--- title: "Cyprus Digital nomad permit vs Malta Nomad Residence Permit" url: https://settleanywhere.com/compare/cyprus-digital-nomad-residence-vs-malta-nomad-residence-permit/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Head to head # Cyprus Digital nomad permit vs Malta Nomad Residence Permit Two remote-work routes side by side: money, stay, family, fees and tax, from the official sources. The official authority decides every application. ## Key differences - **Money** Cyprus Digital nomad permit asks for income of €3,500+ a month ≈ $3,910; Malta Nomad Residence Permit for income of €42k+ a year ≈ $47k. The two figures cover different periods. - **First stay** Both give a first stay of 1 yr. - **Renewal** Cyprus Digital nomad permit: renewable. Malta Nomad Residence Permit: renewable, 4 years max. - **Permanent residence** Cyprus Digital nomad permit: general rule: 5 years of residence. Malta Nomad Residence Permit: time here doesn't count. - **Citizenship** Cyprus Digital nomad permit: general rule: 7 years of residence. Malta Nomad Residence Permit: time here doesn't count. - **Family** Cyprus Digital nomad permit: spouse can't work. - **Work** Remote only on both. - **Government fees** The first government fee listed is €70 ≈ $78 for Cyprus Digital nomad permit and €300 ≈ $340 for Malta Nomad Residence Permit; the table lists every fee. - **Foreign-source income** Foreign-source income: non-dom (17 of 20 years) in Cyprus, remittance basis (non-dom) in Malta. ## Side by side | | Cyprus [Digital nomad permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/digital-nomad-residence/) | Malta [Nomad Residence Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/nomad-residence-permit/) | | --- | --- | --- | | **Country:** | *1* Digital nomad permit [Cyprus](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit [Malta](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/) | | **Type:** | *1* Digital nomad permit Nomad / Remote work | *2* Nomad Residence Permit Nomad / Remote work | | **Money needed:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **Needs income of €3,500+ a month ≈ $3,910** | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Needs income of €42k+ a year ≈ $47k** | | **First stay:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **1 yr** | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **1 yr** | | **Renewal:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **Renewable** Details The first permit is for 1 year; it can be renewed, with a renewal issued for up to two years. [Migration Department, Cyprus](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/digital-nomads-and-family-members/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Renewable, 4 years max** Details The permit lasts one year and can be renewed three times, up to four years in total, if you lived in Malta at least 5 cumulative months in the previous 12. [Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) | | **Spouse can work:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **Can't work** | *2* Nomad Residence Permit | | **Work:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **Remote only** Details Remote work for foreign employers or clients only; no local employment. | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Remote only** Details Remote work for foreign employers or clients only; no local employment. | | **Government fees:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **€70 ≈ $78 · €70 ≈ $78** Details €70 ≈ $78 Issue or renewal of the temporary residence permit. €70 ≈ $78 Registration in the Aliens Register, first registration only. | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **€300 ≈ $340** Details €300 ≈ $340 Non-refundable application fee per person; EUR 100 (≈ $110) per person for the residence card issued by Identita. | | **Permanent residence:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **General rule: 5 years of residence** Details Long-term resident status is open to third-country nationals after 5 years of continuous legal residence on a valid residence permit. [Civil Registry and Migration Department](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/acquisition-of-the-status-of-long-term-resident-in-the-republic-2/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Time here doesn't count** Details The Nomad Residence Permit does not lead to long-term residence. [Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) | | **Citizenship:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **General rule: 7 years of residence** Details General naturalisation rule: 12 months of legal continuous residence immediately before applying and at least 7 years of legal residence in the preceding 10 years, plus Greek at B1 level. [Ministry of Interior](https://www.gov.cy/moi/en/documents/acquisition-of-cypriot-citizenship-by-naturalization-due-to-years-of-residence-form-m127/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Time here doesn't count** Details Time on the Nomad Residence Permit does not count toward citizenship. [Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) | | **Processing:** | *1* Digital nomad permit | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **30 working days** Details Processing is expected to take 30 working days from receipt of the fee, and cards take 3 to 4 weeks to issue after approval. [Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) | | **Where to apply:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **Abroad or in-country** Details Apply to the Migration