Direct Answer
The Malta AIP (Acquisition of Immovable Property) permit is a government permission required for non-EU nationals to buy their first property in Malta outside of Special Designated Areas. It is processed by your notary and typically takes about 35 days.
AIP stands for Acquisition of Immovable Property — a permit issued by the Ministry for Finance allowing non-EU nationals to purchase real estate in Malta.
Non-EU nationals (including UK nationals post-Brexit) who wish to purchase property in Malta outside of Special Designated Areas. EU citizens do not need an AIP permit.
To qualify for AIP, the property must meet minimum values: €143,410 for an apartment, €191,213 for a house (values may be updated periodically). The property must be for your own use, not for rental investment.
Portomaso, Tigne Point, SmartCity, Fort Cambridge, Cottonera Development, Ta' Monita, and Pender Gardens are SDAs where any nationality can buy without an AIP permit and without minimum value restrictions.
Your Maltese notary handles the AIP application as part of the purchase process. Required documents include: ID/passport, proof of funds, the preliminary agreement (konvenju), and property details. The application is submitted to the Capital Transfers Unit at the Ministry for Finance.
After residing legally in Malta for a continuous period of 5 years, non-EU nationals no longer need an AIP permit to buy additional properties. Malta residency schemes (MPRP, Global Residence Programme) may also affect this.
In practice, AIP permits are rarely refused for legitimate purchases meeting the criteria. The main requirement is that the property is for personal use.
The AIP for non-EU nationals applies to personal use property. Investment properties for rental are a different matter — seek specialist legal advice as rules can be complex.
Yes — US citizens are non-EU and require an AIP permit for property outside SDAs. Many American buyers choose SDA developments to avoid this requirement.
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