The best Malta Golden Visa lawyers explain the legal parts of an MPRP case and identify the Residency Malta Licensed Agent responsible for submitting it. Compare 17 providers by agent-licence evidence, lawyer credentials, service model, fees and five-year support.
Firm listings last checked by GVL: 24 October 2026
Bar-number check: 3 of 17 listed firms have a lawyer with a verified bar number. How we verify
A Malta Golden Visa lawyer works on the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP). Residency Malta lists a €60,000 administrative fee, a €37,000 government contribution, a €2,000 NGO donation, and a home bought for at least €375,000 or rented from €14,000 a year, kept for five years. It grants residence, not citizenship.
You must also show capital assets of at least €500,000, of which €150,000 is financial, or €650,000, of which €75,000 is financial, and the application must go through a Licensed Agent. Figures checked 26 Sep 2026.
Reviewed by the Golden Visa Lawyers editorial team
GVL Match
Tell us about your family, property preference, source of wealth and timing. We’ll guide you to the right assessment or suitable Malta providers while preserving the page and programme that led to your inquiry.
Free to use. Your details stay private until you choose the next step.
Law firm
Bar-verified
Advisory service
Malta advisory firm assisting private clients and businesses with residence planning, tax and corporate services.
Advisory service
Investment-migration advisory firm helping clients assess second residence and citizenship options through impact-investment programs worldwide.
Consultancy
Dubai-headquartered investment-migration consultancy founded in London in 1989, with seven current office contacts and support for residence, citizenship, investment and relocation matters.
Consultancy
Belgravia Advisory is a Malta immigration and corporate services practice in St Paul's Bay, founded by Dr Karl Cordina. It is listed by Residency Malta Agency as a licensed agent (RES-CKCO) and advises on Malta permanent residence, work and nomad permits, citizenship and immigration appeals.
Law firm
Maltese law firm advising entrepreneurs, investors, HNW families and executives on Malta residence, citizenship, immigration, tax and private-client planning.
Advisory service
Malta corporate and private-client advisory group. CSB International Limited is a Residency Malta licensed agent (RES-CSBI), with Malcolm Ferrante as the named agent.
Law firm
Valletta law firm advising on Malta residence, immigration, tax, property and private-wealth matters. Fenech & Fenech Advocates appears on the current Residency Malta agent list under RES-FENE.
Advisory service
Independent international residence and citizenship advisory founded in 2014, with offices in London, Lisbon, Athens and Istanbul.
Advisory service
UK-registered investment-migration advisory helping international clients compare and apply for residence and citizenship programmes.
Law firm
Bar-verified
International legal and advisory practice serving cross-border private clients from offices in Paris, Budapest, Bratislava, Istanbul and Dubai.
Law firm
Malta law firm advising on immigration, residence, corporate, tax and regulatory matters. GVZH Advocates appears on the current Residency Malta agent list under RES-GVZH.
Advisory service
Global residence and citizenship advisory group. In Malta it operates through Henley & Partners Malta Limited, a licensed Residency Malta agent (RES-HENL).
Consultancy
Investment-migration advisory firm supporting residence and citizenship by investment applications across Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and other jurisdictions.
Advisory service
Malta-based business and private-client advisory whose licensed entity, Seed Business Advisory Ltd, appears on the current Residency Malta agent list under RES-SEED.
Consultancy
Bar-verified
Dubai-based investment-migration and international-tax advisory group supporting high-net-worth individuals and families across U.S., European, Caribbean and UAE residence and citizenship programmes.
Advisory service
Malta-based professional-services firm founded in 2006, advising private clients on Malta residence and citizenship matters alongside real-estate and wider business consulting.
Firm-published professional
Andrew J. Zammit is Managing Partner of GVZH Advocates in Malta. He is a member of the Chamber of Advocates and was admitted to the profession in 2001.
