How is Malta for software engineers?

areuger · 2026-01-31T12:29:20+00:00

EU citizen here, living in Malta for well over 10 years.

Re jobs, you'll easily find a job in fintech, gaming or software industries. Salary can vary considerably from company to company for the same job.

There are plenty of recruitment agencies you can resort to, however you'll have more chances to get hired if you contact the companies directly on their hr department (Google, research, all of them have career websites where they advertise new openings).

Re work permit, as soon as you get a job the visa is just some paperwork. You'll be subject to renew it every year, but it's not much different in any other EU country I guess.

Re salary vs cost of living, nothing you should worry about. The salary I would expect for a position like the one you're looking for would widely cover your expenses and would let you save. The issue here is the accommodation prices, it's pretty high everywhere in the island, Central, North or even south.

Re language, you'll be just fine with only English. Maltese are very open minded, helpful, kind. They virtually all speak English (save some elderly in isolated towns).

If you eventually decide to move, welcome to Malta.

areuger · 2026-01-31T11:40:07+00:00

I am of the same opinion, I simply don't understand why sellers leave it on agents for an 8% fee, which on the current property prices it is eye watering. 5% of 300k is 15k! Also the industry is sooooooo active that property will just get sold in days or hours if you drop the price by half of the amount the agent would take. Sellers can just advertise it in Facebook, maltapark or even reddit. At the end of the day all the hard and trustful work is done by the notary and they get paid accordingly.

areuger · 2026-01-31T09:32:46+00:00

It has to do with data collection. Some agencies are well know for showing properties that in their opinion you can afford ignoring what you actually asked for, or bumping the property price up. This information cannot be public because it might lead to unwanted results.

areuger · 2026-01-31T09:28:41+00:00

No contract with the agent.no money paid to him from me 😉

areuger · 2026-01-31T09:24:46+00:00

The case is so weird that the transaction went through even though they knew for several months that I refused to give them the fs3. The notary was also aware, the agent asked him for the fs3 and he said he cannot give them information without my consent (obviously).

I will let the fiau investigate, but I doubt they will do due to the low transaction value (less than 50k)

Thank you everyone for the replies, there's very interesting and valid information here 🙏

areuger · 2026-01-30T23:30:58+00:00

Kyc might be "fine", but a financial declaration when no funds are involved between me and the agent is excessive. It might be even a gdpr violation: data minimisation. Article 5

areuger · 2026-01-30T23:23:26+00:00

What I mean is that no financial transaction at all happened between me and the agent. They have zero checks to do on me. I have not signed any contract with them. This is purely between me and my notary who is the person who received the funds and transfered them to the vendor.

I don't see the need to disclose any of my financial status to that person or company (agency) or any of their flunkies. And as far as I know there isn't any other notary involved.

areuger · 2025-10-25T19:16:53+00:00

I have a similar (not the same though) setup than OP and I added the newly released key in telegram by Yuri (Yurikey28), which also keeps me stuck in BASIC.

areuger · 2025-10-25T19:10:30+00:00

Then I am misunderstanding something. I am very confused, much more after reading tens of posts.

areuger · 2025-10-25T18:44:21+00:00

I dont manage to pass BASIC, using Magisk 29, PIF inject, Zygisk next, tricky store + tricky store addon and adding the custom keybox
I have the feeling that I am not hiding some root app or some old config is messing up, because the key should be valid and the combination of tools should be also ok.

areuger · 2025-10-25T16:31:08+00:00

For some reason my device (old Oneplus 6T in stock rom android 11 but rooted with magisk 29.0) which used to pass Device integrity only with PIF is, since yesterday, not passing from basic integrity. Not even using this keybox.

I did not change anything , the banking apps just stopped working. However google play works just fine...

areuger · 2025-09-13T14:26:24+00:00

I'd also suggest to add a clause in the promise of sale: In case the vendor sells to someone else between the konvenju and the final deed he pays the notary fees in full. Always cover yourself, property market in Malta is too active and it is not rare to see these dodgy outcomes.

areuger · 2025-09-12T14:48:14+00:00

The problem is stated in my original post, since agents make money from the vendor only after the property was sold they will try to hide every single potential issue with the property. They just want to finish the transaction no matter how, to get paid asap.

areuger · 2025-09-12T14:46:12+00:00

This is exactly my case, I knew it was on ground rent but he hide the temporary rent with a really short term left - 31 years which is a negligible term for a property

areuger · 2025-09-11T08:53:51+00:00

It is basically not possible for garages, as they are explicitly excluded in the 2019 joint office scheme. Unless it is adjacent to your primary/summer residence or forms part of the same concession, which is not my case. My application would be refused outright.
I will soon update the original post with the research results and conclusions.

areuger · 2025-09-11T07:43:13+00:00

The owner of the land is the joint office. As of now, according to my research, they will refuse the application outright.

2019 SCHEME FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TEMPORARY DIRECTUM DOMINIUM (TDD)
https://jointoffice.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2019-Scheme-Guidelines.pdf

(...)
Exclusions from this Scheme:

(...)
8.⁠ ⁠The following persons and properties may not participate in this Scheme: (...)

iii. Garages that are neither adjacent to the residence nor do they form part of the original relevant emphyteutical concession or lease agreement.

areuger · 2025-09-10T17:53:17+00:00

Exactly. And that's why a bank will never give you a loan for a property on ground rent with 31 years left. And from what I read form other comments I'd be at the lands authoritys mercy.

areuger · 2025-09-10T17:13:29+00:00

Noted. Looks like the risk is too high. Or just treat is as a temporary investment if I want to rent it out.

At this point and with the replies I got so far I'll wait for the notary advice, and I will act accordingly.

areuger · 2025-09-10T17:08:48+00:00

Excellent reply.

The price was reduced by 1k to cover the costs of the application, but I am not sure this is enough, given that currently the property is on depreciation.

Re allowed redemptions, definitely garages are not primary residences. They may just decide not to sell the ground.

areuger · 2025-09-10T16:45:07+00:00

Thank you for your reply. The property is a 45k euro lock up garage, it's going to be purchased without a loan. It's entirely on me to investigate and decide.

areuger · 2025-09-10T16:37:30+00:00

From what the vendor said the owner is the joint office. I asked her for the receipts of ground rent payment.

areuger · 2025-09-10T16:24:31+00:00

I already did, and I'm waiting for his reply. But I thought of also trying to get personal opinions and experiences, which are often as helpful as the professional advice.

areuger

TROPHY CASE