Importation of personal effects

For those wishing to import certain items and personal effects into the country, the following will provide you with a clear indication as to the procedures involved.  There are certain differences depending on the type of residency acquired.

Permanent Residents
All personal and household effects may be imported into the country free of charge within 6 months of the date of arrival in Malta of the person importing them or within such other period allowed by the Comptroller of Customs at his discretion.  Proof of permanent residency needs to be presented to the authorities concerned.

There are certain conditions and charges in relation to the importation of a vehicle:
a) The vehicle must be at least 6 months old
b) The vehicle must have been registered abroad in the applicant's name
c) The vehicle must be imported into Malta within 6 months from the date of issue of the residence permit

Charges are as follows:
a) For vehicles with engines up to 1500cc, there is a registration tax of 11% of the assessed value
b) For vehicles with engines over 1500cc, there is a registration tax of 16.5% of the assessed value

No duty or VAT are payable.  However, should the vehicle be re-sold locally these charges shall be due in their entirety.

Temporary Residents
Overseas purchasers who are not in possession of Permanent Residency are required, upon arrival of their used effects, to pay a deposit to cover duty on all imported items. This deposit will be refunded to them either when they are granted freedom of movement or if they live in Malta for not less than 200 days in a period of 1 year immediately following the arrival of the goods, whichever is the earliest. The amount of deposit, when due, depends on the quantity of the imported effects.  As an indication, a container full of personal effects (including a video recorder and 2 TV's) does not incur a deposit or bank guarantee of more than €2,330.

There are no charges associated when importing a vehicle.  However, the vehicle may only remain on the Island for a maximum of 3 months at a time.

Returning Migrants
Maltese returning migrants who are still in possession of a valid Maltese passport may import all their used personal and household effects duty free. Household effects and domestic articles are meant to cover all those items of furniture and appliances which one usually finds in a normal home.  Hence, items such as a bicycle, boat, satellite dish or shotgun would all be subject to duty.  All weapons and swords, whether decorative or otherwise, require an import licence and police permit.

Vehicles can be imported under the same conditions as Permanent Residents.

Returning migrants who are no longer in possession of a Maltese passport fall under the category of Temporary Residents, and hence, the same conditions and regulations apply.