--- title: "Malta Spouse of a resident requirements 2026: 1-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/spouse-of-permanent-resident/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Malta · Spouse visas # Malta Spouse of a resident **First stay:** 1 yr Family reunification residence permit for the spouse of a third-country resident (S.L. 217.06) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (First permit normally valid for 1 year; renewed annually (Form G.02). The law allows up to 9 months for a decision, and standard applications are usually decided in about 60 days.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports - **Work:** No (A family reunification permit on its own gives no right to work.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (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.) ## Key facts Spouse of a resident is a spouse visas route for Malta. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** €50 ≈ $56 - **Processing:** Up to 270 days - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: €50 ≈ $56** - EUR 50 (≈ $56) Application fee per family member, paid online with the application. **Renewal: Renewable** The first permit is normally valid for 1 year and renewed annually while the sponsor meets the conditions. [Identita](https://identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/expatriates/non-eu-non-employment/family-member/) **Permanent residence: General 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. [Identità, Government of Malta](https://identita.gov.mt/expatriates-unit-main-page/noneu-nationals/non-employment-permits/long-term-residence/) **Processing: Up to 270 days** The law allows up to 9 months for a decision. [Identita](https://identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/expatriates/non-eu-non-employment/family-member/) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Work isn't allowed on this route - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports - Only from age 21 ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Sponsor holds a valid Maltese residence permit with at least one year validity. - Sponsor has lived legally and continuously in Malta for at least two years when applying. - The spouse is at least 21, in a monogamous marriage, and is outside Malta when the application is made. - The family has adequate accommodation and health insurance of at least EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) per family member. #### What you must show - Sponsor basic gross income is at least the average annual gross wage in Malta plus 20% for each dependant included. - Only one sponsor's income is assessed, and bonuses, allowances, overtime and part-time income do not count. #### Documents - Covering letter, sponsor residence permit, apostilled marriage certificate and passport copies. - Architect attestation, registered lease and recent payslips or contracts. #### Steps 1. The sponsor files Form G.01 online through the Expatriates portal for each family member. 2. After the approval in principle, visa-required spouses apply for a National D visa. 3. A health screening is done at the biometrics appointment. #### After you arrive - The first permit is valid for one year and is renewed annually while the conditions remain met. ## 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Health insurance** The family has adequate accommodation and health insurance of at least EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) per family member - **Accommodation** The family has adequate accommodation and health insurance of at least EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) per family member - **Police certificate and civil documents** Covering letter, sponsor residence permit, apostilled marriage certificate and passport copies Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** For the spouse of a non-EU national who has lived legally in Malta for two years. It gives a one-year residence permit renewable annually while the sponsor still meets the conditions. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of EUR 50 (≈ $56) · Application fee per family member, paid online with the application. (source 1) #### Requirements - Sponsor holds a valid Maltese residence permit with at least one year validity. (source 1) - Sponsor has lived legally and continuously in Malta for at least two years when applying. (source 1) - The spouse is at least 21, in a monogamous marriage, and is outside Malta when the application is made. (source 1) - The family has adequate accommodation and health insurance of at least EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) per family member. (source 1) - Sponsor basic gross income is at least the average annual gross wage in Malta plus 20% for each dependant included. (sources 1, 2) - Only one sponsor's income is assessed, and bonuses, allowances, overtime and part-time income do not count. (source 1) - Covering letter, sponsor residence permit, apostilled marriage certificate and passport copies. (source 1) - Architect attestation, registered lease and recent payslips or contracts. (source 1) - The sponsor files Form G.01 online through the Expatriates portal for each family member. (source 1) - After the approval in principle, visa-required spouses apply for a National D visa. (source 1) - A health screening is done at the biometrics appointment. (source 1) - The first permit is valid for one year and is renewed annually while the conditions remain met. (source 1) #### Stay - First permit normally valid for 1 year; renewed annually (Form G.02). The law allows up to 9 months for a decision, and standard applications are usually decided in about 60 days. - 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 A family reunification permit on its own gives no right to work. #### Family Unmarried minor children can be reunited; parents and adult children are only covered under the separate Family Members Policy. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Expatriates FAQs: family reunification (S.L. 217.06) and Family Members Policy](https://identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/expatriates/non-eu-non-employment/family-member/) · Identita (Expatriates Unit, Malta) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Family Reunification Regulations (S.L. 217.06)](https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.6/eng/pdf) · Government of Malta (legislation.mt) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Long-term residence (non-employment permits)](https://identita.gov.mt/expatriates-unit-main-page/noneu-nationals/non-employment-permits/long-term-residence/) · Identità, Government of Malta · checked 2026-10-11 ## Spouse of a resident and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a resident | – | 1 yr, renewable | No | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/spouse-of-citizen/) | – | – | Limited | | [Spouse of a resident (policy)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/spouse-of-resident-policy/) | Needs income from €19k a year ≈ $21k | – | – | | [Partner of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/partner-of-citizen/) | – | 1 yr, renewable | Yes | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/spouse-of-citizen/) Portugal | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Spouse of a resident? A fee of EUR 50 (≈ $56). Application fee per family member, paid online with the application. ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a resident? First permit normally valid for 1 year; renewed annually (Form G.02). ### How long does the Spouse of a resident take to process? The law allows up to 9 months for a decision. ### Can I work on the Spouse of a resident? No. A family reunification permit on its own gives no right to work. ### Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a resident? Unmarried minor children can be reunited; parents and adult children are only covered under the separate Family Members Policy. ### Who can apply for the Spouse of a resident? 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 Spouse of a resident lead to permanent residence in Malta? The general rule for permanent residence in Malta is 5 years of residence. ### Is there a tax break for Spouse of a resident 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/tax/#tax-mt-remittance-basis) Tax relief Foreign-source income: Remittance basis (non-dom) **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 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/tax/) ## More in Malta [Nomad Residence Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/nomad-residence-permit/) [MPRP · Buy property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/mprp-purchase/) [MPRP · Rent property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/mprp-rent/) [Retirement Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/retirement-programme/) [Family Office residency](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/family-office/) [Startup residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/startup/) [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/blue-card/) [Key Employee](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/key-employee/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇪🇸 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/family-reunification/) [🇬🇪 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇮🇹 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇷 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇫🇷 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇬🇧 Fiancé visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/fiance-visa/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## 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. 1. [Expatriates FAQs: family reunification (S.L. 217.06) and Family Members Policy](https://identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/expatriates/non-eu-non-employment/family-member/) · Identita (Expatriates Unit, Malta) · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Family Reunification Regulations (S.L. 217.06)](https://legislation.mt/eli/sl/217.6/eng/pdf) · Government of Malta (legislation.mt) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Long-term residence (non-employment permits)](https://identita.gov.mt/expatriates-unit-main-page/noneu-nationals/non-employment-permits/long-term-residence/) · Identità, Government of Malta · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.