Expat Problems in Malta

 

             Yankee—and other NON-EU Citizens—

                                    GO HOME! 

A few years from now, this blog will probably be called  A F____ed American in Malta—because it seems that the Maltese government wants you to come and spend your money here, start a life here, rent or buy an apartment, buy food, spend money on clothes, doctors, pet food and entertainment, make friends and work here because a company wants you…and then make you leave for no good reason except that it—the Maltese government—doesn’t want you.

On Friday, I got an email from someone requesting my help—and now I need help.

I got an email from M—an American with dual citizenship from another NON-EU nation—who has been living and working very successfully in Malta for the past five years.  He works for a big company which just reapplied for his work permit.

The ETC (the Maltese government) turned him down.  Why?  Because according to M, the ETC automatically turns down NON-EU permits after NON-EU’s have been working for four or five years because it doesn’t want NON-EU’s becoming eligible to apply for long-term residency or Maltese citizenship.  M asked for my help and says that his company is hiring a lawyer to fight the ETC’s decision.  (M has asked for my help; I’ve had a headache for the third day now since I got his email).

So I wrote to my contact at the ETC and asked him directly. Here’s what he said:

He said that the ETC—as a matter of policy--will grant a permit to a NON-EU for a maximum of four years. After that, if you want to work again in Malta, you have to LEAVE THE COUNTRY for at LEAST SIX MONTHS.  Then come back and apply to start all over.

Leave the country??  So that’s three years from now for me—and one month away for M.

Where am I supposed to go for six months?  Back to US where I have no job and no prospect for a job, no health insurance and no place to live?

What about my cat?  What about my partner Mr. S.?

And why leave the country for six months?  Here’s the answer after doing a bunch of research this weekend:

Because if you leave for six months, you—as a NON-EU--are disqualified from applying for long-term residence or citizenship—it’s absolutely true.

I will give you the official links to the government sites that tell you this, but for now—I’ll just tell you because it’s simpler.

If you want to stay in Malta as a NON-EU—which means that you can stay for a period longer than the three-month tourist visa, you have basically only three difficult choices:

1. The Permanent Residence Scheme—This is for retired or non-retired people who have lots of money.  This means that you prove to the Maltese government that you can bring in a certain amount of money into Malta every year, you pay a fixed tax up front (which they claim is low) and you must buy or rent property at a certain amount.  And—you can never work in Malta.  You can never earn money in Malta or you will be deported.  You must renew this every year and prove everything again, etc.

2. Temporary Residence—This is what I have now, but only as long as I have a work permit. As it is, my work permit ends at the end of November because the ETC won’t let my school hire me part-time even though it wants to.  The school must be able to hire me full-time (as in this past summer) or not at all. This means I have to leave the country at the end of November. As I already left the country and came back in October, I now have another tourist visa good for three months from October.  After that, I have to leave the country again until the ETC approves my permit again at their discretion in the summer when the school can rehire me full-time.

3. Long-term Residence—This is what you can apply for—as a NON-EU--after you have lived and worked in Malta for five consecutive years.  The application is brutal and you must chronicle every entrance and exit from Malta for the past five years. You are ineligible if—during those five years—you are away from Malta for SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.  Or if you are away from Malta for a total of 10 months out of the five years.  As part of the application, you must show that you have been gainfully employed for the past five years in Malta. 

Are you starting to see the connection here between the ETC telling you must leave the country for six months before you can work again—and the Division of Expat Affairs saying that you can’t leave for six months in the five-year period?  And that you have to prove that you have been gainfully employed for the past five years—while the ETC says that after four years, you don’t get another permit until you first leave the country for six months and then return and start all over again?

There’s only one other option for staying here and it’s easier to get into Heaven from death row than to do this:  that’s applying for Maltese citizenship which you are eligible to apply for after five years. But you have the same eligibility requirements as for long-term residency and you can’t be away from the country for six months consecutively.  Plus, it’s rarely granted for someone who has not lived in Malta for at least 20 years. And you have to speak Maltese and be fully integrated into Maltese society. Also the granting of citizenship is solely at the discretion of the Minister of Foreign Affairs—and you can never dispute it in court or any appeals or anything.  That’s official information.

So—is there anyone out there who can tell me and M what to do?  And please—unless you are from the US Embassy—please don’t tell me to get in touch with them.  I’m still waiting for them to answer my first of five emails I sent to them three years ago.

Thanks for listening. 

M???  Call me.

Any other NON-EU’s facing this?  Please get in touch.

(I will be posting the official information soon with the links to this information from the Maltese government sites.)

 

Comments

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Jane--touché--Ilene

[Jane Torville]

Well, finally an American who has to deal with immigration issues. Now perhaps you can empathize with someone trying to get US residency and/or citizenship!!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks, Bathmate--Have a good holiday--Ilene

Comment:

[bath mateus]

I liked it.
Bathmate

[Nicole]

Thanks Everyone! I appreciate all your feedback!

