I do not expect a tax-advice obviously but maybe someone can share some light.
I was researching that subject since this in kind my situation.
There is few options for you how Malta taxman will treat you depends on nature of your stay.
Depending on the residence and domicile of the individual, liability to Maltese income tax arises -
- on a worldwide basis, or
- on a remittance basis, or
- on a territorial basis 1.2.
The worldwide basis of taxation applies to the income of persons who are ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta.(not you!) It also applies to persons who hold the status of long-term resident or are in possession of a permanent residence certificate or a permanent residence card (as defined in the Status of Long-Term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations and the Free Movement of European Union Nationals and their Family Members Order). In the case of a married couple living together, if one of the spouses is ordinarily resident and domiciled in Malta, the worldwide basis of taxation applies to the income and capital gains of both spouses1 .
So this not apply for "ordinary residence" that have right to stay in Malta for 5 years so nature of your stay is temporary. ! (self suficient / employed etc) those residents are taxed on remittance basis BUT.....
Be warned they on taxman site write allso:
A person who is in Malta for a temporary purpose may become ordinarily resident in certain circumstances. This would apply, for example, to individuals who are in Malta for more than 183 days in each year over a long period - say, for three consecutive years. It can also apply to individuals who do not stay in Malta for more than 183 days in any year but who come to Malta regularly over a long period - say, over a period of three years - and establish personal and economic ties with Malta.
So when I add what they write on site means that not only domicile decide about your worldwide basis taxation but more about your stay !
From that what they wrote it means if you stay there over 3 years and have there some connections you can be taxed as worldwide basis.
And worldwide basis you want avoid.
Stocks are bought longterm with a low amount of trading activity - lets say 6 trades a year.
as "ordinary resident" your capital gains outside of Malta are not taxable, even if you are Maltese citizen long therm investment are not taxed (as they wrote somewhere in web.)
Problem will be if that trading is ONLY INCOME you got then they can treat it like "work".
Then if its work you will end with worldwide basis tax or remittance basis depends how long you are in Malta and what status you have here.
Anyway long therm investments should not be problem for you if you are not actively trading it and other main source of income.
Reference from official sites that gives you insight how they look on those matters:
cfr.gov.mt
Ordinary residence permits allow resident permit holders to physically live in Malta with the possibility of taking up employment and doing business in Malta.
malta-residency.com
. Domicile
3.1. Individuals who are in Malta and consider Malta as their permanent home are domiciled in Malta. “Home” here refers to the place where a person belongs and implies stronger ties with a country than residence.
3.2. Domicile does not depend on nationality.
3.3. Every individual acquires domicile at birth (domicile of origin). This is normally the domicile of the parents, regardless of the place where the individual is born.
3.4. An individual may change his domicile of origin and acquire a domicile of choice. A domicile of choice in a particular country is acquired when the individual takes up residence in that country with the intention of making that country his permanent home. A person who takes up residence in a country, even if for a long or indefinite period, does not acquire domicile in that country if he has the intention of returning some day to his country of domicile or of settling some day somewhere else.
3.5. No individual can be without a domicile and no individual can have more than one domicile at the same time. An individual does not lose his domicile of origin unless and until he acquires a domicile of choice. If an individual acquires a domicile of choice, he can change domicile again by taking up a new domicile of choice or returning to the country of his domicile of origin. If an individual abandons a domicile of choice without establishing his permanent home in any other country, his domicile of origin will revive automatically.