Malta · Spouse visas
Malta Partner of a citizen
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence permit as partner of a Maltese national
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Partner of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Malta. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- First stay
- 1 yr
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The first permit is for 1 year; renewals last 2 years (relationship over 3 years), 3 years (over 5 years) or 5 years (over 10 years).
Permanent residenceGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
Third-country nationals who have lived legally and continuously in Malta for 5 years or more can apply for long-term residence, with stable resources, accommodation and integration measures.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of residence
Naturalisation needs residence in Malta throughout the 12 months before applying and at least 4 years in total in the 6 years before that, plus other conditions.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply online through the Expatriates Unit portal.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Applicant is a non-EU adult in a genuine, long-term relationship with a Maltese citizen.
- The couple has had a stable relationship of at least two years and has met in person regularly.
- A previously married Maltese partner must be divorced, widowed or legally separated.
- The couple shares the same residential address.
What you must show1
- Bank statements for the last 3 months show funds of at least the minimum wage plus 20% to support the couple.
Documents3
- Joint sworn affidavit of the couple and the Maltese partner's civil status certificate from the Public Registry.
- Letters from two independent friends or relatives confirming the relationship, with their IDs.
- Proof of living together for two years or more, such as lease, bills, tickets and dated photos.
Steps1
- Apply online through the Expatriates portal using Form O.
After you arrive2
- The first permit is valid 1 year; renewals are 2, 3 or 5 years depending on whether the relationship exceeds 3, 5 or 10 years.
- A recently dated affidavit of the couple is submitted at each renewal.
When you become tax resident
How Malta decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
1 year at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Residence for the ordinary rates and the remittance basis follows residence and domicile in Malta under the Income Tax Act.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (non-dom)
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.
- Special regime
Not ordinarily resident or not domiciled · Tax relief
All tax rules for Malta Tax records checked
Full official text
For the non-EU unmarried partner or fiance of a Maltese citizen who has been in a stable relationship for at least two years. It gives a one-year residence permit with the right to work after a Jobsplus licence. 1
Requirements
- Applicant is a non-EU adult in a genuine, long-term relationship with a Maltese citizen. 1
- The couple has had a stable relationship of at least two years and has met in person regularly. 1
- A previously married Maltese partner must be divorced, widowed or legally separated. 1
- The couple shares the same residential address. 1
- Bank statements for the last 3 months show funds of at least the minimum wage plus 20% to support the couple. 1
- Joint sworn affidavit of the couple and the Maltese partner's civil status certificate from the Public Registry. 1
- Letters from two independent friends or relatives confirming the relationship, with their IDs. 1
- Proof of living together for two years or more, such as lease, bills, tickets and dated photos. 1
- Apply online through the Expatriates portal using Form O. 1
- The first permit is valid 1 year; renewals are 2, 3 or 5 years depending on whether the relationship exceeds 3, 5 or 10 years. 1
- A recently dated affidavit of the couple is submitted at each renewal. 1
Stay
- First permit valid for 1 year; renewals for 2 years (relationship over 3 years), 3 years (over 5 years) or 5 years (over 10 years).
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
May work after obtaining a Jobsplus employment licence.
Official sources
- Expatriates FAQs: temporary residence permit, partner of a Maltese national · Identita (Expatriates Unit, Malta) · checked 2026-10-11
- Long-term residence (non-employment permits) · Identità, Government of Malta · checked 2026-10-11
- Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) · Government of Malta (legislation.mt) · checked 2026-10-11
Partner of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner of a citizen | – | 1 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | Limited |
| Spouse of a resident (policy) | Needs income from €19k a year ≈ $21k | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Partner of a citizen?
First permit valid for 1 year; renewals for 2 years (relationship over 3 years), 3 years (over 5 years) or 5 years (over 10 years).
Can I work on the Partner of a citizen?
Yes. May work after obtaining a Jobsplus employment licence.
Who can apply for the Partner of a citizen?
Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Partner of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Malta?
The general rule for permanent residence in Malta is 5 years of residence. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Partner of a citizen holders in Malta?
Malta: not ordinarily resident or not domiciled - foreign-source income taxed only when received in Malta: 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. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Malta: not ordinarily resident or not domiciled - foreign-source income taxed only when received in Malta
Tax relief
Details
- On: Income arising outside Malta and received in Malta (remittance basis)
- Who: Not ordinarily resident in Malta, or not domiciled in Malta
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.
Taxed on
Income arising outside Malta and received in Malta (remittance basis), plus all Maltese-source income and Maltese capital gains;.
Who it applies to
- Not ordinarily resident in Malta, or not domiciled in Malta (Income Tax Act proviso (i) and (ii)).
- Persons charged at 15 cents in the euro under article 56(11) are taxed only on Maltese-source income and capital gains and on foreign-source income received in Malta.
Exclusions
- Maltese-source income and Maltese capital gains are fully taxable.
- Foreign-source income that is received in Malta (including foreign-source income remitted) is taxed.
Tax residence
Status depends on ordinary residence and domicile as defined for Maltese tax law; visa status is not the test.
Visas
Independent of the immigration permit.
Other taxes
Social security contributions and VAT are separate; Nomad Residence Permit income rules are in a separate record.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Malta
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Expatriates FAQs: temporary residence permit, partner of a Maltese national · Identita (Expatriates Unit, Malta) · checked 2026-10-11
- Long-term residence (non-employment permits) · Identità, Government of Malta · checked 2026-10-11
- Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap. 188) · Government of Malta (legislation.mt) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.