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Updated: June 2026

Case study · Malta · Tax

How We Included Adult Children Under 26 in Malta's Permanent Residence Through an Ideal Dependency Package

Including adult children in the residence status is not a matter of parental preference, but rather a matter of proving dependency. Roman's children completed their university degrees, are not officially employed, and are fully dependent on his finances; he wanted to include them in his MPRP application, but the regulations require strict proof that adult children are unmarried and fully dependent. His eldest son, 24 years old, additionally lived separately. We explain how we assembled the ideal Dependency Package.

Anna KovalevskayaAnna KovalevskayaHead of Legal, BRIDGESReading time8 min readVerificationReviewed by an expert

This case is based on a real matter. The name and certain identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

BRIDGES client story - How We Included Adult Children Under 26 in Malta's Permanent Residence Through an Ideal Dependency Package
Contents

Case at a glance

Situation, solution and outcome in seven lines

Client
Roman, with his spouse and two adult children, from Kazan
Children
University graduates, unemployed, financially dependent; 24-year-old son lived separately
Programme
Malta, Permanent Residence (Malta Permanent Residence Programme)
Objective
Include adult children under 26 in the application
Challenge
Prove dependency and absence of marriage; document separate residence of son
Solution
Ideal Dependency Package
Outcome
Adult children included in permanent residence

Client story

Client's Story

Where they started

Roman was obtaining Malta's permanent residence for his entire family, and by "entire family" he meant exactly that - including two adult children. The children completed their university degrees, but have not yet achieved financial independence: they have no official employment and live on his funds. For their father, they remained fully dependent, and he had no intention of leaving them without status.

Why the standard route did not work

MPRP rules permit the inclusion of children under 26, but not based on kinship alone, but rather on the basis of dependency. The programme requires strict proof of two conditions: the child is not married and is in full financial dependency on the applicant. Simply "these are my children" does not work here - evidence is required.

What BRIDGES had to solve

Additional complexity was created by the eldest son: he is 24 and lived separately. For the reviewing authority, separate residence is a signal of independence that casts doubt on dependency. Formally, the situation appeared as "an adult living independently" - even though in reality the young man was fully dependent on his father.

Why a standard answer would not do

Roman contacted BRIDGES to convert the factual dependency of his children into demonstrable evidence: to assemble a package that would leave the Maltese authority with no doubts about their dependency.

Adult children up to 26 can be included if the documents are assembled correctly. Hanna did it without a single error, and our children are in the status with us.

Roman · Roman, FatherThe name and certain identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

What Was at Risk

What Was at Risk

Including adult children is a sensitive matter: the authority verifies not kinship, but actual dependency, and by default approaches it with skepticism. Separate residence, age, diploma - all of these are read as signs of independence. Proving dependency must be done carefully.

Exclusion of adult children from the application due to unproven dependency;

  1. 01Interpretation of the son's separate residence as financial independence;
  2. 02Doubts regarding the absence of marriage without proper documentation;
  3. 03Family separation by status - some with permanent residence, some without;
  4. 04The necessity to process the children separately with increased costs and loss of time.

The logic of the solution

How the matter progressed: from checks to result

The chart is built from the facts of this matter and shows the logic of the work without decorative or unverified data.

  1. 01
    Stage 1

    We analyzed each child's situation separately: age, family status, financial dependency, residence.

  2. 02
    Stage 2

    We confirmed both children's unmarried status with official documents.

  3. 03
    Stage 3

    We gathered evidence of complete financial dependency: support from the father, absence of independent income.

  4. 04
    Stage 4

    We separately addressed the son's case, living separately: we explained and confirmed the continuation of dependency despite his address.

  5. 05
    Stage 5

    We consolidated everything into a single Dependency Package meeting MPRP requirements.

Takeaway. Most importantly, the family was not divided by status categories and there was no need to process the children separately at additional expense. The factual dependency, obvious to the father, became equally obvious to the Maltese authority.

How we resolved the matter

How we resolved the matter

The work was split into verifiable stages so that every conclusion rested on documents.

  1. 01

    Stage 1

    We analyzed each child's situation separately: age, family status, financial dependency, residence.

  2. 02

    Stage 2

    We confirmed both children's unmarried status with official documents.

  3. 03

    Stage 3

    We gathered evidence of complete financial dependency: support from the father, absence of independent income.

  4. 04

    Stage 4

    We separately addressed the son's case, living separately: we explained and confirmed the continuation of dependency despite his address.

  5. 05

    Stage 5

    We consolidated everything into a single Dependency Package meeting MPRP requirements.

  6. 06

    Stage 6

    We supported the review process, resolving the authority's questions regarding adult children's dependency.

