Malta Golden Visa for Lebanese Nationals: The 2026 Guide
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Malta Golden Visa for Lebanese Nationals: The 2026 Guide
Malta permanent residency for Lebanese nationals is available on standard terms. Lebanon is not on Residency Malta’s list of ineligible nationalities, so Lebanese citizens can apply under the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), subject to the Agency’s due diligence. Two points need care: the “close ties” screening wording, and how funds are evidenced given Lebanon’s banking restrictions since 2019.
On this page
- Can Lebanese nationals get the Malta golden visa?
- What Lebanese investors need to invest
- Funding the investment: Lebanese banking rules in 2026
- Family inclusion for Lebanese applicants
- The application process and payment milestones
- Permanent residence, not a passport
- Malta vs other programmes popular with Lebanese investors
- Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information about the Malta Permanent Residence Programme and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme rules, fees and eligibility lists can change. Obtain independent professional advice, including qualified Lebanese counsel, before making any application or investment decision.
Can Lebanese nationals get the Malta golden visa?
Yes. Lebanon is not on the Residency Malta Agency’s list of ineligible nationalities, so Lebanese nationals apply on the same MPRP terms as other non-EU applicants, subject to due diligence. Lebanon’s place on two international risk lists means closer scrutiny, not a bar.
What the MPRP rules say about nationality
The rules sit in Subsidiary Legislation 217.26, last amended by Legal Notice 146 of 2025 (no later amendment as of 25 September 2026). The statute has no country list. It excludes EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, and any applicant or dependant named in the international sanctions the Agency follows.
The country list is the Agency’s. Its MPRP FAQ (version 2.6.5, 12 September 2024) names the ineligible nationalities, adds that Russia and Belarus are currently not eligible, and says the list “may be revised from time to time by the Agency at its discretion”. Where the FAQ and the statute conflict, the statute prevails. Lebanon is not on the list.
The “close ties” wording and Lebanese applicants
This is the line Lebanese families should read carefully. The FAQ states: “Nationals from the currently sanctioned countries of (or have close ties with) Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Venezuela are ineligible”.
Syria is on the list in the September 2024 version, the latest MPRP FAQ we have found. The FAQ does not define “close ties”. The Agency decides case by case. If you or a dependant hold Syrian nationality, or have links to any listed country, have your position assessed by counsel before you apply. Nobody should promise how the Agency will read the phrase.
Enhanced due diligence: Lebanon’s EU and FATF listings
Lebanon is on the EU list of high-risk third countries under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675, in the version in force since 29 January 2026. It is also under FATF increased monitoring, the so-called grey list, as of the 19 June 2026 plenary. Lebanon made its commitment to FATF in October 2024 and remains listed.
Both listings mean enhanced due diligence on source of funds and source of wealth. Neither is an eligibility bar. For the full requirements, see our Malta MPRP requirements guide.
What Lebanese investors need to invest
The property or lease route and the fixed government charges
Every applicant chooses one property route and pays the same fixed charges on top:
- Qualifying property: buy for at least EUR 375,000, or lease for at least EUR 14,000 a year, anywhere in Malta or Gozo. There is no longer a cheaper tier for the south or Gozo. The property must be held for at least five years.
- Government contribution: EUR 37,000, the same whether you buy or rent.
- Administrative fee: EUR 60,000 for the main applicant.
- Donation: EUR 2,000 to a local non-governmental organisation.
- Dependant fee: EUR 7,500 for each adult dependant who pays it (see the family section).
Older pages quoting a EUR 30,000 or EUR 60,000 contribution, a EUR 10,000 dependant fee or a EUR 300,000 south and Gozo price are out of date.
The capital test
Separately, the applicant must show assets of at least EUR 500,000, of which at least EUR 150,000 is in financial assets, or at least EUR 650,000, of which at least EUR 75,000 is financial. These assets are held, not spent.