[Mr.S.]

Hi Nicole,

here is a link to the factsheet about aquiring Maltese citizenship. I would think it covers your situation so you should not have any problems getting Maltese citizenship.

http://www.foreign.gov.mt/Library/Citizenship%20Forms%20and%20Templates/CEA2-REG.pdf

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Thanks a lot, Dee. Being a pest comes naturally to me. Email me and tell me how you did it! xxx Ilene

[Dee Owen]

Ilene, you are going to achieve whatever you want. We had a similar experience getting our Green Cards in USA, then 20 years later, citizenship. But I stuck to my guns and as Chruchill said, "Don't let the buggers get you down - KBO - keep buggering on"!

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Nicole, no--you shouldn't have problems like this if you have any chance of citizenship. I will be posting links about this stuff-and you can go to these links and find out who to ask about your situation. But I think you'll be OK. Of course, I am NOT an expert. If I was, I wouldn't be writing all this--Ilene

[Nicole]

So even with a Descendant Citizenship, I could experience all of this when I move to Malta?

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Alexandra and Eagle--Thanks for all your comments and advice. I'm taking one step at a time. Meanwhile, this is as public as I'm going right now: by posting this problem on the blog; I will be putting out the links to official information and sites which are already available to anyone who does any research. But I'm just getting it together in one spot here--not necessarily to expose it to show up the Maltese government, but for the purposes of finding someone who may know how to help--and achieve the impossible that Eagle talks about. And, of course, I'm looking for a major book deal based on this blog. Anything will help.

[Alexandra Claes]

"Rules" and "bending the rules" are two completely different things Mr. Eagle. It's not what you know it's who you know and how to do it.

I too wish you well with your future endevours.

Tread carefully and respect the process Mr. Eagle or someone just may clip your wings ;)

Warm regards

[Eagle]

Dear Alexandra

I have been to Malta twice, and decided to relocate. I was swept away by the people,lifestyle and weather.

I would disagree that Malta is big on rules.
I feel there are alot of them, however they all seem open to various interpretations.
I have seen things done when before they were impossible only to have the right person speak to someone etc.

From my comments I did not mean that I would list peoples names to the newspapers, this would be mean and not accomplish anything. However someone would need to at least have a verified source if anything was to be printed.
All I am saying is keep the options open for whatever strategies are needed, at the moment we dont know and are only going on hearsay.

I do believe in making friends, but I dont always play by the rules :)

All the best to you

[Alexandra Claes]

Mr. Eagle, have you been to Malta before?

This country may be small but big on "rules" and no amount of jumping up and down is going to change that. Realistically Malta does not like America and that is a fact. You go to the press you will shoot yourself in the foot and believe me, you won't even pass through customs let alone locate or maintain employment.

It is unfortunate but true.

You can not change the rules of the game. Make friends not enemies.

[Eagle]

Hi
I tried reaching the lawyer today, but couldnt make contact. I would like to send an email to him and have the correspondence in writing so as to avoid confusion further down the line.
If you have the possibility of sending the links, as well as any potential contacts, who are willing to go on record to state their terms.

A second alternative in addressing the issue would be to start bringing in some articles into the press regarding this. Malta is seeking to position itself as an expat relocation centre however if it goes about it this way it kind of shoots itself in the foot.
However we would need the facts first before sending off any articles and building our case.

Best regards

[Alexandra Claes]

No wonder you have a headache what a huge amount of information to process! It is true Malta is a hard country to infiltrate. So many contradictions and red tape even for me and I hold citizenship. The amount of times I have to produce the same documents from one govt department to another is rediculous. But the worst thing one can do is get cranky with them because the "wall" comes up and they ask you for even more information which is not required by law, but simply to piss you off. You simply have to ride with tide and hope for the best unless you of course have internal contacts.

I guess having a corporate lawyer is as good as it gets though and wish you all luck.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Mary--thanks for your sympathy. But, no, I will not relocate. I am going to stay here somehow. I will. Ilene

[Mary Bartolotta]

Damn. The stuff you find out after you're all settled. Very sorry to hear about your plight, Ilene. I was going to ask the same question as Willy, but seeing your sensible answers made me realize that marriage is not the answer. Seems to me you'd be better off relocating sooner, rather than later. Why waste all that time only to find out that the cause is helpless? Good luck.

[Sennuwy (an ancient Egyptian name)]

Hi Eagle--Let's trade: I'll post those links with the relevant info in a couple of days--and you tell me what your lawyer said, OK? :-) Ilene

[Eagle]

Hi
I am a Non EU and am scheduled to arrive in Malta sometime December or January of next year.
It would be interesting if you could provide the official links. I have a lawyer who has assisted me and maybe I can get some more info on this topic.

Best regards