The provisions of the Schengen Convention which have been duly integrated in the EU framework lay down that a valid residence permit from a Schengen State, together with a travel document, can substitute for a visa.  In the light of this provision therefore, a third-country national presenting a passport and a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen Member State can be allowed to enter another Schengen Member State without requiring a visa.

The Global Residence Programme (GRP) was launched in June 2013. The key factors of the GRP are the following:

  • GRP is addressed to non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals only.
  • The flat rate of tax on income remitted to Malta is set at 15%. This is subject to a single minimum tax payment of €15,000 for the applicant and all dependents.
  • The definition of dependents includes the wife and children (the latter whether natural, adopted or in care, being limited to up to 25 years of age. This definition of dependents shall also include dependent brothers, sisters and direct relatives in an ascending line provided that the Director of Inland Revenue is satisfied that these are dependents of the beneficiary of the Programme. Employees are also provided for i.e. carers/servants and other persons that may have been in the employ of the applicant for the preceding two years.
  • GRP Property Purchase requirements have been set at:
    • purchase price of immovable in Malta €275,000
    • purchase price of property in Gozo and the South of Malta €220,000
  • GRP minimum rental price has been set at:
    • Annual minimum rental of property in Malta €9,600
    • Annual minimum rental of property in Gozo and the South of Malta €8,750
  • GRP requires the use of an Authorised Registered Mandatory in Malta to submit the application on behalf of the client.
  • GRP requires monitoring to ensure applicant and dependents are covered by an all-risks medical insurance in Malta.
  • The immovable property which the applicant has declared as his residence in Malta cannot be used by any other person other than dependents or those in his employ.
  • The applicant may not rent out the property that he is declaring to be his residence in the application for whatever period and in whichever location.
  • The applicant may not be resident for more than 183 days in any other single jurisdiction.

 

Visas issued by the Maltese authorities fall under three categories, namely:

  1. Schengen Visas: valid for the territories of all the Schengen Member States; may be an Airport Transit Visa or a Short-Stay Visa valid for up to 90 days and for single or multiple entries).Exceptionally, the Schengen regulation enables persons of known repute and good standing who frequently require a visa and who can provide the necessary guarantees, to be issued with visas which permit a visit of up to 90 days in any half-year and are valid for one (1), two (2), three (3) or five years (5).
  2. Limited Territorial Validity visas are generally Malta or named-Schengen states only visas which do not grant access to or transit through the territory of any other Schengen States. These visas are generally issued for humanitarian reasons, or in the national interest, or under international obligations as an exception to the common system.
  3. Long stay or “national” visas are only valid for visits that are longer than 90 days with one or more entries, in the territory of the Schengen State whose diplomatic representative issued the visa and give the right to transit through the territory of other Schengen States for a period of not more than five days.

On the basis of the Schengen Convention, now integrated in the EU framework, a valid residence permit from a Schengen State, together with a travel document, can substitute for a visa.  Thus a third-country national presenting his/her passport and a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen Member State can be allowed to enter another Schengen Member State for a short-stay without needing a visa. This equivalence does not apply to residence permits issued by the United Kingdom and Ireland, since they do not apply the Schengen acquis.

 

HRM International provides services in the following areas:

  • Application for registration in the Global Residence Programme
  • Logistical and support services on matters associated with GRP
  • VISA and Immigration Law matters
  • Citizenship requests.