrant Invest helps wealthy individuals and families work out which Maltese status suits them, then handles the paperwork to get it. The consultancy has operated since 2006, runs offices in 11 countries and keeps its Malta base in the Portomaso Business Tower, a landmark office block in St Julian's. For a UK reader thinking about a second base in the Mediterranean, it is one of the specialist firms listed among our immigration consultants in Malta.

Malta is not a simple cash-for-passport destination, and the firm is open about that. The island has no citizenship by investment programme, and naturalisation is granted on merit at the authorities' discretion. What remains are two government residence programmes, a nomad permit for remote workers and the merit route, each with its own rules, costs and timescales.

Licensed agent and compliance team

Applications for the residence programmes cannot be made by the individual. They must go through a licensed agent, and Immigrant Invest operates under licence number RES-IMIN, which was granted after government due diligence. The licence allows the agent to act for the investor in front of the Maltese authorities.

The company also runs its own compliance department. Vladlena Baranova, a lawyer and certified anti-money-laundering specialist, heads the legal and compliance work and carries out preliminary due diligence on each applicant before anything is filed. Elena Ruda serves as Chief Development Officer, and Dr Frederick Ellul is the Malta partner whose name appears on the agent licence. Albert Ioffe and Anna Semenyuk complete the named team, the latter advising on citizenship programmes.

The scope of the firm goes beyond Malta: offices in Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean mean the same team can advise on alternatives in other countries, which helps if you are comparing Malta with Cyprus, Portugal or Greece before deciding. Support continues after approval, when the status has to be maintained and renewed on time.

Its lawyers belong to the Investment Migration Council, the worldwide association for the investment migration industry. If you have never dealt with an immigration agent before, the practical point is simple: the firm checks your background and source of funds first, so problems surface before the government sees the file.

Permanent residence and the Global Residence Programme

The Malta Permanent Residence Programme has run since 2015 and suits people who want a lifelong status without having to live in Malta full time. The investor passes due diligence, makes a non-refundable contribution, buys or leases a home and shows assets of at least €500,000, or €650,000 with €75,000 in liquid financial assets. Buying means a property of at least €375,000 and a €99,000 contribution, while renting means at least €14,000 a year and the same contribution. The spouse, children under 29, parents and grandparents can be included. Typical timescale is six months or more.

The Global Residence Programme dates from 2013 and is aimed at those who want to become Maltese tax residents. The holder pays annual tax of at least €15,000, may not spend more than 183 days a year in another country and renews the permit, which is first issued for one year. Property can be bought from €220,000 or rented from €8,750 a year, and the contribution starts at €5,500 on a purchase. Applications take three months or more, and the programme starts from €30,000 of investment.

Both routes open visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180, access to European banking and the right to set up a company. Neither grants Maltese nationality, and the Global Residence permit allows living, studying and doing business but not employment. These programmes suit investors who want a stable European base, a second home, or an EU foothold for a business, and families who want the option of coming and going freely. Our Malta tax guide for UK nationals explains how Maltese residence interacts with a UK tax position, and the corporate tax structure guide covers company ownership.

Nomad permit and citizenship by merit

The Malta Nomad Residence Permit was introduced in 2021 for freelancers, the self-employed and employees of foreign companies. Applicants must show income of at least €42,000 a year from outside Malta, rent or own a home for the whole permit period and may not work for Maltese companies. The permit lasts 12 months and can be renewed three times, giving up to four years in total. The process takes roughly two months. Our digital nomad guide to Malta covers day-to-day life as a remote worker.

Citizenship is the most demanding route. Naturalisation by exceptional merit is open to people whose achievements bring a significant benefit to Malta or humanity, such as work in entrepreneurship, science, culture or philanthropy. Applicants submit a letter of proposal, show lawful residence and integration, and face a comprehensive background check. Financial capacity alone is not enough and there are no fixed thresholds or guaranteed outcomes. Its blog carries comparison articles on merit versus standard naturalisation, which are useful reading before a first meeting. Prospective applicants should treat all published figures as a guide and confirm current thresholds with the team, since programme rules change.

Property, tax and moving with family

Most residence applications involve housing, so the consultancy also guides clients on buying or renting. Its published market notes put the average price at about €3,300 per square metre, with buyers paying 8 to 15 per cent in taxes and fees. Non-EU buyers generally need an AIP permit, which limits them to one home for their own use, unless they buy in a Special Designated Area, where several properties can be bought and let out. Our overview of relocating to Malta from the UK puts these choices in a wider context.

The firm's blog covers the Maltese non-domicile regime, under which foreign income is taxed only when brought into Malta, along with education, cost of living and comparisons with other countries. It gives each client a personal cost calculation rather than a standard price list. Anyone weighing the wider business case can also read about the financial services sector in Malta, and those who want a local accountant or company formation partner can look at CLA Malta.

Visiting the St Julian's office

The Malta office sits in the Portomaso Business Tower, 1 Church Street, St Julian's, within easy reach of the hotels and restaurants of the bay. Most UK visitors fly in on a direct flight from the UK to Malta and stay in one of the hotels in Sliema and St Julian's. The Malta weather guide helps you pick a month for the trip, and our guide to Malta explains the islands before you commit to a move.

Meetings can be booked in person or online.

A lawyer starts by hearing your goals: a home base for the family, a route to the Schengen Area, a company in the EU, schooling for children or a tax residence change. The compliance team then runs preliminary checks, the costs are calculated for your case, and only then does the paperwork go to the Maltese authorities. After approval the firm continues to help with keeping the status in good order, for instance proving tax has been paid and a Maltese address maintained when a permit is renewed. Families should ask about the dependants rules early, because age limits and eligibility differ between programmes. A downloadable guide to the permanent residence route and an individual cost calculation are also offered.

Whichever route you choose, the lawyer reviews your situation and proposes the best fit. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Immigrant Invest, who will reply to you directly.