Bringing your family to Malta: the two routes, the income test, the flat

You can bring your spouse and minor children to Malta, and the test is money and space. Identità runs two routes with different waiting times and different income rules. Pick the one you qualify for, prepare the flat before the application, and expect the decision to take months.

The two routes

	Family reunification (law, S.L. 217.06)	Family Members Policy
Who sponsors	Non-EU national with a valid Identità permit	Same
Time in Malta first	At least 2 years legal, continuous	At least 12 months
Income test	Average wage in Malta plus 20% per dependant, basic gross salary from main job only	Median annual wage plus 20% per dependant, net income
Who can come	Spouse (both at least 21), unmarried children under 18 including adopted	Also children from previous relationships with custody and consent; adult children or a parent in exceptional cases
Fee	Not stated on the FAQ page	€50 per applicant
Decision	By law up to 9 months; Identità aims for about 60 days	Same aim
First permit	1 year	1 year

Bonuses, allowances, overtime and part-time income do not count under the law route. Fast-track permit holders (Key Employee and Specialist Employee) have their own line under the policy: at least €50,000 gross for sponsor plus one dependant, and €6,000 for each extra one.

Identità does not print the euro value of the average or median wage on the FAQ. Ask them for the current figure before you apply, or check the National Statistics Office. If your salary is near the minimum wage, the test will not be met on one income.

The flat

“Suitable accommodation appropriate for the family’s size.” A one-room dwelling is not accepted for a couple or family. Proof is an architect’s attestation, a registered lease or ownership, and the Lease Attestation Form. The lease must be registered with the Housing Authority, which also caps occupancy at two residents per bedroom.

That means a one-bedroom flat for two adults and a child will fail. Budget for two bedrooms before you budget for the application.

Health insurance and screening

Under the law route, health insurance of at least €100,000 covering in-patient and outpatient treatment, valid for the whole first year. Family members also go through health screening; the health authority has a separate page for it.

The visa for the family

Once Identità issues the family reunification certificate, each family member applies for a long-stay visa. The Central Visa Unit lists: the certificate, the sponsor’s bank statement, legalised marriage and birth certificates, an invitation letter from the spouse in Malta notarised by a Maltese notary or lawyer, and passport copies on both sides. Six to eight weeks. Fees for children under six are waived.

When the answer is no

Appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board. The policy page gives three working days; file the same day you get the decision.

The honest arithmetic

A family of three on a hospitality salary rarely passes the income test in year one. The realistic path is: come alone, take a room, reach a higher salary or a second permit in the household, then apply. The salaries guide has the budget. The housing guide has the flat.

Check this at the source

• Identità FAQ, family members: both routes, income tests, accommodation, fees, timelines. https://identita.gov.mt/frequently-asked-questions/expatriates/non-eu-non-employment/family-member/
• Identità, long-stay visa documents for family reunification. https://identita.gov.mt/central-visa-unit-national-visa-long-stay-visa/
• Health screening for family reunification. https://hpdp.gov.mt/idcu/health_screening/family_reunification