Do I need an AIP permit to buy property in Malta as a non-EU national?

Yes, as a non-EU national purchasing property outside a Special Designated Area (SDA), you would generally need to obtain an Acquisition of Immovable Property (AIP) permit under the Immovable Property (Acquisition by Non-Residents) Act before you can complete the purchase, and this permit is processed through the Capital Transfer Duty Department within the Commissioner for Revenue, typically taking around 35 to 40 days to process once your notary submits the application along with the required documentation, including your promise of sale agreement. To qualify for the permit, the property generally needs to meet certain minimum value thresholds, which are periodically updated and differ depending on whether you're purchasing an apartment or a house, and the permit generally comes with conditions, most notably that the property must be for your own personal use rather than being rented out, and that as a non-EU national you would generally be limited to one property under this route unless you separately obtain special permission for an additional property. It's worth knowing that properties within Special Designated Areas, such as certain specific developments around Malta, are exempt from this AIP requirement entirely regardless of nationality, so if flexibility around future rental use or purchasing additional properties matters to you, it would be worth discussing with your notary or a lawyer whether purchasing within an SDA might better suit your plans compared to the standard AIP route.