Issuance of Letter of Approval in Principle, Residence Certificate, Residence Cards and Biometrics
After acceptance of the application, where do applicants have to provide the biometric data? Does the whole family have to travel to Malta?
After the Letter of Final Approval, main applicant and all dependants have to travel to Malta to have their biometric data captured.
What are the parameters of the health insurance?
The health insurance should cover each beneficiary for a minimum of €100,000 per annum, that requires to cover full health expenses in Malta and other European countries. This applies to all new applications submitted from 1st August 2024.
All applications submitted prior to 1st August 2024, will still retain a health insurance coverage for each beneficiary for a minimum of €30,000 per annum, that requires to cover full health expenses in Malta.
Is the health policy required to be submitted together with other requirements once an application has been approved?
Yes, the health policy must be submitted together with a declaration signed by the Main Applicant, whereby, he/she states that he/she will take care of any additional medical expenses locally for all the beneficiaries, which are not covered by the health insurance policy.
Can the main applicant use a company bank to effect payments of fees and contributions if the company is owned by him/her and he/she has authorisation to use the company bank account since he/she is a director/shareholder of the company?
In order for the main applicant to use his/her company’s bank account, the following documentation is required:
- board resolution authorising main applicant to transfer funds from the company bank account for the MPRP application;
- certificate of incorporation, shareholder register and register of directors for the company;
- 3-month bank statement for the company account from which the funds will be transferred. The 3-month bank statement for main applicant’s working bank account is still required.
Will the commencement of lease of property need to be as close as possible to the appointment for submission of final documents?
Ideally the lease agreement should commence closest to the submission of the final proofs. The same applies to the health policy. The Agency applies a tolerance period of a maximum of 3 months.
Does the Agency support or facilitate the issuance of visas for applicants for travelling purposes?
No, the Agency cannot provide any support to applicants who would like to obtain a travel visa.
Following the initial five-year period, upon renewal of residence card, are main applicant and other beneficiaries required to come to Malta to retake their biometrics?
Yes, all beneficiaries are requested to retake their biometric data after the first five years of residence.
Can residence cards be renewed abroad through a Maltese Embassy?
No, residence cards cannot be renewed through a Maltese Embassy abroad.
Upon renewal of the residence card after 5 years, do other fees apply?
Yes. Each individual has to pay €27.50 per year for the renewal of the residence card.
Will a language test be carried out to test main applicant’s and dependants’ knowledge of Maltese/English?
No language tests are applicable.
Are there any exemptions from biometrics for certain categories of dependants?
Yes, infants are exempt from biometrics up to the age of 2. However, Form ID2 together with 2 certified passport size photos need to be submitted for each child. With regards to persons with disabilities, each case will be decided on its own merits.
Will the residence certificate and the residence card have expiry dates?
As long as all requirements stipulated in the legislation continue to be met, the residence certificate will not have an expiry date. The residence card, however, is initially valid for a period of 5 years, but is renewable. In cases where a residence card is issued to a minor of less than 14 years, and the minor turns 14 during the 5-year validity, the expiry date of such minor’s card will fall due one month after his/her 14th birthday. The same applies when dependant turns 18 years of age.
What is the process to be followed, right after the application is duly submitted?
An application pack is to be submitted complete and correct including full supporting documents. Incomplete application packs will not be accepted by the Agency. For a list of documents and forms to be submitted, kindly refer to the Agent Handbook, available on our website.
In order to submit a new application, the agent should set an appointment with Client Relations and Compliance. During the appointment, the agent shall submit the application pack with the receptionist or a Client Relations and Compliance employee, as applicable. The agent shall be given a receipt of submission, which does not mean that the file is formally accepted by the Agency.
Once the application pack is vetted and accepted by the Agency, a formal receipt is issued, and the applicant is requested to settle the initial non-refundable fee of €10,000 within one month. On receipt of funds, due diligence checks on main applicant and dependants are conducted. If successful, the application is presented to the Board of Approvals and, if approved, a Letter of Approval in Principle is issued.
Following this, the main applicant is required to settle the contribution, buy/lease the qualifying property, make the donation and purchase the necessary health insurance cover. Once main applicant provides all the documentation, the Agency will issue the residence certificate within 7 days, provided that all documentation is finalised and deemed acceptable.
The Agency will also issue a Letter of Final Approval to main applicant (the beneficiary), inviting him/her and his/her dependants to call at our offices for the capturing of biometric data. Once the biometrics are captured, and all residence forms collected, the application is sent to the department of residence for printing. The printing of residence cards currently takes circa 2 weeks per application.