Malta’s Startup Residence Programme: a gateway to the EU for international founders

The Startup Residence Programme (“SRP”) facilitates the relocation of international entrepreneurs, including founders, co‑founders, and key employees, who are looking to establish or expand innovative business ventures in Malta.

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Key features:

The programme offers a number of advantages for eligible applicants:

• ‍Validity and renewability: issued for an initial period of three years, and extendable for a further five years, subject to continued eligibility.‍
• Family members: inclusion of immediate family members is allowed.‍
• Team flexibility: up to six co‑founders may apply under the same startup.‍
• Schengen access: enables short‑term travel within the Schengen Area (up to 90 days within any 180‑day period).

These features make Malta a practical jurisdiction for entrepreneurs seeking flexibility and EU market access.

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Eligibility criteria:

Applicants must:

• Be a non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss national.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a founder or co‑founder of a startup (not older than seven years).
• Have no prior rejected residence or citizenship applications in Malta or abroad.
• Demonstrate a concrete intention to develop or expand the business in Malta.
• Ensure that the business is innovative and not formed through mergers or acquisitions.
• The startup must maintain a minimum tangible investment or paid‑up share capital of €25,000. An extra €10,000 is required for each co-founder beyond the first four applicants.
• A maximum of six co‑founders may apply under the programme.
• Core employees must have a full-time employment contract in Malta with the company which has benefited from the Malta Startup Residence Programme and have an annual gross salary of at least €30,000 per annum.

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Conclusion:

The programme is specifically targeted at innovative founders and early‑stage businesses. Should you wish to explore the Startup Residence Programme further, our team would be pleased to assist you in starting your application and guiding you through the process.