Department; renewals go to the Civil Registry and Migration Department in Nicosia at least one month before expiry. [Migration Department, Cyprus](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/digital-nomads-and-family-members/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Abroad or in-country** Details Apply online from abroad or from Malta; if you are already in Malta on a valid visa covering 30 days or more, no separate entry visa is needed. [Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) | | **Employer needed:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **No** | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **No** | | **Tax residence test:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **More than 183 days (tax year)** Details At least 60 days (tax year) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit | | **Foreign-source income:** | *1* Digital nomad permit **Non-dom (17 of 20 years)** Details SDC on dividends (5% for residents who are domiciled) and interest (17% for residents who are domiciled) under Law 117(I)/2002 as amended; ordinary income tax on residents continues to apply to worldwide income. | *2* Nomad Residence Permit **Remittance basis (non-dom)** Details For a person who is not ordinarily resident or not domiciled in Malta, income arising outside Malta is taxed only on the amount received in Malta and capital gains arising outside Malta are not taxed; Maltese-source income is taxed normally. | | **Tax note:** | *1* Digital nomad permit [Tax relief · Non-domiciled residents outside Special Defence Contribution](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/tax/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit [10% tax · Nomad Residence Permit authorised-work income tax rules](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/tax/) | | **Official source:** | *1* Digital nomad permit [Migration Department, Cyprus](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/digital-nomads-and-family-members/) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit [Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) | | **Checked against official sources:** | *1* Digital nomad permit 12 Oct 2026 · [Record corrected 11 Oct 2026](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/corrections/#change-cy-digital-nomad-residence) | *2* Nomad Residence Permit First checked 11 Oct 2026 | ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. **Official sources** ### Cyprus Digital nomad permit 1. [Digital nomads and family members](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/digital-nomads-and-family-members/) · Migration Department, Cyprus · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Digital Nomads: list of accompanying documents (MVIS v.19.03.2025)](https://www.gov.cy/app/uploads/sites/174/2025/12/Accompanying-Documents_VIS-Digital-Nomad_19032025.pdf) · Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Digital Nomads: accompanying documents for a spouse or partner (MVIS v.19.03.2025)](https://www.gov.cy/app/uploads/sites/174/2025/12/Acc-docs-spouse-or-partner-_19032025.pdf) · Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa Scheme for foreign nationals of non-EU countries](https://www.gov.cy/app/uploads/sites/174/2025/12/DIGITAL-NOMAD-VISA-SCHEME-E%CE%9D.pdf) · Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Digital nomads and family members: Cyprus Digital Nomad Scheme](https://www.mip.gov.cy/dmmip/md.nsf/All/BF9908B541BFF7D3C22587EA003CD306?OpenDocument=) · Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, Republic of Cyprus · checked 2026-10-10 6. [Digital Nomads: List of accompanying documents (19 March 2025)](https://www.mip.gov.cy/dmmip/md.nsf/All/AAEAEA2695E7E270C2258921002C2FB4/%24file/Accompanying%20Documents_VIS%20Digital%20Nomad_19032025.pdf?OpenElement=) · Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, Republic of Cyprus · checked 2026-10-10 7. [Acquisition of the status of long-term resident in the Republic](https://www.gov.cy/mip-md/en/documents/acquisition-of-the-status-of-long-term-resident-in-the-republic-2/) · Civil Registry and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-12 8. [Acquisition of Cypriot citizenship by naturalization due to years of residence (form M127)](https://www.gov.cy/moi/en/documents/acquisition-of-cypriot-citizenship-by-naturalization-due-to-years-of-residence-form-m127/) · Ministry of Interior (Cyprus) · checked 2026-10-12 ### Malta Nomad Residence Permit 1. [New FAQs – Nomad Residence Permit (updated 17 April 2026)](https://nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt/new-faqs/) · Residency Malta Agency, Government of Malta · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Nomad Residence Permits (Income Tax) Rules S.L. 123.210: Guidelines (12 March 2026)](https://mtca.gov.mt/docs/default-source/documents/personal-tax/legal-and-technical/guidelines/nomad-guidelines---12-03-2026.pdf?sfvrsn=f0cc9971_6) · Malta Tax and Customs Administration · checked 2026-10-10 3. [EU member countries — current official 27-country list](https://european-union.europa.eu/easy-read_en) · European Union · checked 2026-10-10 4. [EFTA members and EEA/EFTA membership distinction](https://www.efta.int/eea-relations-eu/eea-institutions-two-pillar-structure/eea-efta-states) · European Free Trade Association · checked 2026-10-10 5. [The European Free Trade Association and its four member states](https://www.efta.int/about-efta/european-free-trade-association) · European Free Trade Association · checked 2026-10-10 ## More head-to-heads