Malta vs Cyprus: which digital nomad visa fits you?
Malta Nomad Residence Permit and Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa, side by side. Every figure comes from the official government source, with the date we last checked it.
- Income
- Cyprus stricter (net vs gross)
- Family
- Malta: Yes · Cyprus: Yes
- Renewable
- Malta: Yes · Cyprus: Yes
| MaltaNomad Residence Permit | CyprusDigital Nomad Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income | ≈ $3,926/mo€42,000 / year | ≈ $3,926/mo€3,500 / month |
| Official rule | €42,000 gross per year (€32,400 for applications filed before 1 April 2024) | €3,500 net per month |
| Stay | 1 year | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Family | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | €300 non-refundable application fee per person + €100 residence card per person | €70 permit issuance/renewal + €70 Aliens Registry registration (other fees may apply) |
| Processing | Not stated | Examination takes 5–7 weeks |
| Official source | nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt ↗Verified, checked Oct 22, 2026 | gov.cy ↗Verified, checked Oct 21, 2026 |
USD figures are approximate (FX Oct 20, 2026). The official currency figure is what the authority applies.
Key differences
- The headline numbers look the same but aren’t: Malta asks for €42,000 gross a year (about €3,500 a month before tax), Cyprus for €3,500 net a month. Cyprus’s after-tax test is the stricter one.
- Both start with 1 year. Cyprus is renewable for a further two years; Malta renews at Residency Malta’s discretion, and you apply 2 to 3 months before expiry with proof you lived in Malta at least 5 months of the last 12.
- Fees: Malta €300 per person plus €100 for the residence card; Cyprus €70 for the permit plus €70 Aliens Registry registration. Cyprus caps the scheme at 500 permits (reopened 31 Dec 2025), and you apply in Nicosia within 3 months of arriving; examination takes 5–7 weeks.
- Both let a spouse/partner and children come. In Cyprus, family members can’t work. Cyprus’s source flags that staying over 183 days in a tax year can make you a Cyprus tax resident.
Quick answers
Which needs less income, Malta or Cyprus?
The figures match (about $3,926 a month), but one is gross and the other net, so Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa's after-tax test is stricter. Malta Nomad Residence Permit: €42,000 gross per year (€32,400 for applications filed before 1 April 2024) (nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt, checked Oct 22, 2026). Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa: €3,500 net per month (gov.cy, checked Oct 21, 2026).
Which lets you stay longer, Malta or Cyprus?
Malta Nomad Residence Permit: 1 year. Renewable at Residency Malta’s discretion if you still meet the criteria. Apply 2 to 3 months before the permit expires, with bank statements showing you lived in Malta for at least 5 months (cumulative) in the last 12. Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa: 1 year. Renewable for a further two years. Permit issuance or renewal costs €70.
Can I bring my family on the Malta or Cyprus visa?
Malta Nomad Residence Permit: yes, family members can be included. Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa: yes, family members can be included.
How much do the Malta and Cyprus visas cost?
Malta Nomad Residence Permit: €300 non-refundable application fee per person + €100 residence card per person. Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa: €70 permit issuance/renewal + €70 Aliens Registry registration (other fees may apply).
Full official notes
Malta Nomad Residence Permit
For employees of a foreign-registered employer, partners/shareholders of a foreign-registered company, or freelancers with foreign clients; people serving a foreign company’s Maltese subsidiary are not eligible. Income must be guaranteed for at least 5 months (cumulative) from the day of application and shown in the last 3 months’ bank statements. Spouse/partner and children can be included in the application. Fully comprehensive health insurance with at least €100,000 cover (travel insurance is not accepted) covering the EU incl. Malta and the UK, for one full year. Must work for an employer/clients outside Malta. The residencymalta.gov.mt HTML pages show a captcha to automated readers, so the eligibility and FAQ text was read via a search-engine copy of the official pages; the official application checklist PDF was read directly.
Sources: nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt · nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt · nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt · nomad.residencymalta.gov.mt
Cyprus Digital Nomad Visa
Capped at 500 permits; the Migration Department reopened applications on 31 Dec 2025. Apply in Nicosia within 3 months of arrival; examination takes 5–7 weeks. Renewable for a further two years (apply at least one month before expiry). Spouse/partner and minor children can stay for the same period but cannot work. Staying over 183 days in a tax year can make you a Cyprus tax resident.
Sources: gov.cy
Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. How we verify
Ambassador link
Malta's Nomad Residence Permit asks for health insurance
The official requirements for Malta's Nomad Residence Permit mention health insurance. SafetyWing offers nomad insurance.
See SafetyWing plans
We're a SafetyWing Ambassador and may earn a commission. Disclosure