What it costs to buy property in Malta
A foreign buyer should budget roughly 6.1%–7.1% of the purchase price on top of the price itself. A licence is required before you can take title.
What you pay
- Stamp duty5.0% of the price$25,000
- Notary fees1.0%–2.0% of the price$5,000–$10,000
- AIP permit0.1% of the price$263
| On a purchase of | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty | $12,500 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| AIP permit | $263 | $263 | $263 |
| Notary fees | $2,500 – $5,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Total on top of the price | 6.1%–7.1% | 6.1%–7.1% | 6.0%–7.0% |
Who carries the taxes and fees
What the seller pays — not you
- Agency commission — 5%5% plus VAT, borne by the seller.
Guides that add every tax together and present the total as a buyer's bill overstate the cost. These are the seller's.
Can you buy as a foreigner?
Licence required
A non-EU buyer needs an Acquisition of Immovable Property (AIP) permit, costing €233, and outside a Special Designated Area may hold only one property, for residential use. Inside an SDA no permit is needed from anyone of any nationality and there is no limit on how many properties you buy — which is why so much of the foreign-facing stock is in them. EU buyers need no permit for a primary residence.
Allow about 35 days
A sale cannot complete until the licence is granted, so it sits on the critical path.
Take it with you
These figures as a PDF, worked out at the price you enter, with every source and the date it was checked.
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Nearby markets compared
What a foreign buyer pays on top of a $500,000 price, here and in the markets around it nearest in cost.
An estimate for budgeting, not legal or tax advice. These rates are traced to published sources but have not been reviewed by a practitioner in this jurisdiction. Confirm the current position with an attorney before you commit.
Rates and the AIP fee are traced to Maltese law-firm and agency guides. Outside an SDA a non-EU buyer's property must also meet a minimum value — €174,274 for a flat or maisonette and €300,619 for anything else under Legal Notice 174 of 2024. These are indexed and change periodically, so confirm them with the notary alongside the permit application.