GeoRealityMatch

Moving abroad on a pension: where the tax rate is lower

Italy, Cyprus and Malta each offer pensioners who move their tax home there a special flat rate instead of the normal income tax. Each has conditions: where you live, what you were before, how much tax you pay at least. Below is every rule as the country's own tax authority states it, read on 13 November 2026, with the official sentence under each line.

The conditions, country by country

Our summary on each line. Open “Show the original text” under it to read the tax authority's own sentence.

Italy

Optional regime for foreign pensioners (article 24-ter TUIR)

Rules as published by Agenzia delle Entrate, Italy's tax agency

7%

Rate
7% flat tax instead of Italian income tax, on every kind of income from abroad
Show the original Italian text

“Le persone fisiche titolari di redditi da pensione erogati da soggetti esteri, se trasferiscono la residenza fiscale in Italia, possono beneficiare di un regime fiscale opzionale, che prevede l’applicazione di un’imposta sostitutiva dell’Irpef con aliquota del 7% a qualsiasi categoria di reddito prodotto all’estero, per ciascuno dei nove periodi d’imposta di validità dell’opzione (articolo 24-ter del Tuir).”

In English (our translation from Italian): Individuals with pension income paid from abroad who move their tax residence to Italy can choose a regime that applies a 7% substitute tax, instead of Irpef, to any category of income produced abroad.

Official page
How long
Up to 10 years: the year you become resident and the nine after
Show the original Italian text

“Per effetto di tale modifica la validità massima del regime è pari a dieci anni e si applica nel periodo di imposta in cui il soggetto diventa fiscalmente residente in Italia e per gli ulteriori nove periodi di imposta.”

In English (our translation from Italian): The regime lasts at most ten years: the tax year in which the person becomes resident in Italy and the following nine.

Official page
Where
A town of no more than 30,000 people in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise or Puglia (the limit was 20,000 until 7 April 2026)
Show the original Italian text

“Il regime di favore è applicabile se la residenza viene trasferita in uno dei comuni appartenenti al territorio delle regioni Sicilia, Calabria, Sardegna, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise e Puglia, con popolazione non superiore a 30mila abitanti (tale limite è in vigore dal 7 aprile 2026, in precedenza era 20mila abitanti).”

In English (our translation from Italian): The regime applies if residence moves to a town in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, Molise or Puglia with no more than 30,000 inhabitants (limit in force since 7 April 2026; previously 20,000).

Official page
Also
Towns of up to 30,000 people hit by the 2009 L'Aquila or 2016 central Italy earthquakes
Show the original Italian text

“Possono beneficiarne anche i pensionati esteri che trasferiscono la residenza in uno dei comuni, sempre con non più di 30mila abitanti, interessati dagli eventi sismici del 6 aprile 2009 (“terremoto dell’Aquila”) o dagli eventi sismici del 2016 (“terremoto del Centro Italia” - allegati 1, 2 e 2-bis al decreto-legge 186/2016).”

In English (our translation from Italian): Foreign pensioners moving to a town of no more than 30,000 inhabitants affected by the 2009 L'Aquila or 2016 central Italy earthquakes can also apply.

Official page
Before
Not resident in Italy for at least the five tax years before
Show the original Italian text

“lo status di non residente in Italia per almeno cinque periodi di imposta precedenti l’inizio di validità dell’opzione”

In English (our translation from Italian): Non-resident status in Italy for at least five tax periods before the option starts.

Official page
From
Your last tax residence was in a country with a tax cooperation agreement with Italy
Show the original Italian text

“la giurisdizione, tra quelle in cui sono in vigore accordi di cooperazione amministrativa nel settore fiscale, in cui ha avuto l’ultima residenza fiscale prima dell’esercizio di validità dell’opzione”

In English (our translation from Italian): The jurisdiction, among those with tax administrative cooperation agreements in force, of the last tax residence before the option.

Official page

Cyprus

Foreign pension: 5% option

Rules as published by the Cyprus government

5%

Rate
5% on foreign pension income above €5,000 a year, as a choice instead of the normal rates, for any Cyprus tax resident
Show the original text

“Cyprus tax residents who receive income from foreign pensions can continue to choose to be taxed at the normal tax rates or the 5% flat tax rate on pension income exceeding €5,000 per year. Where applicable, the relevant provision in the Double Taxation Agreement should also be taken into account.”

