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Property costs in Malta
Every cost of buying, owning and renting property in Malta: duty on documents, notarial fees, searches and registration, AIP permits, agency fees, bank and insurance costs, ground rent, service charges, utilities and local taxes, each with its source.
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One-off costs when buying
| Cost | Typical amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Duty on documents | 5% of the price (1% provisional on the promise of sale) | Cap. 364; first-time buyers exempt on the first €200,000 of a home for own residence |
| Notarial fees and searches | about 1–2% including research, registration and disbursements | Editorial range; notaries quote in advance |
| Architect's report | a few hundred euro | Editorial range |
| AIP permit (non-residents outside SDAs) | fixed fee | Capital Transfer Duty department |
| Agency commission | normally paid by the seller (typically 3.5–5% plus VAT) | Editorial range |
| Bank costs | processing fee, valuation, life and buildings insurance | Lender's tariff |
Key figures
Duty on transfers of immovable property
€5 per €100 (5%)
Cap. 364 as consolidated 11 Aug 2025
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · verified 01 Oct 2026
First-time buyer: no duty on the first
€200,000
Cap. 364 as consolidated 11 Aug 2025
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · verified 01 Oct 2026
Standard VAT rate
18%%
Cap. 406 as consolidated 27 Mar 2026
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta · verified 01 Oct 2026
Every figure shows the reference period and the publishing authority. Statistics are refreshed when the source publishes a new release; see the source register for document details.
| Indicator | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| House price index, annual change | 6.0 % | 2025 | Eurostat — European Commission (data transmitted by NSO Malta) · prc_hpi_a RCH_A_AVG TOTAL (2024: 6.7%; 2023: 6.2%) · verified 01 Oct 2026 |
Ongoing costs when owning
Ground rent (ċens) where the title is emphyteutical; service charges in apartment blocks; buildings insurance; ARMS water and electricity on the residential tariff; no annual property tax or council tax in Malta. Rental income is taxed at a flat 15% final withholding option or at progressive rates; capital gains on resale are taxed as a final property transfer tax (generally 8% of the transfer value, with exemptions for a home occupied for three years).
Costs when renting
Deposit (usually one month), registration (landlord's duty), utilities, and no tenant commission on most long lets.
MPRP-specific
Under the MPRP the property must be held for five years and meets a minimum value; the MPRP cost calculator adds the government contribution and fees to the property figures.
Sources & Verification
Verified 1 October 2026 against the sources below- Legislation
Duty on Documents and Transfers Act (Cap. 364), consolidated
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Chapter 364 of the Laws of Malta, consolidated as at 11 August 2025
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: CAP-364Official requirement - Legislation
Income Tax Act (Cap. 123), consolidated
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Chapter 123 of the Laws of Malta, consolidated as at 10 March 2026 (incl. Act III of 2026 rates applicable from year of assessment 2026)
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: CAP-123Official requirement - Legislation
Value Added Tax Act (Cap. 406), consolidated
Government of Malta — Laws of Malta
Chapter 406 of the Laws of Malta, consolidated as at 27 March 2026
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: CAP-406Official requirement - Secondary
Malta MPRP Guide — editorial market review
Malta MPRP Guide editorial team (secondary, non-official)
Editorial ranges compiled from current listings, provider price lists and local professional input; reviewed on the frequent-change interval
- Published
- —
- Effective
- —
- Last checked
- 01 Oct 2026
- Status
- Active
Reference: EDITORIAL-MARKETOfficial requirement
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Written by
Malta MPRP Guide Editorial Team
Research & editorial
The editorial team researches the Malta Permanent Residence Programme directly from the consolidated regulations (S.L. 217.26), the Legal Notices that amend them and the Residency Malta Agency's published material. Ever…
Reviewed by
Fact-check & source review
Responsible for reviewing published pages against the current text of S.L. 217.26 and the Agency's official pages, recording the verification date and flagging any page that needs an update after a legislative change. R…