Residency by Investment

Malta Permanent Residence Programme vs Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment

A side-by-side view built from the same verified records as each programme page. Missing values are labelled, never estimated.

Show differences only

Residency

Malta

Malta Permanent Residence Programme

Residency

Cyprus

Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment

Status

Program status

Malta: Operational
Cyprus: Operational

Investment

Minimum investment per route

Malta: Property purchase (from): EUR 375,000
Cyprus: Qualifying investment (from): EUR 300,000

Costs

Government fees

Malta: Administration fee EUR 60,000 (EUR 15,000 on submission, EUR 45,000 on approval in principle); government contribution EUR 37,000.Show full wordingShow less
Cyprus: EUR 500 on application; EUR 70 for each person included, for the Alien Registration Certificate where not already held.Show full wordingShow less

Family

Family eligibility

Malta: Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply
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Spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried children up to 28 who are principally dependent, and financially dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse.
Cyprus: Spouse, Children · conditions apply
Full wordingHide full wording
Spouse and children under 18. Unmarried children aged 18–25 who study abroad and are financially dependent may apply separately, with EUR 10,000 more annual income required for each.

Obligations

Residence requirements

Malta: No minimum stay. Holders file annual declarations on property, health insurance and capital during the first five years.Show full wordingShow less
Cyprus: No minimum stay, but the permit lapses if residence in Cyprus is not taken up within a year of approval or after two years' continuous absence.Show full wordingShow less

Processing time

Malta: Due diligence about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation are completed within eight months of approval in principle.
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Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused.
Cyprus: The authorities estimate about two months to examine a complete application.Show full wordingShow less

Route to citizenship

Malta: No investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation follows Malta's ordinary residence-based rules.Show full wordingShow less
Cyprus: Naturalisation requires actual residence in Cyprus, including the final 12 months and at least seven of the preceding ten years.Show full wordingShow less

Program comparison
Criteria	Residency Malta Malta Permanent Residence Programme	Residency Cyprus Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment
Status
Program status	Operational	Operational
Investment
Minimum investment per route	Property purchase (from): EUR 375,000	Qualifying investment (from): EUR 300,000
Costs
Government fees	Administration fee EUR 60,000 (EUR 15,000 on submission, EUR 45,000 on approval in principle); government contribution EUR 37,000.	EUR 500 on application; EUR 70 for each person included, for the Alien Registration Certificate where not already held.
Family
Family eligibility	Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Spouse or partner, children under 18, unmarried children up to 28 who are principally dependent, and financially dependent parents and grandparents of either spouse.	Spouse, Children · conditions apply Full wordingHide full wording Spouse and children under 18. Unmarried children aged 18–25 who study abroad and are financially dependent may apply separately, with EUR 10,000 more annual income required for each.
Obligations
Residence requirements	No minimum stay. Holders file annual declarations on property, health insurance and capital during the first five years.	No minimum stay, but the permit lapses if residence in Cyprus is not taken up within a year of approval or after two years' continuous absence.
Processing time	Due diligence about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation are completed within eight months of approval in principle. Full wordingHide full wording Due diligence typically takes about 3–7 months; the property, contribution and donation must be completed within eight months of approval in principle. Applicants may ask for temporary residence when they apply: a one-year renewable card once basic checks are done and the first EUR 15,000 is paid, revoked if the application is refused.	The authorities estimate about two months to examine a complete application.
Route to citizenship	No investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation follows Malta's ordinary residence-based rules.	Naturalisation requires actual residence in Cyprus, including the final 12 months and at least seven of the preceding ten years.

Read the full guide: Malta Permanent Residence Programme Read the full guide: Cyprus Permanent Residence by Investment Open the Comparison Tool Discuss These Options With an Advisor