Family Reunification Calculator

Under S.L. 217.06 (Family Reunification) you need the NSO Labour Force Survey average gross basic wage (€25,730 for 2025) plus 20% for each family member — €30,876 for one family member. Under the Family Member Policy your net income must reach Identità's median wage figure (€18,940) plus 20% of it for each family member — €22,728 net for one. Net means gross income minus income tax and social security contributions.

S.L. 217.06 is the statutory pathway implementing EU Directive 2003/86/EC and only covers your spouse (21+) and unmarried minor children. The Family Member Policy is an ex-gratia route managed by Identità that additionally covers dependent unmarried adult relatives (e.g. an elderly parent) where dependency is documented. The income basis also differs — gross average wage versus net median wage.

Under S.L. 217.06 you need approximately €36,022 gross/year (€3,002/month). Under the Family Member Policy you need approximately €26,516 net/year (€2,210/month), which is roughly €33,200 gross for a sponsor on married tax rates.

Under the Family Member Policy you must wait 12 months from the date your first residence permit was issued. Under S.L. 217.06 Identità requires 2 years of lawful residence. Key Employee Initiative (KEI) and Specialist Employee Initiative (SEI) holders with an Approval in Principle can bring their spouse and children immediately if they earn at least €50,000 gross (+€6,000 per extra dependant). EU Blue Card holders have no waiting period.

Only if they meet the family fast-track income of €50,000 gross for the sponsor plus one dependant (+€6,000 for each additional dependant), hold an Approval in Principle, have €100,000 health cover per dependant and have applied for a private school place for school-age children. The SEI permit itself only requires €30,000 gross, so many SEI holders must wait the standard 12 months and use the Family Member Policy.

Probably. Identità still quotes a median wage of €18,940, but NSO has since published a 2025 median annual basic salary of €22,266. Identità says the figure is reviewed when NSO publishes a new median. If it adopts the 2025 figure, the net requirement for one family member would rise from €22,728 to about €26,719.

Under S.L. 217.06 (Reg. 4) only your spouse (21+, monogamous marriage) and unmarried minor children — adult children and parents are not eligible. Under the Family Member Policy, Identità additionally recognises dependent unmarried adult family members where you can document financial or physical dependency.

Key Employee Initiative and Specialist Employee Initiative holders with an approval-in-principle letter may apply under the Family Member Policy without serving the 12-month sponsor tenure if their gross annual income meets the enhanced threshold: €50,000 for the sponsor plus one dependent, and €6,000 for each additional dependent. Each dependant also needs €100,000 health insurance, and school-age children need a private school application.

Identità accepts employment income, social benefits (old-age pension, sickness, disability, family allowances), property rental income, unemployment and housing benefits, and regular cash transfers, provided the income is declared with the Commissioner of Revenue. The figure used is net — gross income minus income tax and social security contributions.

No. A Family Member Policy residence permit does not by itself confer employment rights — the family member must apply separately for a Single Permit if they wish to work in Malta.

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, holders of Specific Residence Authorisation (SRA) status, and holders of certain other residence documents issued under Maltese law fall outside the Family Member Policy and are covered by separate legal frameworks.

From 1 January 2027 each adult permit holder pays a new €400 yearly infrastructure contribution, a new single permit application costs €800 instead of €600, and new registrations lose free childcare and free public transport. The Budget did not change the salary thresholds. The wider 2027 tax bands raise take-home pay for parents, which helps with the Family Member Policy net income test.