Hi, I am on a disability pension paid monthly by a Finnish insurance company. IŽm currently paying off my bank loans and when they are gone IŽm planning to move to Malta.
I have been reading tons about this scheme but as English isnŽt a native language of mine the official texts are partly Hebrew to me 
It would be great if IŽd get this straight step by step; what to do and where to do it.
The residence is most important because I attend to live in Malta for the most of the year and because it will be the one thing which allows me to inform Finland to stop taxing me as I then will be paying my pension taxes to Malta.
One thing is social security. How will I get into MaltaŽs social security? When I move out of Finland all my ties to Finnish government will be executed except taxation which will be terminated in Finland when I can show proof of my new permanent residence.
Thanks all ready for giving me the facts I need. IŽve moved to other countries a few times and had to manage with a totally new languages so this one should be easy to do but smoothing the road to success is always welcome
Rami
Becoming a resident by The Malta Retirement Programme
If you are a Finnish citizen, you dont need to use the retirement programme to move to Malta, you can just move here as long as you can show sufficient financial resources and heathcare. Are you of official retirement age in Finland ?
My pension is for life so thatŽs not a problem. The retirement programme offers me a flat rate of 15% of tax per annum. ThatŽs why I thought itŽs a must... ?
Edit: IŽm not even close to official retirement age here in Finland.
well, it depends on how big your pension is, and how much of it you will bring into Malta :-) You can be tax resident in Malta without going through that scheme.
Its important as to whether you are of state retirement age, in terms of transferring your healthcare right from Finland, no just whether have a pension
you need to look at the 2 options
1. flat 15% tax on anything you bring in, plus the minimum rent or purchase of property
or
2. sliding scale tax on anything you bring in, with a tax free allowance, with no minimum rent or purchase of property
Based on a quick calculation, 1 is worth considering if the amount of income you would bring into Malta each year would exceed about € 30-35,000 - thats income - capital or capital gains can be brought in tax free
My pension is over 60.000€ per year and rising. ThatŽs why IŽm interested in the flat rate of 15%.
And of course I will be bringing it all to Malta by monthly transactions.
OK :-)
Should I hire some firm to assist me through this process and if so- any idea on the cost of this sort of services?
not sure of cost, but can recommend my accountant John Huber, who I've used for 12 years, and no accountant knows more about residency issues than him, as he advises the government :-)
http://www.johnhubermalta.com/
Thank you George for your quick responses! Really appreciate you helping me figure things out.
Found the answers I was looking for from John HuberŽs website which was kindly posted by georgeingozo.
"Applications can only be submitted through an Authorised Registered Mandatory
Once an EU / EEA / Swiss national has acquired the right to reside in Malta in terms of a Registration Certificate, one may also apply for a tax status in terms of the Malta Retirement Programme (MRP). Put simply, the entire pension/s must be declared in Malta and the pension/s shall constitute at least 75% of the total income chargeable to tax in Malta. Tax shall be a flat rate of 15% on the gross pension/s that shall be chargeable to tax in Malta. There is a minimum tax liability of €7500 per annum which is increased by €500 for each dependent. Husband and wife must pay a minimum of €8000. All individuals resident in Malta and benefitting from the Malta Retirement Programme must not reside in any other single jurisdiction for more than 183 days in any year and must also reside in Malta for a minimum of 90 days a year averaged over any five-year period.
Application process documents:
4 passport sized photographs (colour) for each applicant
Birth and Marriage Certificate
Copies of Passports (page of personal details)
A Police Conduct Certificate in English.
A declaration on Oath or a Solemn Declaration stating that the individual does not have any ongoing criminal or civil proceedings.
Original Statement/s from the pension provider stating the full pension details
Health Cover – this may be either by the transposition of EU Health rights via the S1(E121) or by having private medical healthcare.
A non-refundable administrative fee of €2500
In order to qualify for the Malta Retirement Programme status, the applicant must either own property or lease property in Malta or Gozo. Lease must be taken for not less than a twelve month period and evidenced by a certified lease agreement submitted together with the application.
The minimum amounts are as follows:
Purchase of Property in Malta €275,000
Purchase of Property in Gozo €250,000
Lease of Property in Malta €9,600 annually
Lease of Property in Gozo €8,750 annually"
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