Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546654
MALTA issued the highest number of residence permits to non-EU citizens relative to its population out of all EU countries in 2025. According to data released by Eurostat earlier in September, Malta issued 32,693 residence permits for third-country na- tionals last year. This represents an 11% increase in residence permits issued when compared to the previous year. Malta registered the highest ratio of new residence permits when compared to its popu- lation at 57 permits issued per 1,000 residents. Cyprus came in second place with 47 permits per 1,000 inhabitants. In 2024, Malta granted 52 permits per 1,000 residents, down from a record high of 77 in 2023. In 2025, just under half of all residence permits (16,289) were issued for em- ployment reasons. Another 8,095 permits were issued for edu- cation reasons and 2,856 per- mits were grant- ed for family-relat- ed reasons. The remaining 5,453 were listed as "oth- er." T h e figures al- so provide a breakdown of the top five na- tionalities of residence permits recipients. Last year, Indian nationals constituted 21% (7,014) of all recipients. Chi- nese nationals, including those from Hong Kong made up 12% (3,926) of recipients, as Nepa- lese citizens were close behind with 11.7% (3,824). Another 6.8% (2,226) of residence permits were is- sued to Colombians and 6% (1,973) of permits were granted to Philip- pine nationals. WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 • ISSUE 1012 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY EDITORIAL • PAGE 11 Attorney General appeals Yorgen Fenech acquittal THE Attorney General has formally appealed the verdict that cleared Yor- gen Fenech of complicity and associa- tion in the murder of journalist Daph- ne Caruana Galizia. The appeal was filed on Tuesday at noon, marking the beginning of a new stage in the State's case against Fenech. Fenech was acquitted on 2 Septem- ber, when a nine-member jury found him not guilty by eight votes to one on both charges. The investigative journalist was bru- tally assassinated by a car bomb outside her Bidnija home on 16 October 2017. The verdict brought to an end a 55- day trial during which jurors heard extensive evidence surrounding the murder, including testimony from self-confessed middleman Melvin Theuma, police officers, investigators, associates of Fenech and Fenech him- self. CONTINUES PAGE 3 WEDNESDAY EDITION MAYA GALEA mgalea@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUES PAGE 2 Personal Loans HOME MAKEOVER? Compe ve Interest Rates All loans are subject to normal bank lending criteria and final approval from the Bank. The term of the loan must not go beyond re rement age. Cau on! Borrowing money costs money. Issued by Bank of Valle a p.l.c. 58, Triq San Żakkarija, Il-Belt Valle a VLT 1130. Bank of Valle a p.l.c. is regulated by the MFSA and licensed to carry out the business of banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371 of the Laws of Malta). MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Malta with highest non-EU residence permits per capita Malta issued 32,693 residence permits for third- country nationals last year, which represents an 11% increase over the previous year