Costs in US dollars
Lebanese investors typically fund in US dollars, so we show USD alongside the euro figures.
| Item | EUR | USD | Official basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying property purchase | 375,000 | 426,300 | S.L. 217.26, reg 3 and reg 14 |
| Or lease, per year | 14,000 | 15,900 | S.L. 217.26, reg 3 and reg 14 |
| Or lease, 5-year minimum | 70,000 | 79,600 | S.L. 217.26, reg 14 |
| Government contribution | 37,000 | 42,100 | First Schedule |
| Administrative fee (main applicant) | 60,000 | 68,200 | First Schedule |
| NGO donation | 2,000 | 2,300 | S.L. 217.26, reg 3 |
| Each adult dependant, where payable | 7,500 | 8,500 | First Schedule |
Converted at 1.1367 USD per EUR, European Central Bank euro foreign exchange reference rate, 24 September 2026. USD figures rounded to the nearest 100. Exchange rates move, so recalculate on the day funds are committed. Excludes stamp duty, legal, due diligence, agent and advisory fees (advisory fees are quoted per engagement).
A family of four, worked through
Take a main applicant, a spouse and two children under 18. The spouse and minor children pay no dependant fee.
| Route | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase: property 375,000 + contribution 37,000 + fee 60,000 + donation 2,000 | 474,000 | 538,800 |
| of which non-recoverable government charges | 99,000 | 112,500 |
| Lease, year one: 99,000 in charges + 14,000 rent | 113,000 | 128,400 |
| Lease, across the 5-year minimum | 169,000 | 192,100 |
An unmarried, principally dependent child aged 18 to 28, or a qualifying dependent parent or grandparent, adds EUR 7,500 (about USD 8,500) each. The capital test applies on top. Same rate and exclusions as the cost table.
For the itemised breakdown, see our guide to Malta permanent residency cost.
Funding the investment: Lebanese banking rules in 2026
No capital-control statute, but restrictions in practice
According to the US Department of Commerce’s Lebanon Country Commercial Guide (updated 23 February 2026), Lebanon “has yet to adopt formal capital controls legislation beyond Central Bank circulars”. Lebanese Parliament records show that in July 2026 the Finance and Budget Committee worked on amendments to bank reform Law No. 23 and on the draft law on financial regularity and deposit recovery, which is being re-studied by a government committee with Banque du Liban, the finance and economy ministries and the IMF. The list of 23 laws that Parliament records as passed at its latest two-day plenary session includes no capital-control law.
So, as of September 2026, no capital-control statute has been adopted. Restrictions run through bank practice and Banque du Liban circulars. That may change, and we do not predict how.
Pre-October-2019 deposits versus fresh dollars
The US Commerce guide states that since late 2019 banks have barred virtually all overseas transfers from US dollar accounts funded before October 2019. The same source records that “fresh dollar” credit cards linked to accounts have functioned again since 2022.
In practice, money held in a Lebanese bank since before the crisis is generally not available to fund a Malta investment by transfer abroad. This guide does not discuss ways around that restriction.
What Malta will ask to see
Whatever money you use, Malta requires a documented, lawful source of funds and source of wealth. Given Lebanon’s listings, expect a close look at where the money was earned, where it has been held and how it reached the paying account. Discuss your funding position with a qualified adviser before you commit to a property.
Family inclusion for Lebanese applicants
One MPRP application can cover:
- your spouse, with no dependant fee;
- children under 18, with no dependant fee;
- children aged 18 to 28 (under 29 when the application is filed) who are unmarried and principally dependent on the main applicant, at EUR 7,500 each;
- parents and grandparents of the main applicant or of the spouse who are not in full-time employment and are principally dependent on the main applicant, at EUR 7,500 each;
- adult children with a certified disability, with no dependant fee.
Every dependant goes through the same due diligence, including the close-ties question above.
The application process and payment milestones
The payments follow the file through its stages:
- Submission to the Residency Malta Agency through a licensed agent. Evidence of the capital test is presented with the application, and EUR 15,000 of the administrative fee is due within one month of submission.
- Due diligence on the main applicant and every dependant.
- Letter of Approval in Principle. The remaining EUR 45,000 of the administrative fee is due within two months of it.
- Government contribution. EUR 37,000, due within eight months of the Letter of Approval in Principle.
- Property, donation and health cover. Within the same eight months, title to the qualifying purchase or lease is presented, the EUR 2,000 donation is made and health insurance is in place. The capital must then be held for five years.
