Malta property Q&A
Can foreigners buy property in Malta?
In short
Yes. Foreigners can buy property in Malta. EU citizens who have lived in Malta for at least five years buy on the same terms as locals; everyone else usually needs an AIP permit and must meet a minimum price.
The detail
Outside a Special Designated Area, non EU buyers and EU buyers not yet five years resident need an Acquisition of Immovable Property (AIP) permit. The property must clear a minimum price, currently around 175,000 euro for an apartment and 295,000 euro for a house, and it can only be used as the buyer's own residence, not rented out.
Inside a Special Designated Area (for example Tigne Point, Portomaso, Fort Cambridge or Mercury Towers) there is no AIP permit and no minimum price, and the property can be let. Non residents can generally hold one property outside an SDA. Check your exact position with the AIP eligibility calculator, and read the buying guide for the full process.
Related questions
Do foreigners need a permit to buy in Malta?
Non EU buyers, and EU buyers resident under five years, need an AIP permit outside Special Designated Areas. Inside an SDA no permit is required.
Can foreigners rent out property they buy in Malta?
Property bought under an AIP permit is for the owner's own use and cannot be let. Property in a Special Designated Area can be rented out.