Spain compared with Greece, Cyprus and Malta

Key rules

• Trade-off: Tax breaks in Greece, Cyprus and Malta come with smaller job markets and thinner services than Spain.
• Greek schemes: Both Greek tax regimes require that you were not Greek tax resident in 5 of the 6 years before moving.
• Cyprus non-dom: The Cyprus non-dom exemption lasts 17 years out of the last 20 years of tax residency.
• Malta amounts: Malta's scheme fees and minimum taxes change, so get current figures before you plan.

The short answer

Greek, Cypriot and Maltese schemes can cut your tax or make residency easier. They also come with much smaller job markets and thinner services than Spain offers. A low tax rate only helps if the rest of your life works there too.

Greece

Greece has three routes worth knowing.

• Tax break for workers. If you move your tax residence to Greece, you can get a 50% income tax exemption on Greek income from employment or business for 7 years. You must not have been Greek tax resident in 5 of the 6 years before moving. You must work for an employer or run a business in Greece. You must also commit to staying tax resident there for at least 5 years.
• 7% flat tax for pensioners. If you receive a foreign pension and become a new Greek tax resident, your foreign income is taxed at a flat 7% for up to 15 years. You must not have been Greek tax resident in 5 of the previous 6 years. You must also come from a country that has a tax cooperation agreement with Greece. Ask the Greek tax authority to confirm you qualify, because the regime has been amended.
• Golden visa. This needs a real estate investment. Since 2024 the threshold is €800,000 in high-demand areas (Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with over 3,100 inhabitants) and €400,000 elsewhere. Converting commercial property to residential use can qualify at €400,000. A €250,000 investment in listed or heritage buildings is another route. The qualifying property cannot be used for tourist rentals. Thresholds and area lists have changed recently, so check them before you commit.

Cyprus

• Non-dom tax status. If you are not domiciled in Cyprus, you pay no Special Defence Contribution on dividends, interest and rental income. It lasts 17 years out of the last 20 years of tax residency. A tax reform from 2026 changed income tax bands and other rates but kept this exemption. Confirm the details with the Cyprus Tax Department.
• Residency for non-EU nationals. The Category F permit (the pink slip) needs proof of secure annual income from abroad, no work in Cyprus, and a clean criminal record. Fast-track permanent residence needs a qualifying property or investment, a clean record and secure income. The Digital Nomad Visa lasts 1 year and can be renewed for 2 more years. It needs monthly income of about 3,500 euros net. Permanent residence is available after 5 years of legal residence and meeting the income requirements.
• EU citizens only need to register with the migration department.

Malta

• Tax. Residents who are not domiciled in Malta are taxed on a remittance basis. Foreign income is taxed only if you bring it into Malta. Income earned in Malta is taxed. Foreign capital gains are not taxed, even if you bring them in. Special schemes such as the Global Residence Programme use a flat 15% rate on foreign income brought into Malta, with a minimum annual tax.
• Residence schemes for non-EU nationals. The Global Residence Programme needs a qualifying property to rent or buy. The Nomad Residence Permit is for remote workers and has an income threshold and a fee. The Malta Permanent Residence Programme needs a property, a contribution and government fees. The government sets and revises all amounts, so get current figures from the Malta residency agency and the Malta tax authority before you plan around them.
• EU nationals have free movement and do not need these schemes.

What you give up compared with Spain

Jobs. Spain has the largest market, with about 48 million people, but also the highest unemployment of the four, around 10 to 11%. Greece has about 10 million people, unemployment around 9% and low wages. Cyprus has about 0.9 million people and unemployment around 4 to 5%. Malta has about 0.55 million people, unemployment around 3% and wages somewhat above Spain's. The small markets lean on tourism, finance, gaming and shipping. If your work is outside those fields, choices will be narrow.

Services. Spain's public healthcare is universal and generally well regarded, though specialist waits are long in some regions. Spain also has the best public transport and infrastructure of the four. Greece's public health system is under strain, so many people pay for private care. Cyprus's health system is modern with good coverage, but doctors are scarce and daily life depends on a car. Malta's public healthcare is free for residents and works reasonably, but waits exist and the island is small and congested.

Paperwork. Bureaucracy is heavy everywhere. In Spain it is heaviest around the NIE and getting appointments.

How to decide

Compare your total yearly tax, your visa conditions and the daily-life factors above, not the headline rate alone. Check the papers you need in the documents list below, and see the FAQ for quick answers.

Documents you need

Documents for a Cyprus residence permit

• Proof of secure annual income from abroad, needed for the Category F residence permit (the pink slip). You must also not work in Cyprus.

• A clean criminal record certificate, needed for the pink slip and for fast-track permanent residence.

• Proof of a qualifying property or investment, needed only for fast-track permanent residence.

• Proof of monthly income of about 3,500 euros net, needed only for the Digital Nomad Visa.

Frequently asked questions

Does Greece offer a tax break for people who move there to work?

Yes, Greece cuts income tax by 50% for 7 years on Greek-source work income, but you must work for an employer or business in Greece.

How long does Cyprus non-dom status last?

Cyprus non-dom status lasts 17 years out of the last 20 years of tax residency. It exempts you from the Special Defence Contribution, a tax on dividends, interest and rental income. It stays in place after the 2026 tax reform.

Are public services and jobs better in these countries than in Spain?

No, Spain has the better public transport and the largest job market of the four, though unemployment is also highest there at around 10 to 11%. Cyprus and Malta have lower unemployment but small markets focused on tourism, finance, gaming and shipping. Greece's public healthcare is under strain, so many people use private care.