Foreigners can buy one piece of property (there are some exceptions) for their own personal use and for the use of their immediate family.  Mortgages are available, with a 10% deposit required to start the buying process.  And there are some restrictions when buying real estate.  To protect the local market and local sellers, foreigners must pay at least Lm 30,000 or roughly $103,500 for an apartment, even if the selling price is actually lower, and pay at least Lm 50,000 ($172,500) for a house, even if the selling price is actually lower.  These prices can, however, include restoration costs.             

The Republic of Malta has excellent health care (ranked #5 in the world by the WHO, compared to the U.S.' ranking of #37), and the health care system is a combination of clean, modern, public and private facilities.  Most doctors on Malta and on Gozo train in the United Kingdom and are considered top-notch.  There is a small public hospital, Craig Hospital (Tel: 21561600), in Gozo's capital city of Victoria, and another small private day hospital as well.  Generally, health care is inexpensive and can be paid for as you go (similar to what we used to do in the States).

For major illnesses or emergencies, we recommend maintaining catastrophic insurance coverage through your current insurance carrier and knowing that you will need to travel back to the U.S. for care.  To maintain comprehensive insurance coverage while in Malta could become prohibitively expensive as you age. Evacuation flights can be expensive so check with your insurer to see if this is covered.  Some credit cards provide this coverage, as do some travel insurance companies.  

Tourists to Malta may visit for three months without paperwork and stay as long as they like with the proper visa, which can be obtained from the Immigration Department at the police headquarters in Floriana, and renewed normally at 3 month, 6 month or yearly intervals.  This is how most non-Maltese stay on Gozo.  There is also the option of becoming a permanent resident.   To stay, however, longer than the initial three months, expatriate retirees must show proof of income (from investments, Social Security, retirement pensions, etc.) that will enable them to live without becoming a financial burden on the government.   At this time, the annual income requirement is Lm 10,000 ($34,500).

Malta has a modern airport and is serviced by several airlines, including British Airways.

Gozo is thought to be the island of Ogygia from Homer's epic poem "The Iliad."   This is where the nymph Calypso held Odysseus captive for seven years.    If you come here to visit, you will probably want to retire here not for just seven years but forever.

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