Malta, this small island in the Mediterranean, has recently been blurred in the circle of Chinese friends.If you walk on the streets of Malta, you may think you have come to "Little China".
Signs on the streets are written in Chinese, and in the supermarket there are old dried moms and spruce powder, and at the end of the afternoon you can see the dragon boat race.
This area is small, almost as large as one district in Beijing, there are no direct flights, and even in the hearts of many Chinese belong to the "cold door country" in the geographic textbooks.
But who would have thought that it has become a popular choice for immigrants from middle-class families in China.
Now, eighty-nine out of every ten new immigrants in Malta are Chinese, and the whole circle of immigrants is debating: what is the magic of this small country that attracts Chinese so tightly?
Low barriers and high benefits, and "one step" is exciting
The most direct thing about Malta’s attractiveness is its immigration policy, in other words, spending less money and getting more affordable.
In other European countries, immigrants have to buy houses, exams, ranks, but Malta is relaxed.
Applicants do not need to examine the language, do not need to prove their education, a little savings can move with the whole family, can also bring parents, grandparents.
The identity Malta offers is not a typical “temporary residence”, but directly allows you to enjoy the benefits of the EU, Schengen, the euro area and the United Kingdom.
It is common to say that after completion, you can freely enter most of the countries in Europe, your children can go to English-style schools, and even have the opportunity to study at domestic key universities.
The education system here is British, with many schools. Children can go to school for free from elementary school to high school, and the ratio of teachers to students is much looser than that in China. The educational problems that parents are most concerned about can basically be solved in Malta.
Healthcare and taxes.Malta's public hospitals don't charge, the medical level is not low, and you don't have to worry too much about buying medicines and visits.
The tax policy is also very friendly, with low corporate taxes, no inheritance tax, and no need to worry about being taxed twice.
For families planning to retire or want to leave a way out for their children, this arrangement is simply tailor-made.
Reality is not so beautiful, and life pressure is slowly emerging
But there is always a gap between ideals and reality.Many people only discovered after arriving that while Malta has a European coat, the resources themselves are limited.
The cost of living is actually not low, water is expensive, electricity is also expensive, daily goods, vegetables are mostly imported. Want to live comfortably here, the wallet is thick. Frequently encountering power outages, water bills are monthly annoying. Online shopping is not so convenient, often waiting for shipment on the European mainland, slow shipping is anxious.
Housing prices are rising rapidly, the pressure to buy houses is greater, and rents are getting more expensive.
Moreover, work, on the surface policy welcomes investment, in fact, finding a job is not easy.
The local priority policy is obvious. Locals and EU people are given priority. It is difficult for immigrants, especially those from non-EU backgrounds, to find good jobs.
Many Chinese people can only engage in tourism and retail these industries, want to develop high-tech, financial, professional positions, English is especially good, but also understand some local languages.
Children's schooling is not as smooth as everyone thinks. Local schools pay attention to ease and freedom, and children's grades are unhurried, which is completely different from exam-oriented education in China.
In order to let their children learn more knowledge, many parents can only pay for tutors or enroll in cram schools out of their own pockets, and the cost of remedial classes is not cheap.
In the past two years, Malta’s immigration policy has begun to tighten, demanding more and more, and spending more and more money.In addition to insurance, rental, material costs, the “sex-price ratio” of immigrants is falling.
Some people found that they originally thought the low threshold was not cheap in fact. more people applied, the government also started to strictly review, some people simply withdrew in the middle, and felt that it was not so worth it.
Deep historical friendship, immigration tide tests both sides
The relationship between Malta and China has not just begun recently. decades ago, China helped Malta build a shipyard, and the friendship between the two countries has a historic foundation.
Chinese cultural elements such as traditional Chinese medicine, dragon boat and dragon boat festival have now become Malta's "daily life", which proves that the cultural integration between the two countries is deepening. Chinese people here are not only investors, but also participants in cultural exchanges.
But more people, and the problems followed.The attitude of locals toward immigration became complicated.The increase in population brought pressure on housing, medical care, and transportation, and the rhythm of the original small country was disrupted.
Locals are worried that resources will be thinned, quality of life will be affected, and occasionally there will be dissatisfaction.
Economically, more and more Chinese funds are entering the real estate and enterprise sectors, the rise in house prices make many locals unable to buy houses, and the market bubble risk is also accumulating.
For the Malta government, it wants to attract investment and is also afraid of intensifying social conflicts. It needs to find a balance between openness and protection.
Policy adjustments are becoming frequent, and the amount of gold contained in immigration identity is also slowly changing. For Chinese families, identity value is not worth money, and whether we can continue to enjoy various dividends in the future is also a matter of concern.
Chinese families want to get more choices through immigration, give their children a better education, and provide guarantees for retirement.
But Malta’s own resources are limited, policy adjustments are fast, and the value of immigrant identity is not constant. Both sides are looking at how to balance between opening up and protection, and how to truly integrate new immigrants into local societies.
Immigration is not a “trade” but rather a two-way option.
Malta has become the "new favorite" of Chinese middle-class immigrants, in fact, the result of a multi-factor overlap.
Low-threshold policies, convenient identities, friendly social environment, and historical emotional bonds have attracted a large number of China families.
However, the pressures of real life and policy changes have also caused more and more people to calm down and no longer blindly follow the trend.
Immigration is not a simple "buying and selling", but a second choice for the whole family. When I arrived in Malta, my identity was in hand, and my life had to be taken care of again.
You have to adapt to a new culture, face a different pace of life, and deal with trivial practical problems. The story of Malta is a real attempt by the China in the process of globalization and a microcosm of the wave of immigration faced by small countries.
Both Chinese families and local communities in Malta are adapting to each other. Chinese people want a better life, and Malta needs investment and vitality, which is a “two-way journey.”
But everybody has to think clearly: what exactly is there to really adapt to life here. Identity dividends are not forever unchanged, opportunities and challenges always go hand in hand.
As a small country, Malta has attracted a large number of China immigrants. This has policy advantages and practical tests.
There are no absolute winners on the road to immigration, only those who make constant choices. For the Chinese family, Malta is a way out, but not a destination. For Malta, opening up is also a test.
References:
Why did they emigrate to the small Mediterranean country of Malta?
Malta's Chinese network "Malta's population broke 560,000"