The Child Birth and Adoption Bonus is a one-off payment made by the Department of Social Security (DSS) to parents of a newborn or newly adopted child in Malta. The bonus is paid automatically — once a child's birth is registered with the Public Registry of Malta within 15 days of birth, the DSS initiates the payment process automatically. No separate application is required for the bonus itself, although parents who have not previously claimed Children's Allowance will need to submit a Children's Allowance application, through which the bonus is also processed.
The bonus amount increases with each child born or adopted into the family:
The same rates apply for adoption. Ensure your IBAN banking details held by the DSS are up to date to receive payment by direct deposit.
Important: If the application for Children's Allowance is submitted late, part or all of the bonus may be forfeited. Submit within 6 months of birth or adoption to avoid losing any entitlement.
A one-off cash payment deposited directly into your bank account:
| Birth order in family | Bonus amount |
|---|---|
| 1st child | €1,000 |
| 2nd child | €1,500 |
| 3rd child or more | €2,000 |
The bonus is paid automatically after birth registration with the Public Registry. If you are not already registered with the DSS for Children's Allowance, submit the Children's Allowance application within 6 months of birth to ensure full entitlement. The bonus is not subject to income tax.
Adoption:
The adoptive parent is entitled to the Child Adoption Bonus at the same rates above, provided the child is registered with the Public Registry of Malta and eligibility criteria are met. The biological mother may also be entitled to the Child Birth Bonus separately if she qualifies for Children's Allowance.
Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Payment dates.
The mother of the newborn child or adoptive parent is Maltese or from a European Union country, in which both instances is a Maltese resident for at least ten (10) consecutive years backdated from the date of birth of the newborn.
A Maltese couple of whom one of them has been living in Malta for at least ten (10) consecutive years backdated from the date of birth of the newborn.
The mother of the newborn child or adoptive parent is from a European Union country or any other nationality (including third-world countries), who does not have residency in Malta for ten (10) consecutive years backdated from the date of birth of the newborn but is married or cohabitating with a Maltese or an EU National and who has been a resident in Malta for ten (10) years back-dated since the birth of the newborn.
The mother of the newborn child or adoptive parent is from a European Union country or any other nationality (including third-world countries) and is married to a Maltese national who does not have ten (10) consecutive residency himself in Malta backdated from the date of birth of the newborn, but the mother has lived in Malta for over ten (10) consecutive years backdated from the date of birth of the newborn.
The mother of the newborn child or adoptive parent from a Third-World country may only qualify if married or cohabitating with a Maltese national or a national from a European Union country who has been living in Malta for at least ten (10) consecutive years backdated from the date of birth of the newborn. If not, then the mother must be a maltese resident for at least ten (10) consecutive years herself.
The adoptive parent adopts the child, who has been registered with the Public Registry of Malta and conforms to the eligibility criteria listed above will be entitled to the Child Adoption Bonus, whereas the biological mother may be entitled to the Child Birth Bonus if she would be paid for Children’s Allowance.
Ensure that your 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 mySocialSecurity.
The European Union also includes the European Economic Area (EEA) which includes Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, together with Switzerland.
For the time being, the United Kingdom is still considered as a European Country. The European Social Charter is not being considered.
Documentation required
Date of cohabitation / Marriage / Civil Union (if applicable) when submitting the Children’s Allowance application.
Proof of ‘Date of Arrival in Malta’ (if applicable) when submitting the Children’s Allowance application. This may include copies of Boarding Passes and/or Passports.
In case of a separated parent or a parent is single, a legal document by the claiming parent’s legal representative, naming the parent who has effective care and custody (de facto) of the child/children with full children’s details, providing also effective date of care and custody. This declaration must also include certification on whether maintenance is being paid to the same parent claiming the effective care and custody of the child/children, needs to be provided with the Children’s Allowance application.
Upon registration of the birth or adoption of the child with Malta's Public Registry, the process for the payment of the Child Birth and Adoption Bonus is automatically initiated by the Department of Social Security in line with the eligibility criteria.
Nevertheless, there may be instances when an application cannot be automatically processed upon registration of minor with the Public Registry when:
The parents do not have the same address.
A parent is single.
The child was not born in Malta.
Foreign parents.
Thus, if the Children’s Allowance payment and the Child Birth and Adoption Bonus are not received within four (4) months from date of birth, one must submit an application within six (6) months from date of birth or adoption of minor as stipulated by the Social Security Act (Cap. 318.).
Not Applicable
