🇩🇪 → 🇲🇹
Moving from Germany to Malta as a digital nomad
Here's what it takes on the Nomad Residence Permit — the income bar, how tax compares with staying in Germany, and what a typical remote salary actually leaves you each month.
Sample: a solo remote worker on $6,000/month
Qualifies — the bar is $3,815/mo.
Tax in Malta
10.0%
vs 43.2% at home
Take-home / mo
$5,400
after tax & contributions
Left after costs
$2,986
$2,414 living costs
Your money goes about 1.1× further in Sliema than in Berlin (PPP-adjusted).
Updated June 2026 · sample figures in USD for a solo employee.
Tax here vs. Germany, by income
All-in effective rate for a solo employee who is tax-resident in each place.
| Monthly income | 🇲🇹 Malta | 🇩🇪 Germany | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 10.0% | 36.3% | +$789/mo |
| $6,000/mo | 10.0% | 43.2% | +$1,989/mo |
| $12,000/mo | 10.0% | 46.9% | +$4,423/mo |
What Germany nomads should know
The easiest-to-live English-speaking corner of the Schengen zone, with a clean 10% flat tax — if you can accept island prices and density.
For tax, what matters is where you're resident, not your passport: stay under 183 days and most Germany nomads avoid Malta tax residency; a longer move brings Malta's rules into play. Check for a tax treaty or totalization agreement between Germany and Malta first.
- English is an official language — zero language friction.
- A clear 10% flat tax on qualifying income.
- Crowded and pricey for its size.
- No residency or citizenship track.
Model your move to Malta
Your income, household and costs — compared against Germany.
Optional — unlocks age- and savings-gated visas (retirement, youth-mobility, golden visas).
Staying more than ~183 days?
Affects tax residency for territorial & exempt regimes.
Your monthly life in Malta
Pre-filled with typical costs in Sliema. Drag or type to match your life.
A nice place in a popular area
Power, water, gas
Home fibre + data
Food at home
Transit, rideshare, fuel
Private cover nomads usually need
Eating out, coffee, going out
Shopping, gym, subscriptions, misc.
You meet the income requirement
Needs $3,815/mo.
Your qualifying income
$6,000
$5,400
$2,414
$2,986
Tax in Malta
Effective rate
10.0%
- Income tax / mo
- $600
- Social security / mo
- Not charged
- Total deductions / mo
- $600
- Take-home / mo
- $5,400
Typically covered by your home country under a totalization agreement, so €0 locally.
Private health insurance isn't required for this visa, but most nomads carry it — it's already counted in your living costs above.
A dedicated 10% flat rate applies to the nomad permit's qualifying income; first-year income is exempt.
vs. Germany
Tax
43.2% at home → 10.0% here
Same lifestyle costs
$2,705 at home → $2,414 here
Money left over
$705 at home → $2,986 here
Estimates for planning only — actual tax depends on treaties, your residency and personal circumstances. Confirm with official sources and a qualified advisor before you move.
FAQ
Can Germany citizens get Malta's Nomad Residence Permit?
Yes — it's open to remote workers regardless of nationality (subject to the usual checks). A single applicant needs about $3,815/month.
Will I pay tax in Malta or Germany?
A dedicated 10% flat rate applies to the nomad permit's qualifying income; first-year income is exempt. On a sample $6,000/month, that's an effective 10.0% in Malta vs roughly 43.2% at home.
Does this visa lead to citizenship?
The permit does not lead to residency or citizenship by itself.
Full requirements, citizenship timeline and cost breakdown for Malta.
Malta guideIllustrative 2026 estimates in USD; your result depends on treaties, residency and circumstances — confirm with official sources before applying.