Malta Tightens Residence Permit Rules for Foreign Nationals

The Notarial Council in Malta has instructed notaries to stop signing or filling out the new forms that Identità issued for foreigners applying for residence permits. The directive, issued on Wednesday, advises notaries to refrain from issuing notarised lease agreements until further notice.

Legal Certainty and Ongoing Changes

According to the Notarial Council, there must always be legal certainty in such processes, though it did not elaborate further on the reasons for the directive. This decision comes in response to Identità’s new measure that mandates third-country nationals applying for residence permits to provide a notarised lease agreement as proof of accommodation.

Previously, residence permit applicants in Malta only needed to present a lease agreement registered with the Housing Authority.

New Requirement to Combat Fraudulent Applications

The requirement for notarized lease agreements took effect in early September as part of Identità’s efforts to combat fraudulent documentation related to ID cards and residence permits.

Identità stated that this additional verification step, which involves notarised agreements, aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of information submitted by applicants.

Identità clarified that applicants must officially attest to any property lease agreement included in a residence permit application through a notary, lawyer, or legal procurator. They introduced this additional layer of verification to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information provided to the agency.