Malta AIP-geschiktheidsrekenmachine
Controleer in seconden of je een AIP-vergunning nodig hebt, of het pand de Maltese minimumprijsgrens haalt en welke kosten van toepassing zijn.
Result
AIP permit required, but the price is below the Maltese minimum threshold.
You will need to apply for an AIP permit, but the current price is below the Maltese minimum-price floor of € 175.000 for this property type. The Commissioner for Revenue will not approve a purchase below this threshold. Either negotiate up, choose a different property, or look at SDAs which have no minimum.
- AIP permit needed
- Yes
- Minimum price
- € 175.000
- AIP permit fee
- € 233
- Can buy additional properties
- No
AIP permit fee is a one-off € 233 payable on application, non-refundable. Processing typically takes 6 to 8 weeks; longer if the file is incomplete. The threshold figures shown are the published minimums and are uplifted occasionally; verify with your notary before signing.
About AIP permits
The Acquisition of Immovable Property (Non-Residents) Act regulates property purchases in Malta by people who are not Maltese citizens and have not been resident in Malta for 5 continuous years. Most of Malta's property stock is restricted; SDAs are the main carve-out.
- Non-EU citizens always need an AIP permit unless buying inside an SDA.
- EU citizens who have lived in Malta for under 5 years need an AIP for second homes; primary residences are exempt.
- Inside an SDA, anyone can buy any number of properties with no permit and no minimum-price floor.
- Outside an SDA, the property must clear a published minimum-price threshold per property type.
Property requirement for Malta Golden Visa, MPRP, and citizenship
Most of Malta's residency and citizenship programmes have a property purchase or long-term lease requirement on top of the AIP rules above. The AIP outcome from this calculator is what your immigration lawyer needs to file alongside the residency application. Below is a quick map of the four most common programmes and what they ask for.
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
5-year renewable residence permit. Property requirement: purchase of at least €350,000 (€300,000 if the property is in the south of Malta or on Gozo), or a qualifying lease of at least €12,000 per year. Plus a government contribution and a non-refundable administrative fee. Property must be retained for the duration of the permit.
Citizenship by Naturalisation (Exceptional Services)
Maltese passport via residency and contribution. Property requirement: purchase of at least €700,000 retained for 5 years, or a lease of at least €16,000 per year. Plus a government contribution starting at €600,000 (12 months residence) or €750,000 (36 months residence). The property must be acquired by deed of sale, not promise of sale, before naturalisation is granted.
Nomad Residence Permit
Issued by Residency Malta to non-EU remote workers earning at least €42,000 per year. No property purchase requirement, but most permit holders sign 6 to 12 month leases on Maltese property. The AIP rules above still apply if you choose to buy.
Malta Retirement Programme
Targeted at EU/EEA/Swiss pensioners. 15% flat tax on foreign-source income remitted to Malta, minimum tax floor applies. Requires either purchase of qualifying property at the published thresholds or a long-term lease, plus pension and health-cover proof.
Programme thresholds and rules are revised periodically by Residency Malta and Identità. This page reflects the current published programme parameters; final eligibility and documentation should be confirmed with a Maltese immigration lawyer or licensed agent.
Buying Malta property by buyer nationality
AIP rules and residency programmes treat buyers differently depending on citizenship and current residence status. This is a quick orientation by buyer profile; the calculator above produces the precise AIP outcome for your exact case.
British (UK) buyers after Brexit
UK citizens are treated as non-EU since 1 January 2021. An AIP permit is required for any property outside an SDA, and the published minimum-price thresholds (~€247,700 house, ~€148,620 apartment) apply. UK buyers retain access to MPRP and the Nomad Residence Permit; the Citizenship by Naturalisation route is also open. UK pension income is taxable in Malta under the UK-Malta double taxation treaty if the pensioner is Maltese tax-resident.
American (US) buyers
US citizens are non-EU and need an AIP permit outside SDAs. SDAs (Tigne Point, Portomaso, Pendergardens, Fort Cambridge, Manoel Island, Mercury Towers, Madliena Village, Smartcity, Santa Maria Estate) are the most common option for US buyers because there is no AIP and no minimum-price floor. FATCA reporting applies to any Maltese bank account opened in connection with the purchase. The US-Malta tax treaty governs pension and rental income taxation.
EU citizens (Italy, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, etc.)
EU citizens with at least 5 continuous years of Maltese residence can buy a primary residence without an AIP permit. EU citizens resident for less than 5 years need an AIP for any second home but can buy a primary residence permit-free. SDAs remove the AIP requirement entirely regardless of residence duration. Italians, Germans, and French buyers are the largest non-Maltese segments on Darscover; the calculator outcome accounts for the EU long-term resident exemption.
Russian and CIS buyers
Russian and CIS-country buyers are subject to the standard non-EU AIP rules plus EU sanctions screening. Maltese banks and notaries are required to verify source of funds and may refuse transactions linked to sanctioned individuals or entities. Recent EU citizenship and residency programme rules have specifically excluded Russian and Belarusian nationals from MPRP and Citizenship by Naturalisation while sanctions remain in force.
Other non-EU citizens (Australia, Canada, India, China, Middle East)
All non-EU buyers are treated equivalently for AIP purposes: permit required outside SDAs, threshold applies. Differences appear at the residency-programme stage and the tax-treaty level. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, Israel, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong all have varying combinations of double-tax treaties with Malta that change how rental income, capital gains, and pension flows are taxed once the property is owned.
AIP permit FAQs
What is an AIP permit?
AIP stands for Acquisition of Immovable Property. It is a permit issued by the Maltese Commissioner for Revenue that authorises a non-Maltese, non-long-term-EU-resident buyer to purchase residential property in Malta outside a Special Designated Area.
Who needs an AIP permit?
Non-EU citizens and EU citizens who have lived in Malta for under 5 years. The permit is unnecessary for: Maltese citizens; EU citizens with 5+ years of continuous Maltese residence buying a primary home; or anyone (including non-EU buyers) purchasing inside a Special Designated Area.
What are the minimum prices?
The minimum prices are revised periodically by the Commissioner for Revenue. As of the latest update, the floor is roughly 247,700 EUR for a house (any kind, terraced through villa) and roughly 148,620 EUR for an apartment. The minimum applies per property; you cannot aggregate multiple sub-threshold properties to clear it.
What is a Special Designated Area (SDA)?
SDAs are specific developments designated by Maltese law where foreign buyers can purchase without restriction: any number of properties, no AIP permit, no minimum price. Most are large luxury or marina developments: Tigne Point and Fort Cambridge in Sliema, Portomaso and Pendergardens in St Julian's, Manoel Island in Gzira, Smartcity in Kalkara, Madliena Village in Madliena, Mercury Towers in St Julian's, and Santa Maria Estate in Mellieha.
How long does it take to get an AIP?
Plan for 6 to 8 weeks from filing the application to receiving the permit, assuming a complete file. Delays usually come from incomplete documentation (proof of funds, source of funds, deed copies) or supplementary requests from the Commissioner. The application is signed by your notary alongside the konvenju.
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