Malta Unveils New Residency Route for Investment Family Offices to Bolster Financial Hub Status

Malta Establishes Direct Residency Route for Investment Family Offices

Malta has officially launched a new residency route specifically designed for ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) and senior executives of investment family offices. The initiative, announced through a joint communication by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and the Residency Malta Agency (RMA) on December 3, 2025, aims to significantly strengthen the nation's position as a prominent financial hub within the European Union.

This framework represents a strategic pivot, linking MFSA authorisation of family office structures directly to the issuance of residence permits, rather than relying on traditional 'golden visa' or pure capital-based investment schemes.

Eligibility and Regulatory Framework

The new route is open to UBOs and qualifying senior personnel associated with family office structures that are duly authorised by the MFSA. The MFSA does not operate a standalone 'family office' licence; instead, eligibility hinges on authorisation or recognition under existing Maltese laws, such as the Investment Services Act or the Trusts and Trustees Act.

Family offices in Malta can adopt various legal forms, including:

• Companies
• Foundations
• Trusts
• Funds
• Branches

This flexible approach allows for a Maltese branch to operate and manage EU-related affairs even if the ultimate family office headquarters remains offshore.

Benefits and Strategic Advantages

Holders of these new residence permits will gain the right to live, work, and study in Malta, along with the ability to travel short-term within the Schengen Area. A key advantage is that applicants are not required to demonstrate typical employment or investment commitments beyond their role or ownership stake in the licensed family office structure.

Further enhancing Malta's appeal, Legal Notice 250 of 2025, formally titled 'Senior Employees of Family Offices, Back Offices and Treasury Management Operations Tax Rules,' introduces a flat, preferential tax rate for designated senior family office employees. To qualify for this 15% tax rate, employees must meet specific criteria, including deriving a minimum remuneration of €65,000 per annum (excluding fringe benefits), performing duties in Malta, possessing relevant professional qualifications, and not being domiciled in Malta. This preferential rate applies for an initial period of five years, with potential extensions.

Malta's existing remittance-based tax regime also offers significant tax planning advantages for non-domiciled residents, who are taxed only on Malta-source income and foreign income remitted to Malta, not on worldwide income.

Malta's Vision for Wealth Management

This initiative underscores Malta's commitment to cultivating high-value, high-governance niches within its financial services sector. By integrating financial regulation, immigration, and taxation within a cohesive framework, Malta aims to attract high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking a stable and compliant EU foothold for their wealth management operations. The move is expected to position Malta as a competitive jurisdiction for global family office leadership, offering regulatory clarity and streamlined immigration access.