Malta’s Residency Programmes: TRP, GRP, and What They Cost

Malta runs two residency programmes that give a flat tax rate on foreign income brought into the country. They are usually named by their initials, which hides how simple they are.

The Residence Programme, TRP, is for nationals of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.

The Global Residence Programme, GRP, is for everyone else.

The tax treatment is identical. The only real differences are who can apply and how long it takes.

Here are the terms.

Foreign income you bring into Malta is taxed at a flat 15%. Foreign capital gains are exempt, even when you bring them in. The minimum annual tax is 15,000 euros.

You need a home in Malta. Buying means at least 275,000 euros in the north or centre, or 220,000 euros in the south or Gozo. Renting means at least 9,600 euros a year, or 8,750 in the south or Gozo.

The application fee is 6,000 euros. Processing takes three to four months for the TRP and three to six for the GRP.

Now three things worth knowing before you assume one of these is the answer.

A programme is not always cheaper than ordinary residence. Someone resident but not domiciled in Malta, outside any programme, faces a lower minimum annual tax and no property threshold. The flat 15% only pays for itself once you are remitting enough each year. Below that line, the ordinary route is cheaper. This is arithmetic, so it should be modelled rather than guessed.

A third programme is often mixed up with these. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme grants permanent residence rights and does not give a preferential tax status. It also costs far more: a 60,000 euro administrative fee for the main applicant, a 37,000 euro government contribution, property of at least 375,000 euros to buy or 14,000 euros a year to rent, and proof of assets of 500,000 or 650,000 euros. Processing runs six to twelve months. Its rules changed twice in 2025. If someone is comparing it with the TRP or GRP, they are comparing two different things.

The property requirement is a real cost, not a formality. It has to be held for as long as the status is held. On a rental at the minimum level that is roughly 9,600 euros a year on top of the 15,000 euro minimum tax.

One last point, and it is the one we spend most time on.

For a yacht owner these programmes are only half the picture. The yacht sits in a company with its own tax position. The owner has a personal one. They meet whenever money moves from the structure to the person, and that is usually the moment nobody planned for.

A flat 15% on remitted income is only worth having if what reaches you has not already been taxed badly on the way.

For how the two halves fit together, read our guide: Malta Residency and Tax Planning for International Yacht Owners.

Zenco Partners advises on both programmes and on the ordinary non-dom route, alongside the company that owns the vessel. To work out which fits, email info@zencopartners.com or message us on WhatsApp at +356 7921 2598.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking any action based on the contents of this article.