Malta Expat Blog
The ten most recent guides, newest first. Everything here is written from Malta and checked against Maltese sources, so the numbers get updated when they move rather than left to rot. For a topic rather than a date, the hubs go deeper: housing, everyday life, personal finance, residence and business. The archives list every article ever published.
Our Latest Articles
The Transport Malta nautical licence in 2026: who actually needs it, the 30 HP rule, course fees at every school, exam, medical, timeline and how to apply....
The RHA card gives UK nationals free public healthcare in Malta. Who qualifies, how to apply through the Entitlement Unit, and what it covers in 2026....
Who needs private health insurance in Malta, the €100,000 permit rule, what local and international policies cost in 2026, and how to pick a compliant one....
How to open a personal bank account in Malta as an expat in 2026: BOV, APS, MeDirect, Moneybase, Revolut and Wise compared, plus the reference-letter trick....
Do you need a student visa for Malta? 2026 rules by passport: Brazilians, Colombians, Filipinos, Indians, EU, UK and US students, the 90-day line, work rights....
Malta compared to Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, the UK, the US and Dubai in 2026: rents, tax regimes, residence routes and healthcare, from a resident....
Who needs an AIP permit to buy property in Malta in 2026, the minimum values for flats and houses, the 233 EUR fee, the 35-day process and the letting ban....
How buying property in Malta works in 2026: the konvenju, what the notary checks, real prices, mortgages, the ground rent trap and the 5% duty you owe....
What buying property in Malta really costs in 2026: 5% duty, notary fees, the 200,000 EUR first-time buyer exemption, UCA relief and three worked examples....
What Special Designated Areas are, the full 2026 list of SDA developments in Malta and Gozo, and why foreign buyers pay a premium per square metre for them....