Marriage Grant

Overview

The Marriage Grant may be awarded to a person who is employed, self-employed or self-occupied for at least six (6) months at any time prior to the marriage or civil union and is ordinarily resident in Malta upon legal marriage or civil union. The marriage grant is not awarded to cohabitating couples, whether it is a registered cohabitation or not.

What you’ll get

The Marriage Grant is one-time payment to each eligible spouse.

Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.

Eligibility

General eligibility criteria: 

• Persons who are ordinary residents in Malta having been in an insurable employment or self-occupation for six (6) months prior to date of marriage or civil union.
• In the case of a self-employed person who is eligible to be consider as so as per Social Security Act and makes voluntary social security contributions, may also be eligible for the Marriage Grant.
• In the case of a remarried person, twenty-six (26) Social Security Contributions are to be paid as from the last date of marriage or civil union.

Documentation required

General documentation:

• Marriage certificate if marriage is not registered in Malta. The marriage certificate should be translated into English or Maltese language and also authenticated in the country of marriage. Marriage certificates from any country that are confirmed (stamped) as authentic by the Maltese Embassy or Mission in that country are also accepted provided that these are also translated into the English or Maltese language.

• Applicants should ensure that their banking details held by the Department of Social Security are updated to receive payments by direct deposit in a bank. The IBAN number should be a local savings or current account, but not a loan account. The indicated account must be in the name of the beneficiary only. Banking details may be updated on bankingdss.gov.mt.
• If one or both of the applicants for this benefit have moved to a different address, the respective Maltese Identity Card must be updated accordingly at the Maltese government agency Identità. Once this Identity Card is updated, the applicant/s are to make sure that their postal address is also updated at the Department of Social Security. These Contact Details may be updated on contact-dss.gov.mt.

How to apply

Upon the registration of a marriage with Malta’s Public Registry, the process for the payment of the Marriage Grant is automatically initiated by the Department of Social Security. In addition, a notification letter is sent to prospective beneficiaries requesting the necessary details for the award of the Marriage Grant or otherwise. However, there may be cases when the letter notification is not issued in cases of Civil Union cases or the marriage was held abroad. In such cases the prospective beneficiaries need to apply for this grant.

It is important that applicants for a Marriage Grant, should have their application submitted to the Department of Social Security not later than six (6) months from the date of marriage or civil union as stipulated by the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.).

Fill in and submit the application online.