Malta is a realistic move from Serbia if you match a residence route to your situation early. The short version: a one-bedroom rents for about €900 a month in the bigger cities, typical net salaries run around €1,400, personal taxes sit at 0-35%, and permanent residence usually takes about 5 years of legal stay. Here is how the move actually works for Serbian citizens.
Getting in: your route options
As Serbian citizens you can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, which makes scouting trips easy. Living in Malta is a separate matter: you need a residence permit tied to a reason.
- Remote work: Malta runs the Nomad Residence Permit, income bar around €3,500/mo, 1 year, renewable up to 4. English-speaking admin; 10% flat tax on authorised work after the first year.
- Work: a job offer plus a work permit; for higher-paid qualified roles ask employers about the EU Blue Card, which speeds up residence across most of the bloc.
- Study: university admission converts into a student permit, usually with part-time work rights and a post-graduation job-seeker option.
- Family and ancestry: joining an EU spouse or partner, or claiming citizenship by descent if you have an EU-citizen parent or grandparent.
What life in Malta costs
Budget roughly €900 for a one-bed plus about €910 for essentials and transport, per person. English friendliness scores 95/100 here, and everyday taxes for employees run at 0-35%: see the full picture on the taxes in Malta page, including freelancer regimes and company rates.
The long game
Permanent residence in Malta takes about 5 years of legal residence, and citizenship about 5 years from arrival, subject to language and integration requirements. If an EU passport is part of your plan, weigh this timeline against neighbouring countries before you commit.