View the record→Associated Attorney and Authorised Registered Mandatory
Zenturo AdvisoryIndependent counsel
Firm-published professional
Dr Alexei Dalli is a Malta lawyer and Authorised Registered Mandatory who works with Zenturo Advisory on Malta residence matters. He is a licensed Residency Malta agent practising as a sole practitioner, so applicants should confirm which party will contract for and submit an MPRP application.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Daniel Buttigieg is a Partner at Fenech & Fenech Advocates, specialising in real estate and property law, succession and general civil litigation. He joined the firm as a trainee in 2009 and was admitted as an advocate in Malta in 2012. He represents local and foreign clients before the Maltese courts, arbitration panels and specialised tribunals.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Daniel-Luc Farrugia is an Associate at Fenech & Fenech Advocates working on maritime law, marine litigation and shipping decarbonisation. He holds an LL.B. (Hons) and a Master of Advocacy from the University of Malta and an LL.M. in International Shipping Law from Queen Mary University of London. He was admitted to the Maltese Bar in 2022.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Diane Cutajar is an Associate at Fenech & Fenech Advocates, working in the Ship Finance and Ship Registration departments. She joined the firm in 2022 after earning a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Advocacy from the University of Malta, and holds an LL.M. in International Maritime Law from IMLI.
View the record→Senior Partner – Citizenship, Residency & Private Client Tax
Chetcuti Cauchi AdvocatesPartner
Firm-published professional
Co-founder and senior partner at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates. Jean-Philippe advises on Malta and European residence and citizenship programmes, private-client tax, trusts, estate planning and family-office structures.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Kimberley Zarb is an associate at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates in Malta, advising local and international clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law and corporate services. She was admitted as an advocate in 2024.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Dr Natasha Cachia is a Partner in the Risk & Compliance team at Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates in Malta. She specialises in risk advisory services, including AML and CFT legislation, sanctions advisory and regulatory matters, and has corporate, commercial and trust experience. She was admitted as an advocate in 2009.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Chantal Bezzina is an Associate in the Local Litigation Department at Fenech & Fenech Advocates, working on litigation and dispute resolution, real estate and conveyancing. She joined the firm in 2022 and was admitted to the Maltese Bar the same year.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Helene Kristensen is an associate at Fenech & Fenech Advocates in Malta, working in intellectual property and technology and telecommunications law. She is a member of the Chamber of Advocates Malta.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Edward Debono is a Consultant at Fenech & Fenech Advocates, specialising in civil and commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, real estate and construction, and probate and inheritance. He holds an LL.D. from the University of Malta and was admitted as an advocate in 1982, when he joined the firm as a partner.
View the record→Firm-published professional
Jake Desira is an associate at Fenech & Fenech Advocates in Malta, working in commercial, corporate, commercial litigation and competition law. He was admitted as an advocate in Malta in 2022.
View the record→Malta provider selection guide · Editorially reviewed
“Malta Golden Visa” is a common search label for the Malta Permanent Residence Programme. The MPRP grants permanent residence rather than citizenship, and the application must go through a Residency Malta Licensed Agent. A Maltese lawyer may also advise on the immigration, property or private-client work, but a lawyer’s professional status does not by itself prove that the lawyer or firm holds an MPRP agent licence.
Check the current route, eligibility, property and costs in the Malta permanent residence guide before comparing provider proposals.
The current Residency Malta agent list names the following licence holder and entity, or links the licensed entity to the provider's official website. This confirms who may submit an MPRP application; it is not a ranking, recommendation or guarantee of service quality. Ask the provider to confirm that the licence and engagement entity are still current before instructing them.
| Directory provider | MPRP licence | Named holder | Entity on official list |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Advisory | RES-ACTA | Stephen Balzan | ACT Advisory Services Ltd |
| CSB Group | RES-CSBI | Malcolm Ferrante | CSB International Limited |
| Fenech & Fenech Advocates | RES-FENE | Rosanne Bonnici | Fenech & Fenech Advocates |
| GVZH Advocates | RES-GVZH | Ann-Marie Bugeja | GVZH Advocates |
| Henley & Partners | RES-HENL | Tracy Falzon | Henley & Partners Malta Limited |
| Immigrant Invest | RES-IMIN | Frederick Ellul | Imin Malta Limited |
| Seed Consultancy | RES-SEED | Nicholas Gouder | Seed Business Advisory Ltd |
Other providers remain available for comparison. A related person, a foreign professional credential or an old AKM code does not prove that the listed firm currently holds an MPRP agent licence.
