Attard Baldacchino

Attard Baldacchino is a Maltese practice that handles the legal, residency and property sides of moving to the islands in one place. It was founded in October 2020 by Dr Russell Attard Baldacchino, an advocate, which is the Maltese term for a lawyer admitted to practise before the courts, and it works from Ta' Xbiex, a quiet harbourside district between Gżira and Msida. It appears in our directories of immigration consultants in Malta, estate agents in Malta and lawyers in Malta.

The practice keeps its client list deliberately small, and the advocate directs each matter personally from start to finish. Its clients are professionals, entrepreneurs and their families moving from outside the European Union, and the work runs from choosing the right residence route and finding a home through to the tax position that follows. Expectations are set accurately at the outset and advice stays within the boundaries the authorities have stated. A former client is willing to speak to prospective clients on request.

Residence programmes

The core of the work is the Malta Permanent Residence Programme for third-country nationals, meaning people who are not EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, and their families. The practice deals with eligibility, evidence of the source of funds and wealth, the qualifying property and the submission to the national residency agency. Dr Attard Baldacchino is a licensed agent of that agency, which matters because applications cannot be filed directly by the applicant.

It also acts on the Nomad Residence Permit, aimed at business owners and remote professionals who want to live in Malta while their clients stay abroad, and handles renewals. The Malta Startup Residence Programme is covered too. Anyone weighing remote work from the islands will find more background in our digital nomad guide to Malta, and families planning the whole move can start with the Malta relocation guide.

Property and special tax status

Because many residence routes require a home, the practice also holds a real estate agency licence. It carries out licensed property searches and negotiation, works alongside the notary on the transaction and handles registration and renewal of leases with the Housing Authority. Buying and leasing are treated as part of one engagement together with the legal work.

On tax, the practice advises on eligibility for special tax status under the Individual Tax Programme and on the older programmes it consolidates. Applications go through an authorised registered mandatary, a role Dr Attard Baldacchino holds. Our Malta tax guide for UK nationals is a useful companion, and our guide to the corporate tax structure explains the company side. The practice advises on naturalisation under the Maltese Citizenship Act but does not advise on citizenship by investment.

Team, languages and working style

Alongside the founder, the named team covers client relationships, operations, legal counsel and HR, and between them they speak English, Maltese, Azerbaijani, Filipino, Russian, Turkish and Chinese. The practice arranges notaries and medical examinations when an application needs them, coordinates the practical details of arriving and introduces specialists in schooling, healthcare and relocation. Companies that need a larger accounting or corporate team can also look at CLA Malta.

The advocate is a member of the Chamber of Advocates and the Investment Migration Council, and the practice displays its licence numbers so they can be checked against the public registers. The advocate studied law at the University of Malta, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and a Master in Advocacy, and holds a Certificate in Taxation from the Malta Institute of Taxation. He has worked in residency and real estate since 2014, so the practice's methods come from many years of live files. Expect clear explanations of what a programme demands, an honest view of whether Malta is the right fit, and careful preparation of evidence so that each submission can withstand scrutiny.

Visiting and getting in touch

Ta' Xbiex is a short drive from Valletta and close to the seafront hotels, so a visit can be combined with a stay in one of the hotels in Sliema. British visitors can use the flights to Malta guide and read our overview of the Maltese islands before travelling. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Attard Baldacchino.