What It Costs to Buy a Home in Malta: Taxes and Fees in 2026
Buying a home in Malta comes with one big one-off tax and a handful of smaller fees. There is no annual property tax or council tax once you own, so the costs worth planning for are stamp duty, the notary and, for some foreign buyers, a permit fee.
This guide sets out the standard rates for 2026, the reliefs that can remove duty entirely for first-time buyers, and where the figures come from, so you can budget before you sign anything.
Stamp duty: the main cost
Duty on documents and transfers, Malta's stamp duty, is normally charged at 5 per cent of the higher of the price or the market value of the property. If you are buying the home you will live in as your sole ordinary residence, a reduced rate of 3.5 per cent applies to the first €200,000, with 5 per cent on the balance, according to Maltese corporate services firm Equitas.
You do not pay it all at once. When the promise of sale (the konvenju) is registered, the Malta Tax and Customs Administration collects a provisional duty of 20 per cent of the duty payable on the final deed, which works out at 1 per cent of the price at the standard rate, with the balance due when the final deed is signed.
Relief for first-time and second-time buyers
First-time buyers pay no duty on the first €200,000 of the price when the property will be their sole ordinary residence. The Malta Budget 2026 wrote this exemption into the main Act, effectively making it permanent, and extended it to people who previously owned only non-residential property, according to KPMG Malta's budget analysis.
Movers get help too: buyers who sell their sole residence and replace it can claim back the duty paid on the first €86,000 of the new property's value, provided the purchase happens within 12 months of the sale.
- First-time buyers: no duty on the first €200,000, now a permanent scheme
- First-time buyers also receive a €1,000 grant every year for ten years
- Second-time buyers: refund of duty on the first €86,000 when replacing a sole residence within 12 months
- Deposit help: a Housing Authority scheme finances the 10 per cent deposit on homes valued up to €250,000
Notary and professional fees
In Malta the buyer chooses and pays the notary, who researches the title, drafts the konvenju and final deed, and collects the duty on behalf of the government. Notarial fees depend on the price and complexity of the purchase and usually amount to a small percentage of the price, plus search and registration expenses, so ask for a written quote at the start.
Estate agency fees are customarily paid by the seller in Malta, so as a buyer you normally pay nothing to the agent. If you take a mortgage, budget separately for the bank's processing fee and the insurance policies lenders require.
Extra costs for foreign buyers
Non-EU nationals, including British buyers, generally need an Acquisition of Immovable Property (AIP) permit before buying outside Malta's Specially Designated Areas. The permit costs €233, payable when it is issued, according to the Malta Tax and Customs Administration.
Buying within a Specially Designated Area, such as the large lifestyle developments in Sliema, St Julian's and Gozo, needs no permit at all, whatever your nationality.
What you will not pay
Malta has no recurring annual property tax, no council tax and no wealth tax on your home. The tax due on the transfer itself is the seller's liability, not yours.
Rates, thresholds and schemes are adjusted at each budget, so before committing check the current figures with the Malta Tax and Customs Administration or your notary. Once you know your full budget, Habio's Malta listings and buyer guides can help you see what it buys.
Frequently asked questions
How much is stamp duty in Malta?
The standard rate is 5 per cent of the higher of the price or market value. Buyers of a sole ordinary residence pay 3.5 per cent on the first €200,000, and qualifying first-time buyers pay nothing on the first €200,000.
Do first-time buyers pay stamp duty in Malta?
Not on the first €200,000 of the price. The Malta Budget 2026 made this exemption permanent, and first-time buyers also receive a €1,000 annual grant for ten years.
Is there an annual property tax in Malta?
No. Malta has no recurring property tax or council tax; the main tax cost is the one-off stamp duty when you buy.
What is a konvenju?
The konvenju is the promise of sale agreement signed before the final deed. On registering it you pay a provisional duty of 20 per cent of the total duty due, which equals 1 per cent of the price at the standard 5 per cent rate.
Who pays the estate agent when buying in Malta?
Customarily the seller pays the agency fee. The buyer pays the notary, the stamp duty and, for non-EU buyers outside Specially Designated Areas, the €233 AIP permit fee.
Sources
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Markets and rules change — verify the current position with official sources before acting. Published 2 August 2026.