Malta Digital Nomad Visa
What should I know about the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
If you work as a freelancer, now you may enjoy traveling around the world with a Digital Nomad Visa. The DNV permit, sometimes called the Freelance Visa or the Remote Worker Visa, allows you to reside in a foreign country while performing remote work. Some European countries, including Georgia, Norway, Estonia, and Romania, have already introduced the idea of the Digital Nomad Visa to their visitors.
In Malta, the Digital Nomad Visa program has been working since 2021, but the officials named it Malta Nomad Residence Permit. The pandemic of COVID-19 virus caused a significant increase in the number of active remote workers, and the government of Malta hopes they could be a perfect remedy for strengthening the country's economy.
The Residence Permit is a document allowing foreign remote workers to stay in Malta for the entire year while performing work with the use of electronic devices. It is possible to renew the document at the Malta Immigration Agency if your stay in the country is about to last longer than 12 months.
If you plan to reside in Malta for up to 6 months, there is no need to apply for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit. Instead, you will be given the National Visa - this document may also be issued for all digital nomads, but it is valid for 180 days only.
Who is eligible for the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
The Freelance Visa to Malta is available for all foreign citizens who either are self-employed or perform work under a company registered abroad. Moreover, it is crucial that the customers of the visa holders cannot be citizens of Malta.
Some people may enter Malta visa-free and spend up to 90 days there. This rule applies to individuals who are:
- part of the European Union
- part of the European Economic Area
- nationals of Switzerland
Despite the liberal visa regulations concerning the citizens mentioned above, they still need to obtain a suitable visa to Malta if they intend to stay in the country longer than 3 months.
How can I apply for the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
You may apply for the Malta Nomad Visa electronically or at the nearest Embassy. The process is not complicated, however, it may take around 30 days for your application to be approved. Therefore, it is advised to begin the registration as soon as possible.
To obtain the Nomad Residence Visa to Malta, follow these simple steps:
- complete the N1 application form
- complete the N4 application form
- prepare the letter of intent
- collect the documentation
- visit the immigration officers at the Embassy
- wait for the visa approval
While filling in the questionnaire, you will be asked to specify the duration of your stay. Providing you intend to visit Malta for less than 180 days, you will be given a National Visa. However, if your stay will be longer, you should obtain the Malta Nomad Residence Permit.
When you are finished with the application process, remember to check the form for spelling mistakes carefully. Even the slightest error may result in denied access to the country.
You will receive the official approval at your e-mail address if your inquiry is accepted. From that moment, you will be allowed to cross the borders of Malta freely. Still, you will be required to apply for a residence permit upon arrival in the country.
What are the requirements to obtain the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
There are a few mandatory requirements that must be met in order to work remotely in Malta.
Foreign Employment
It is crucial that the digital nomad in Malta is employed by a company registered in their home country. Alternatively, they may manage their own business. Nevertheless, it is strictly forbidden to conclude contracts with the citizens of Malta.
Monthly Income
To be considered eligible for the Malta Nomad Residence Permit, you must prove to earn a stable monthly income of €2,700. The amount should be presented in a suitable bank statement.
Application Forms
There are three various application forms that you will be asked to fill in while traveling to Malta. They change depending on the purpose of your visit:
- N1 application form - individual Nomad Residence Permit
- N2 application form - family member Nomad Residence Permit
- N4 application form - General Data Protection Form
Basic Requirements
There are some basic documents that you need to gather before you proceed with the visa registration:
- suitable application forms (N1, N2, or N4)
- valid travel document (e.x. passport)
- two photos
- letter of intent
- bank statement
- certificate of health insurance
- rental or purchase agreement
- resume with previous work experience
- official tax documentation (employed abroad)
- current employment contract (employed abroad)
- individual employment documentary evidence (self-employed)
How can I benefit from the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
Remote working, which has recently gained a lot of popularity, is a chance for people to travel the world while still making money. However, the freedom of journey is not the only benefit digital nomads may experience.
- If you intend to visit Malta with a Digital Nomad Visa, you do not have to worry about the potential language barrier. The primary language used in Malta is English, and the citizens are extremely friendly to everyone who is still learning.
- A significant advantage of the Digital Nomad Visa to Malta is the ability to comfortably travel through all the Schengen countries. Visit various European destinations thanks to the freedom of movement in the area.
How to extend the validity period of the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
The Digital Nomad Visa to Malta stays valid for an entire year and may be extended at the traveler's request. The process is conducted at the discretion of the Residency Malta Agency.
What are some valuable tips while traveling with the Malta Digital Nomad Visa?
You already know the most important details concerning the Digital Nomad Visa to Malta. However, there is some additional information that may prove to be useful.
Tax Residency
The government of Malta decided to implement the double taxation agreement into law, meaning digital nomads are not obliged to pay taxes on their income if they are already registered as tax residents in their home country. If you work remotely in Malta, you are exempt from the personal income tax, but you still must pay the consumption tax.
Contrary to other available Digital Nomad Visas, as long as you pay the income tax in your home country, you may live in Malta longer than 183 days without being registered as a Malta tax resident.
Family Members
It is a great benefit of the Digital Nomad Visa that you may visit Malta with your relatives. You must include them in your registration questionnaire, complete the N2 application form, and pay the additional fee.
Family members who may travel with you to Malta are:
- your spouse
- your minor child
- your child dependent on you due to disability
- your child dependent on you due to finances
Additionally, Malta is one of the countries that recognize same-sex unions. Your partner may accompany you during the travel, providing you present the immigration officers with the marriage certificate.
Residence Permit
Two travel documents allow you to enter Malta and conduct business activities there. The National Visa is issued for those whose visit will not exceed 180 days, while the Nomad Residence Permit allows you to stay in Malta for a whole year.
If you applied for a regular visa, but your plans have suddenly changed, and now you wish for your journey to Malta to last a little longer, there is a solution. It is very simple - visit the Identity Malta Agency and fill in the application form for the Nomad Residence Permit. After a few days, you should be given the second long-term travel document.
