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Malta · Student

Malta Student permit

First stay: 1 yr

Study residence permit

Checked against official sources on Change log

Key facts

Student permit is a student route for Malta. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

First stay
1 yr

Time and long term

RenewalRenewable

Renew annually before expiry; graduates of MQF level 5 or above courses can apply once for a 9-month job-search permit.

Identita

Where to applyInside the country

You apply in Malta after arriving (on a Type D visa where needed); the permit cannot be obtained before arriving.

Identita

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

  • Needs a place at a school or university in Malta
  • Work rights are limited
  • Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply2

  • The applicant is a third-country national accepted on a full-time course at MQF Level 5 or higher.
  • The institution is licensed by the MFHEA and part-time courses are not eligible.

What you must show2

  • Funds of at least 60% of the annual national minimum wage or poverty line, whichever is higher, pro-rated to the study period.
  • Bank statements for the last 3 months show the funds; a sponsor can provide them with a signed declaration.

Documents4

  • Acceptance letter stating course, MQF level, dates and full-time status.
  • Proof of tuition payment for at least the first semester or year.
  • Private health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) cover, and proof of accommodation.
  • Students at the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS are exempt from private health insurance.

Steps2

  1. Apply online through the Expatriates Portal after arriving in Malta, selecting Study (CEA N.01).
  2. Applications take a few weeks to process, and the permit is collected as an eResidence card.

After you arrive1

  • A one-off 9-month post-study permit is available after completing a course at MQF level 5 or above.

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

Official site

What you need to arrange

  • Health insurance

    Private health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) cover, and proof of accommodation

  • Accommodation

    Private health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) cover, and proof of accommodation

Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.

Full official text

Residence permit for third-country nationals accepted on a full-time course at MQF level 5 or above at an MFHEA-licensed institution; applied for in Malta after arriving on a Type D visa where one is needed. 1

Requirements

  • The applicant is a third-country national accepted on a full-time course at MQF Level 5 or higher. 1
  • The institution is licensed by the MFHEA and part-time courses are not eligible. 1
  • Funds of at least 60% of the annual national minimum wage or poverty line, whichever is higher, pro-rated to the study period. 1
  • Bank statements for the last 3 months show the funds; a sponsor can provide them with a signed declaration. 1
  • Acceptance letter stating course, MQF level, dates and full-time status. 1
  • Proof of tuition payment for at least the first semester or year. 1
  • Private health insurance with at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) cover, and proof of accommodation. 1
  • Students at the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS are exempt from private health insurance. 1
  • Apply online through the Expatriates Portal after arriving in Malta, selecting Study (CEA N.01). 1
  • Applications take a few weeks to process, and the permit is collected as an eResidence card. 1
  • A one-off 9-month post-study permit is available after completing a course at MQF level 5 or above. 1

Stay

  • Usually one year or the length of the programme if shorter, renewed annually; a one-off 9-month post-study permit follows completion.
  • Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
  • Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals. 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

After the first 90 days, students on MQF level 5 or higher courses can work up to 20 hours per week with an employment licence for the specific employer; self-employment is generally not granted.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

  1. Study residence permit FAQ · Identita · checked 2026-10-10

Student permit and its alternatives

RouteMoney neededStayWork
Student permit–1 yr, renewableLimited
Student permit PortugalNeeds income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,0303 yr, renewableYes
Internship permit Spain–1 yr, renewable–
D3 study visa Georgia–1 yr, renewableNo
Student visa ItalyNeeds savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k–Yes

Questions people ask

How long can I stay on the Student permit?

Usually one year or the length of the programme if shorter, renewed annually; a one-off 9-month post-study permit follows completion.

Can I work on the Student permit?

Limited. After the first 90 days, students on MQF level 5 or higher courses can work up to 20 hours per week with an employment licence for the specific employer; self-employment is generally not granted.

Who can apply for the Student permit?

Third-country nationals. 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.

Is there a tax break for Student permit 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

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 Change log

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How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-12 against 1 official source. 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. Study residence permit FAQ · Identita · checked 2026-10-10

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.