We do not quote a processing time. The payment deadlines are the dates to plan cash around.
Permanent residence, not a passport: dual nationality and the long view
The MPRP gives permanent residence in Malta. It is not citizenship and it does not lead to a Maltese passport by investment. Malta’s investor citizenship route closed after the EU Court of Justice ruling in case C-181/23 of 29 April 2025. See our comparison of the Malta golden visa vs citizenship.
Because the MPRP is residence, the question of losing Lebanese nationality does not arise at this stage. On the wider point, a US Library of Congress report indicates that Lebanese law generally allows dual nationality. Confirm the position with Lebanese counsel before any later citizenship step anywhere.
Malta vs other programmes popular with Lebanese investors
| Programme | Entry route | What it gives | Note for Lebanese applicants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta MPRP | Property from EUR 375,000 or lease from EUR 14,000 a year, plus EUR 99,000 in charges | Permanent residence | Standard terms, enhanced due diligence |
| Cyprus, Regulation 6(2) | Property of at least EUR 300,000 plus VAT, and income of EUR 50,000 plus EUR 15,000 for a spouse and EUR 10,000 per dependent minor child | Permanent residence permit | Official estimate of about two months to examine a complete application |
| Portugal ARI, fund route | EUR 500,000 in Portuguese non-real-estate funds, at least 60% invested in companies seated in Portugal, maturity of at least five years | Residence permit | Fund investment rather than property |
| Hungary Guest Investor | EUR 250,000 in MNB-registered real estate fund units, or a EUR 1,000,000 donation | Residence permit | Lebanese nationals need a Schengen visa, so the route runs through the guest investor visa, and the permit must be filed within 30 days of first entry |
Malta puts the family on permanent residence with a property you can buy or simply rent. For the regional alternative, see Cyprus permanent residency by investment, or compare Hungary vs Malta golden visa. For the same rules applied to another nationality, see the Malta golden visa for Indian nationals.
Frequently asked questions
Can Lebanese citizens get Malta permanent residency?
Yes. Lebanon is not on Residency Malta’s list of ineligible nationalities, so Lebanese nationals apply on the standard MPRP terms, subject to the Agency’s due diligence and the qualifying investment.
Does having ties to Syria affect a Malta application?
Residency Malta’s MPRP FAQ (version 2.6.5, September 2024) lists Syria among the countries whose nationals, or people with close ties to them, are ineligible, and says the Agency may revise the list. Anyone with Syrian nationality or close Syrian ties should have their position assessed by counsel before applying.
How much does a Lebanese family of four need for Malta PR?
From EUR 474,000 (about USD 538,800) on the purchase route: EUR 375,000 for the property plus EUR 99,000 in government charges. On the lease route it is EUR 99,000 in charges plus at least EUR 14,000 a year in rent. The household must also meet the capital test.
Can I use money held in a Lebanese bank since before 2019?
According to the US Commerce Department, since late 2019 Lebanese banks have barred virtually all overseas transfers from dollar accounts funded before October 2019. Malta requires a documented, lawful source for whatever money is used. Discuss your position with a qualified adviser.
Is Lebanon on a high-risk list, and does that stop my application?
Lebanon is on the EU list of high-risk third countries and under FATF increased monitoring. That means enhanced due diligence on the file, not an eligibility bar.
Will I lose my Lebanese nationality?
Malta PR is residence, not citizenship, so the question does not arise at this stage. Lebanese law generally allows dual nationality, according to a US Library of Congress report. Confirm the position with Lebanese counsel before any later citizenship step.
The bottom line
For Lebanese nationals, the Malta golden visa means the MPRP on standard terms: permanent residence for the family, a property you buy or lease anywhere in Malta or Gozo, and EUR 99,000 in fixed government charges. The Lebanon-specific work is honest paperwork: read the close-ties wording carefully, and build a funding trail that shows lawful money, knowing pre-2019 deposits are generally locked in place. For the full picture, see our guide to the Malta Permanent Residence Programme. For a family-specific view, the Aegir Global team can help, and advisory fees are quoted per engagement.
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