Official page
Tax-free amount
The 2025 tax-return guide gives €3,420; the tax incentives page, posted 15 January 2026, gives €5,000
Show the original text

“For a foreign pension which you choose to be taxed at a reduced tax rate (5% of the amount over €3.420) and which is not added to any other income.”

Official page
How long
No time limit is stated: it is a choice open each year to Cyprus tax residents

Malta

Malta Retirement Programme

Rules as published by the Malta Tax and Customs Administration

15%

Rate
15% on income from abroad received in Malta
Show the original text

“Subject to tax at a rate of fifteen cents (0.15) on every euro thereof on any income arising outside Malta that is received in Malta by the beneficiary,”

Official page
Minimum
At least €7,500 a year in tax, plus €500 for each dependant and member of household staff
Show the original text

“Beneficiaries of special tax status granted in terms of the MRP will need to pay a minimum tax in respect of the income arising outside Malta which is received in Malta of seven thousand and five hundred euro (€7,500) in respect of the beneficiary and five hundred euro (€500) per year of assessment for every dependent and every household staff.”

Official page
How long
From the year the status is confirmed until it ends
Show the original text

“This rate of tax will apply from the year of confirmation of the special tax status up to year of cessation of status, both years included;”

Official page
Pension
Your pension is at least 75% of your taxable income, and all of it is received in Malta
Show the original text

“he is in receipt of a pension, as supported by documentary evidence, all of which is received in Malta and constitutes at least 75% of his chargeable income;”

Official page
Home
You own or rent a qualifying property as your main home
Show the original text

“he owns or rents a qualifying owned property or qualifying rented property which the individual occupies as his principal place of residence worldwide;”

Official page
Who
Not a Maltese national, not domiciled in Malta and not planning to become so within five years
Show the original text

“he is not a Maltese national ;”

“he is not domiciled in Malta and he does not, within five years from the date of application, intend to establish his domicile in Malta;”

Official page
Stay
You must live in Malta at least 90 days a year on average over five years
Show the original text

“if the individual resides in Malta for less than ninety days a year averaged over any five year period; or”

Official page

No special rate for pensioners

Five more countries we checked. A pension is taxed under the normal rules.

  • Portugal

    The NHR regime is closed to new applicants. Its replacement, IFICI, is for people in eligible jobs, and its exemption for income from abroad does not list pensions.

    Show what Portugal's tax authority says

    “Os rendimentos do trabalho (categorias A e B), de capitais, (categoria E), prediais (categoria F) e relativos a incrementos patrimoniais (categoria G), obtidos no estrangeiro pelos beneficiários do IFICI, beneficiam, em regra, de isenção”

    Official page
  • Spain

    Spain's special regime for people moving there needs a job, a posting, remote work or a business as the reason for the move. Pensioners pay the normal rates.

    Show what Spain's Agencia Tributaria says

    “Que el desplazamiento a territorio español se produzca, ya sea en el primer año de aplicación del régimen o en el año anterior, como consecuencia de alguna de las siguientes circunstancias: Como consecuencia de un contrato de trabajo”

    Official page
  • Croatia

    Foreign pensions of residents are taxed under the ordinary rules: register, then income tax and surcharge.

    Show what the Croatian government says

    “All resident taxpayers who are pensioners with foreign pension, whether this pension is taxed or not, are obliged to apply for entry in the register of income tax payers by submitting the RPO form within eight days from the date when they start receiving income.”

    Official page
  • Montenegro

    The income tax law (2022 consolidated text) does not count pensions as income, for everyone, not just people moving there. It does not say whether that covers pensions paid from abroad.

    Show what the Government of Montenegro says

    “Dohotkom se ne smatraju prihodi ostvareni po osnovu: … 9) penzija, osim penzija ostvarenih u skladu sa zakonom kojim se uređuju zarade državnih i javnih funkcionera i invalidnina;”

    Official page

This is what each authority publishes, not tax advice. How your own pension is taxed can depend on what kind of pension it is and on the tax treaty between the two countries, so check with the tax authority or an adviser before you move. Greece is not covered yet.

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