The Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is a fee-heavy programme: most of what you pay doesn't come back, and the rent-versus-buy decision changes the real cost more than people expect. Here's the full stack.
The Malta MPRP cost stack, rent versus buy
| Item | Buy route | Rent route |
|---|---|---|
| Government contribution | €37,000 | €37,000 |
| Administration fee | €60,000 | €60,000 |
| NGO donation | €2,000 | €2,000 |
| Property (held 5 years) | €375,000 purchase | €14,000/year rent (×5 = €70,000) |
| Each extra adult dependent | €7,500 | €7,500 |
The 22 July 2025 changes to the MPRP
The MPRP was reworked on 22 July 2025. The government contribution became a flat €37,000 whether you rent or buy, removing the old €28,000-buy / €58,000-rent split, and owners gained the immediate right to earn rental income from the qualifying property. So the contribution no longer rewards buying, but the buy route's recoverable asset and rental income still tilt the long-run maths toward purchase.
Rent vs buy over five years: the real comparison
Rent has the lower entry cost but is entirely non-recoverable: roughly €99,000 in fees plus €70,000 of rent over five years — about €169,000, all gone. The buy route is about €99,000 in fees plus a €375,000 property you keep, can let out, and can sell after the five-year hold. Once you count the retained asset, buying is often cheaper in real terms despite the larger upfront outlay.
Rent looks cheaper, but you keep nothing
The headline appeal of the rent route is the smaller cheque, and for someone who only wants five years of EU residence and no Maltese property, it can make sense. But nothing is recovered: at the end of five years you've spent ~€169,000 with no asset to show for it, whereas the buyer holds €375,000 of (potentially appreciated) property. Decide based on whether you actually want to hold Maltese real estate.
Dependants and the rest
Spouse and minor children add no government contribution, while each additional adult dependent (an adult child, a parent or grandparent) adds €7,500. There is no separate investment per dependant — the property or rent requirement is the same regardless of family size — plus agent fees, health insurance and due-diligence costs on top.
Choosing the Malta MPRP rent route purely because the upfront number is smaller. Over five years it runs to about €169,000 with nothing recovered, while the buy route's €375,000 property is a retained, lettable, sellable asset. The €99,000 of fees is non-refundable on both routes, so 'cheaper to start' and 'cheaper overall' are not the same — and around one in ten applicants is refused, so the fee risk is real.
So what does the Malta MPRP really cost, all in?
Plan for about €99,000 in non-recoverable fees plus either €70,000 of rent over five years (rent route, ~€169,000 all-in, nothing kept) or a €375,000 property (buy route, ~€474,000 outlay but most of it a retained asset). Add €7,500 per extra adult, agent fees and insurance. The defining feature is that the fee stack is gone for good; only the property is recoverable.
Malta golden visa cost calculator
Set route + household for an indicative all-in — investment plus the fees most quotes leave out.
- Qualifying investment (MPRP rental track (~€169k all-in over 5y))
- $184,000 non-recoverable
- Government, legal & transaction fees
- $7,360–$18,400
Indicative estimate, not a quote. Built from Malta's published minimum plus typical fees, shown in USD.
FAQs
How much does the Malta MPRP cost in 2026?+
The Malta MPRP costs about €99,000 in non-recoverable fees, plus property.
- •A €37,000 government contribution, a €60,000 administration fee and a €2,000 NGO donation.
- •Plus either a €375,000 property (held 5 years) or €14,000/year rent for 5 years.
- •Each additional adult dependent adds €7,500.
Is renting or buying cheaper for the Malta MPRP?+
For the Malta MPRP, renting has the lower entry cost but is entirely non-recoverable.
- •Rent route: about €169,000 over five years, all gone.
- •Buy route: about €99,000 in fees plus a €375,000 property you keep and can let out.
- •Over a full five years, buying is often cheaper in real terms.
Did the Malta MPRP cost change recently?+
Yes — the Malta MPRP changed on 22 July 2025.
- •The government contribution became a flat €37,000 whether you rent or buy.
- •The old €28,000-buy / €58,000-rent split was removed.
- •Owners also gained the immediate right to earn rental income.
Are any of the Malta MPRP payments refundable?+
No — the core Malta MPRP payments are not refundable.
- •The contribution, administration fee, donation and rent are non-refundable.
- •Only a purchased property is a recoverable asset.
- •Screen the file before committing, since around one in ten applications is refused.