Use the same evidence request for every provider. An impressive website, a lawyer profile or a claim of “authorised agent” is not a substitute for the current record published by Residency Malta.
| Comparison check | Evidence to request | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| MPRP agent licence | The current Residency Malta licence number, named licence holder and the company or practice shown on the official agent list. | An MPRP application must be submitted through a Residency Malta Licensed Agent. |
| Maltese legal owner | The named Maltese lawyer, their professional status and whether they are employed by the provider or engaged separately. | A lawyer's professional credentials and an MPRP agent licence prove different things; one does not establish the other. |
| Filing responsibility | Who signs the engagement, submits the application, corresponds with Residency Malta and owns post-filing questions. | Applicants should know which person and entity remain accountable throughout the file. |
| Due-diligence preparation | A source-of-wealth plan covering the applicant, donors, benefactors, business interests and unusual transactions. | MPRP due diligence extends beyond a basic identity and criminal-record check. |
| Property advice | Who checks the qualifying lease or purchase, title and contract, and whether property legal work is separately engaged. | The property requirement lasts at least five years, and immigration coordination is not the same as conveyancing advice. |
| Complete fee scope | One schedule separating professional fees, official charges, property, insurance, translations, certifications and referral payments. | A low headline fee can exclude major government, family, property and compliance costs. |
| Five-year support | The named owner for residence cards, compliance requests, dependant changes and the end of the qualifying-property period. | The relationship continues after approval; the initial application is only one part of the work. |
The directory includes law firms, immigration firms, advisers and consultancies. These models can all coordinate an application, provided the submission route and professional responsibilities are explicit.
Often fits: Applicants who want immigration submission and Maltese legal work under one engagement.
Confirm: The current agent licence, the lawyer responsible for your file and which tax or property work sits outside the scope.
Often fits: Applicants who prefer a managed MPRP process with legal or property specialists brought in when needed.
Confirm: Which advice is delivered in-house, the identity of every external lawyer and whether referrals generate a fee.
Often fits: Families seeking multi-country route comparison before choosing Malta and instructing a local agent.
Confirm: The Malta Licensed Agent who will submit, the separate engagement terms and who controls your documents and updates.
The current official programme requirements include the following amounts (figures checked 26 Sep 2026 against Residency Malta's MPRP legal framework). They exclude the provider’s professional fees, tax or conveyancing advice, insurance, translations, certifications and other transaction costs.
The qualifying property and qualifying capital must be maintained for at least five years from the appointed day. Ask for an itemised proposal that states when each payment is due and what is refundable.
A GVL listing does not establish a current MPRP agent licence unless the listing says so and links the evidence. Confirm the named licence holder and entity on the official Residency Malta list, confirm the lawyer’s current professional status, and obtain the complete scope and fees in writing. Read the full listing methodology and verification methodology.
The official agent list is the decisive check for the MPRP submission role. Use the programme page and legislation for current requirements, then keep dated copies with the provider’s written proposal.
No. The MPRP grants permanent residence only. Malta's citizenship-by-investment route closed after the EU Court of Justice ruled against it on 29 April 2025 (CJEU press release 52/25), and Malta replaced it with a discretionary merit-based route.
Capital assets of at least €500,000, of which at least €150,000 must be financial assets, or at least €650,000, of which at least €75,000 must be financial assets. You also need stable and regular income to support yourself and your dependants.
No. Residency Malta says MPRP applications must be submitted through a Licensed Agent. Check the agent's licence number and entity on the official list before you sign.
At least five years, whether you buy (from €375,000) or rent (from €14,000 a year). After that you must still maintain a residential property in Malta, and a leased property may be sub-leased after five years.
Each adult dependant other than the spouse adds €7,500, and the residence card costs €500 per person for five years.
Tell us about your family, property preference, source of wealth and timing. GVL Match will guide you to suitable Malta providers from the directory.
