Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) vs Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase) is faster: 4 months vs 6 months for Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP).
- ›Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase) leads to citizenship (~5 yrs); Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) does not.
- ›Lower capital: Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) (150,000 USD) vs 375,000 for Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase).
- ›Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) uses territorial taxation; Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase) taxes worldwide income.
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) Malta · investment | Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase) Mauritius · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Malta | Mauritius |
| Category | Investment | Investment |
| Application Fee | $40,000 | $1,000 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | $150,000 | $375,000 |
| Processing Time | 6 months | 4 months |
| Family Included | €7,500 additional government contribution per additional adult dependent | Spouse, dependent children, and parents included on the principal's permit |
| Path to PR | Yes — 0 years | Yes — 0 years |
| Path to Citizenship | No | Yes — 5 years |
| Physical Presence | No minimum annual stay required to maintain permanent residency | PR permit valid 10 years (renewable while property is held). No minimum stay — holder may live in Mauritius full-time, part-time, or visit only. |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | Permanent residency does not automatically create tax residency; Malta's tax system is favorable, and residents who remit income may benefit from low effective rates | Mauritius operates residence-based taxation with a 15% flat PIT plus 10% Solidarity Levy on income above MUR 3M. PR holders become Mauritian tax residents at 183+ days physical presence; foreign-source income is taxable but no remittance requirement — i.e. no UK-style 'remittance basis' is needed because the rate is already low and the Mauritian network of 47+ tax treaties relieves double taxation. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Territorial | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | — | $1,000 |
About Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
Malta's Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) grants immediate permanent residency — not just a temporary visa — to non-EU nationals through a combination of government contributions, donations, and real estate investment or rental. Malta offers full Schengen access and a stable EU jurisdiction.
Full Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) profile →About Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase)
Mauritius Permanent Residency through property purchase grants a 10-year renewable residence permit to non-citizens who buy property worth at least USD 375,000 in any of the government-approved real-estate schemes (PDS — Property Development Scheme, RES — Real Estate Scheme, IRS — Integrated Resort Scheme, IHS — Invest Hotel Scheme, G+2 ground-plus-two apartment, or Smart City Project). The PR permit covers spouse, dependent children, and parents. Naturalisation is possible after 5 years of legal residence (continuous residence required). Combined with Mauritius's 15% flat PIT, 47+ tax treaties, and FATF white-list status, the route is one of the more tax-efficient long-term-residency programmes globally.
Full Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
- ⚠MPRP grants permanent residence but NOT EU free movement to work/live in other EU states
- ⚠Malta citizenship by naturalisation for residents requires 5+ years + oath + language (different from Malta CBI)
- ⚠Enhanced due diligence is among the strictest globally — prior residency in 10 countries each requires separate criminal records
- ⚠Property must be maintained for full 5 years; selling earlier risks residence withdrawal
- ⚠Malta taxes non-dom residents on Malta-sourced income + foreign income remitted to Malta only
Mauritius Permanent Residency (Property Purchase)
- ⚠USD 375,000 minimum is for the property — it's an investment threshold, not a fee, and you keep the property
- ⚠Approved-scheme requirement is strict — only specific real-estate developments qualify; ordinary Mauritian property purchases do NOT confer PR
- ⚠Citizenship after 5 years requires actual continuous residence — pure investor PR with no presence does not produce a passport
- ⚠Property transfer taxes (~5%) and notary fees (~1-2%) are above the headline USD 375k figure
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.