5 Things You Need to Know About the Malta Digital Nomad Visa's New $6 Million Housing Rule
- Malta is now requiring digital nomad applicants to provide proof of a local lease or property purchase worth over $6,000 annually, a dramatic shift from previous flexible accommodation options, to combat housing shortages for locals.
- The new rule, effective last week, demands applicants submit a rental contract or property deed registered with the Maltese authorities, not just a hotel booking or Airbnb confirmation, a first for the Mediterranean island nation.
- Digital nomads already on the visa must update their residency details within 30 days or face revocation, affecting over 2,000 current holders who used temporary housing arrangements.
- Local real estate agents report a 40% surge in long-term rental inquiries from tech workers since the announcement, driving up average lease prices in popular areas like St. Julian's and Sliema.
- Tourism officials predict a 15% drop in nomadic worker arrivals this year, but Maltese residents say the rule restores housing fairness, with 78% supporting the change in a recent survey.