No, EU & EEA citizens can travel freely to Malta and other Schengen Area countries (the 27 EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) simply by presenting a valid passport or national identity card.

EU & EEA citizens can stay in Malta for up to 90 days without registration but will need to register for stays exceeding 90 days.

Tourist:

• If you’re an EU citizen staying as a tourist (i.e., not working, studying or self-employed), you can stay beyond 90 days but you’ll typically still need to register after 3 months. To do so, you must meet certain conditions, such as:

  • Having sufficient resources to support yourself (so you’re not a burden on the host country’s welfare system).

  • Having health insurance valid in the host country.

• If you don’t register or can’t meet these conditions, authorities could, in theory, question your right to remain beyond 90 days. Though enforcement is rare for EU citizens, you are still legally required to register your stay.

Leaving for One Night:

• Leaving for one night and returning doesn’t reset the 90-day period for registration purposes. The requirement to register is based on your cumulative stay in the country and a brief exit doesn’t change your status as someone residing there for over 3 months.

Yes, EU & EEA citizens planning to live and/or work in Malta for more than three months must register their residence with Identita' and obtain a residence card.

An EU & EEA citizen can apply for a Maltese residence card based on the following grounds: study, self-sufficiency, employment, self-employment or as a family member of an EU & EEA citizen already residing in Malta.

Yes, EU & EEA nationals who have lawfully and continuously resided in Malta for five consecutive years are eligible to apply for permanent resident status.

For non-resident individuals, taxation in Malta only applies to income and chargeable gains earned within Malta. Individuals who are ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta are taxed on their worldwide income. Those who are resident but not domiciled in Malta are taxed on income sourced in Malta and foreign income received or remitted to Malta. Foreign capital gains are not taxed. Generally, tax rates are progressive, from 0% to 35%. Certain individuals in specific qualifying employments may benefit from a flat 15% tax rate on their income under certain conditions.

Yes, they differ. For employed individuals, taxes and social security contributions are deducted directly by their employers. Self-employed EU & EEA nationals are responsible for managing and making their own social security contributions and ensuring timely payments.

Yes, EU & EEA nationals and their family members generally have access to the Maltese public healthcare and educational systems. This is in line with EU regulations granting these rights to EU & EEA citizens residing in other EU & EEA countries. For emergency healthcare during temporary stays, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used.

Driving licences issued within the European Union are recognized and accepted in Malta, provided they are valid in the issuing country. Individuals can choose to exchange them for an equivalent Maltese driving license.