This page compares two European residence by investment routes that are now in very different positions. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme remains open to new applicants. The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications in 2023. We set out both so the current picture is clear.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The Malta Permanent Residence Programme, known as the MPRP, grants permanent residence to applicants from outside the European Union who meet asset, property and contribution requirements. The Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme, known as the IIP, was a residence route tied to a qualifying investment in Ireland. It stopped accepting new applications in 2023, so today only Malta is a live option of the two.
Malta sets out several thresholds. Applicants show assets of at least 500,000 euro, of which 150,000 euro is liquid, or at least 650,000 euro, of which 75,000 euro is liquid. They then either buy qualifying property from 375,000 euro or rent from 14,000 euro per year, and pay a government contribution plus an administration fee, along with a small philanthropic donation. The exact contribution depends on whether you buy or rent. Confirm the current figures with Residency Malta Agency. Ireland no longer accepts new applications, so its former investment thresholds are of historic interest only.
Malta processing commonly takes around six months or more, driven mainly by the due diligence stage. Ireland is not processing new applications. Cases already in the system before closure continue to be worked through by the authority, but no new investor can join.
Both Malta and Ireland are members of the European Union, and Irish and Maltese passports both offer wide visa free travel. Note that the Malta Permanent Residence Programme grants residence, not a passport. It does not by itself make you a citizen. Ireland is closed to new investors, so for new applicants the comparison is really Malta residence against no Irish option at all.
For anyone deciding today, the practical choice is Malta, since Ireland is shut to new applicants. Malta suits an investor who wants permanent residence in an English speaking European Union country with no requirement to relocate. Anyone still interested in Ireland would need to look at other Irish immigration categories, because the investor route is no longer available.
| Item | Malta Permanent Residence Programme | Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Current status | Open | Closed to new applications since 15 February 2023 |
| What you receive | Permanent residence | Residence, route now closed |
| Indicative entry | Assets from 500,000 euro plus property and contribution | Not available to new applicants |
| Property requirement | Buy from 375,000 euro or rent from 14,000 euro per year | Not applicable |
| Official authority | Residency Malta Agency | Immigration Service Delivery |
| Outcome | Residence, not citizenship | None for new applicants |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Residency Malta Agency (Malta); Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice (Ireland) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. It closed to new applications on 15 February 2023. The authority continues to process cases received before then, but new investors cannot apply. Confirm the position with Immigration Service Delivery.
No. It grants permanent residence, not citizenship. A separate and far more demanding process governs Maltese citizenship. Confirm the current rules with Residency Malta Agency.
They include a government contribution, an administration fee, a property purchase or rental, and a small philanthropic donation, on top of meeting the asset thresholds. The amounts depend on your route, so confirm the current figures with the official authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.
Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.
One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.
Related programmes and comparisons, each dated and sourced to the official authority.