Expert comment

I appreciate family cases because you tailor them to a specific composition rather than a generic template. Including adult children is difficult precisely because the authority checks not kinship but dependency, and is skeptical by default. The most delicate case was the son living separately: formally independent, in reality entirely dependent on his father. We did not hide this fact but proved the dependency directly. A perfect Dependency Package is when the reviewer has no remaining questions.

Anna Kovalevskaya, Head of Legal, BRIDGESAnna KovalevskayaHead of Legal, BRIDGES

Outcome

What the client received

Indicator
Before · After
Children's dependency
Factual, unproven · Legally confirmed
Son living separately
Signal of independence · Dependency proven
Unmarried status
In question · Confirmed
Family status
Risk of separation · Unified case
Family status
Risk of separation · Unified case

Roman's adult children were included in the permanent residence permit: the Dependency Package proved both children's unmarried status and complete financial dependency, and the case of the son living separately was closed with direct evidence of sustained dependency. The family proceeded as a single unit.

Practical takeaway

What matters in a similar situation

  • Most importantly, the family was not divided by status categories and there was no need to process the children separately at additional expense. The factual dependency, obvious to the father, became equally obvious to the Maltese authority.
  • This case demonstrates that under MPRP, adult children represent a solvable but not automatic issue. The quality of the evidentiary base is decisive: the more thoroughly the Dependency Package is assembled, the fewer grounds the authority has to question the dependency.
  • The MPRP programme allows children up to 26 to be included with a properly prepared dependency pack. We will look at your family.

FAQ

Questions people ask in a similar situation

01Up to what age can children be included in MPRP?

The program permits inclusion of children up to age 26 provided they are unmarried and wholly financially dependent on the applicant.

02What is a Dependency Package?

This is an evidence package confirming the dependency of an adult child: unmarried status, complete financial dependence, and where necessary, explanation of separate residence.

03Can a child living separately be included?

Yes, if it can be proven that they remain in complete financial dependence. The separate address is explained and supported by evidence of continued dependency.

04Why is the authority skeptical about adult dependency claims?

Age, educational qualifications, and separate residence are interpreted as indicators of independence. Therefore, dependency must be proven carefully rather than merely declared.

05What if dependency cannot be proven?

The adult child may then be excluded from the application. A comprehensive Dependency Package reduces this risk by addressing every program requirement.

06Which documents were key in this case?

We analyzed each child's situation separately: age, family status, financial dependency, residence. We confirmed both children's unmarried status with official documents.

07Why did the standard route not suit the client?

MPRP rules permit the inclusion of children under 26, but not based on kinship alone, but rather on the basis of dependency. The programme requires strict proof of two conditions: the child is not married and is in full financial dependency on the applicant. Simply "these are my children" does not work here - evidence is required.

08What risk had to be closed before filing?

Including adult children is a sensitive matter: the authority verifies not kinship, but actual dependency, and by default approaches it with skepticism. Separate residence, age, diploma - all of these are read as signs of independence. Proving dependency must be done carefully. Exclusion of adult children from the application due to unproven dependency;

09How did BRIDGES check that the chosen solution would hold?

We consolidated everything into a single Dependency Package meeting MPRP requirements. We supported the review process, resolving the authority's questions regarding adult children's dependency.

10What confirmed the result in the end?

Roman's adult children were included in the permanent residence permit: the Dependency Package proved both children's unmarried status and complete financial dependency, and the case of the son living separately was closed with direct evidence of sustained dependency. The family proceeded as a single unit. Indicator: Before · After. Children's dependency: Factual, unproven · Legally confirmed. Son living separately: Signal of independence · Dependency proven. Unmarried status: In question · Confirmed. Family status: Risk of separation · Unified case. Family status: Risk of separation · Unified case

About the author

Anna Kovalevskaya

Author: Anna Kovalevskaya

Head of Legal, BRIDGES

I have worked with citizenship and residency matters in European countries for 12 years. Programme requirements and application practices change, so I assess each matter against the current rules, the applicant's immigration history, family composition and the documents supporting the legal basis for the application.

I lead matters from the preliminary assessment through to the grant of status. In complex situations, I identify the circumstances that may affect the review, establish the legal logic of the application and oversee the consistency of the supporting documents at every stage.

During the consultation, you will receive an assessment of the available legal grounds, a clear understanding of the chosen route and a list of issues that should be resolved before filing. Once the engagement begins, I oversee the application and the key decisions of the BRIDGES team.

Prepared on the basis of BRIDGES practice and reviewed by a subject-matter expert.

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Dmitry NagyInternational Tax Consultant, BRIDGES
Dmitry Nagy, International Tax Consultant, BRIDGES

Names and certain details have been changed to protect client confidentiality. The result described reflects one specific situation and is neither a public offer nor a guarantee of a similar outcome. Programme terms are stated as of 2026 and may change - please confirm current parameters with a BRIDGES consultant.