Updated
GL-M-01
Glossary · Citizenship and residency programs
MPRP - Malta Permanent Residence Programme
Malta permanent residence program from EUR 150,000. It grants the right to live in Malta and travel across Schengen, but NOT citizenship and NOT the right to work in the EU. Four times cheaper than MEIN citizenship.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- Malta’s permanent residence (PR) by investment programme
- Where it applies
- Malta, an EU country
- Cost
- From €150,000 (contribution + real estate + donation)
- Does it give a passport
- No. The MEIN citizenship programme was discontinued on 24.07.2025
- Can you prepare
- Yes: choose the package and assemble the source-of-funds file
02 / In plain words
What MPRP means
MPRP (Malta Permanent Residence Programme) is Malta’s permanent residence by investment programme, with an entry threshold from about €150,000. It gives an indefinite right to live in Malta and travel freely in the Schengen area, but it provides neither a passport nor the right to work throughout the EU.
It is important not to confuse MPRP with MEIN, Malta’s citizenship programme. MPRP is a PR status: you become a permanent resident but remain a citizen of your own country. In exchange it costs roughly a quarter of the price of citizenship and is noticeably simpler and faster to obtain — without a long naturalisation period. The package usually includes a contribution to the state, the lease or purchase of a home in Malta and a charitable donation.
Who it suits: those who need a reliable European status and Schengen access here and now, without the aim of obtaining an EU passport immediately. MPRP is a “European base” with an eye to the future, available for a reasonable sum.
A case from practice
A family applies for MPRP: they lease a home in Malta, pay the government contribution and make a charitable donation — the overall budget usually comes to around the starting €150,000, including all payments and family members. The result is an indefinite EU residence status and free travel in the Schengen area, with no obligation to move to the island for good.
Why people choose MPRP
- A reliable European status (PR)
- Free travel in the Schengen area
- Indefinite, with no annual renewals
- Cheaper than Maltese citizenship
- A European base for the family
- No need to obtain an EU passport immediately
03 / What it covers
What MPRP requires
Investment
- A government contribution
- A charitable donation
- Government fees
Real estate
- Leasing a home in Malta
- Or buying one
- For the term of the programme
What it gives
- Indefinite permanent residence
- Schengen
- Living in Malta
What it does not give
- An EU passport
- Work throughout the EU
- Citizenship (that is MEIN)
04 / How it works
How to obtain MPRP
Choosing the package
Due diligence
Contribution, real estate, donation
Filing the application
Indefinite permanent residence
05 / Cost and timelines
What it costs and what is included
- Entry threshold
- From about €150,000 including all payments
- What is included
- A government contribution, real estate (lease/purchase), a donation
- Who issues it
- Malta’s authorised agency
- Residence
- There is no obligation to move to the island for good
- Status
- Indefinite PR — no annual renewals
06 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
MPRP is PR, not citizenship and not an EU passport
02
The entry threshold is from about €150,000
03
It costs a quarter of the price of MEIN citizenship
04
It is simpler and faster to obtain, with no naturalisation period
05
It gives Schengen access, but not the right to work throughout the EU
Common mistakes
- Confusing MPRP with MEIN citizenship and expecting a passport
- Expecting to work throughout the EU — MPRP does not allow this
- Counting only the contribution and forgetting the property and the donation
- Overpaying for citizenship when PR is enough
- Not preparing the source-of-funds file
07 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Lay out clearly the difference between MPRP and MEIN citizenship, so as not to overpay for something you do not need. Then choose the optimal package of real estate and contributions, assemble the source-of-funds file and budget for the full cost. That way Maltese PR is obtained calmly and on time.
What we do for you. We lay out clearly the difference between MPRP and MEIN citizenship so that you do not overpay for something you do not need. We will choose the optimal package of real estate and contributions and take you through the check and filing so that you obtain Maltese PR calmly and on time.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
08 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
No. MPRP is a permanent residence permit (PR). MEIN, the programme that gave an EU passport, was discontinued on 24.07.2025.
MPRP does not give the right to work throughout the EU — that is a privilege of citizenship. MPRP gives an indefinite right to live in Malta and travel in the Schengen area.
Roughly four times: MPRP starts at about €150,000, whereas MEIN citizenship requires a far larger contribution plus a residence period. The exact amounts depend on family composition and the real estate choice.
You are not required to move to the island permanently. But the property (leased or bought) must be held for the term of the programme, and we check the conditions for keeping the status in advance.
Not directly. MPRP gives resident status. EU citizenship is a separate route, through lengthy naturalisation. The MEIN programme was discontinued on 24.07.2025.
The spouse, children and, as a rule, dependent parents. Family composition affects the final budget for real estate and fees.
Related terms
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