Malta citizenship: how much does a Maltese passport cost?
Obtaining Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment costs at least €690,000. These costs are calculated per applicant and for a period of 5 years.
The costs also depend on the number of family members in the application and how quickly it is processed.
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Fact checked byCélia Castilho
Reviewed byVladlena Baranova
Malta citizenship: how much does a Maltese passport cost?
How much a single applicant invests in obtaining a Maltese passport
Malta’s passport can be granted for exceptional services by direct investment. The Malta Citizenship Act, updated on November 20th, 2020, sets the requirements for applicants.
The exceptional services by direct investment is a naturalisation path. Meaning that applicants must spend 1 to 3 years as Maltese residents before applying for citizenship.
The applicant has to fulfill the following investment conditions:
€600,000 or €750,000 is a contribution to the National Development and Social Fund of Malta;
€700,000 or €16,000 per annum is to buy real estate or rent a home for 5 years;
€10,000 is a charitable contribution.
The contribution amount to the Malta National Development and Social Fund determines how quickly the applicant gets citizenship. To obtain a passport after just 1 year of residency, you need to contribute €750,000, while a contribution of €600,000 is required to get a passport after 3 years of residency.
The minimum investment amount is €690,000. It is the cost when the applicant gets a passport after 3 years and rents a property. If they want to apply for citizenship 1 year after getting residency and buy a property, a Malta passport costs at least €1.46 million.
In addition to the investment conditions, the main applicants must pay for a health insurance policy and administrative fee of at least €3,000. The cost of the Due Diligence, or the Eligibility Test, is €15,000.
How much will a family spend on Malta citizenship?
Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment can be granted to the investor and their close family members: a spouse, unmarried children under 29, parents, and grandparents over 55. All family members over 18, except the spouse, must depend financially on the main applicant.
For each additional applicant, the investor has to contribute an additional €50,000 to the National Development and Social Fund. The larger the family, the higher the minimum investment threshold:
a couple — €650,000;
a couple with a child — €700,000;
a couple with two children — €750,000;
a couple with two children and two parents — €850,000.
In addition, for each family member, the main applicant pays an administrative fee of €3,000 and for a medical insurance policy and the Eligibility Test costing €10,000 per family member over 12.
Costs for obtaining Malta citizenship
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Process of obtaining Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment
An investor and their family members can apply for citizenship only after one or three years of residency in Malta. The fund contribution depends on the residency period.
The applicants must undergo a strict Due Diligence check, submit all the necessary documents and fulfil investment conditions. The process of obtaining Malta citizenship can take 14—38 months.
1 day
Pass a preliminary Due Diligence
Each applicant undergoes this provisional check to evaluate the chances of obtaining Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment. The procedure helps to identify possible issues beforehand and propose solutions.
A certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer of Immigrant Invest checks information about the investor in international databases and verifies the documents.
Each applicant undergoes this provisional check to evaluate the chances of obtaining Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment. The procedure helps to identify possible issues beforehand and propose solutions.
A certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer of Immigrant Invest checks information about the investor in international databases and verifies the documents.
Up to 2 weeks
Get a Police Clearance Certificate
Maltese police check the information about all applicants over 12 through Europol and Interpol. When the check is passed, the investor receives a Police Clearance Certificate and can continue preparing the application documents for a residence permit.
Maltese police check the information about all applicants over 12 through Europol and Interpol. When the check is passed, the investor receives a Police Clearance Certificate and can continue preparing the application documents for a residence permit.
About 3 weeks
Obtain a Malta residence permit
To become a Maltese citizen, each applicant over 18 must get a residence permit.
At this stage, the investor submits personal documents, medical insurance for all family members, and a rental agreement. Immigrant Invest lawyers prepare a Level 1 Due Diligence report. They also help the investor to collect the necessary documents and find housing.
The investor and their family members visit Malta to apply for residency and have their fingerprints taken.
Residency cards are usually issued in two weeks and are valid for 36 months.
To become a Maltese citizen, each applicant over 18 must get a residence permit.
At this stage, the investor submits personal documents, medical insurance for all family members, and a rental agreement. Immigrant Invest lawyers prepare a Level 1 Due Diligence report. They also help the investor to collect the necessary documents and find housing.
The investor and their family members visit Malta to apply for residency and have their fingerprints taken.
Residency cards are usually issued in two weeks and are valid for 36 months.
4—5 months
Pass the Eligibility Test
The Due Diligence check is carried out during the first 12 months after the investor and their family received Maltese residence cards. The investor collects the required documents for each applicant. The procedure takes 4—5 months.
The Due Diligence check is carried out during the first 12 months after the investor and their family received Maltese residence cards. The investor collects the required documents for each applicant. The procedure takes 4—5 months.
1 or 3 years after getting residency
Apply for Malta citizenship
If the Eligibility Test is passed, the investor can apply for citizenship. It can be done no earlier than after one or three years of residency in Malta.
The investor must submit the required documents and notify the Community Malta Agency of any significant changes in the applicants’ circumstances. To get citizenship, the investor needs to receive a letter of approval from the Minister.
If the Eligibility Test is passed, the investor can apply for citizenship. It can be done no earlier than after one or three years of residency in Malta.
The investor must submit the required documents and notify the Community Malta Agency of any significant changes in the applicants’ circumstances. To get citizenship, the investor needs to receive a letter of approval from the Minister.
Up to 4 months
Fulfil the investment conditions
After the written approval from the Minister is received, the investor makes a charitable donation of €10,000, buys or rents a property, pays state fees, and contributes the necessary amount to the Malta National Development and Social Fund. The time limit to fulfil the requirements is 4 months.
After the written approval from the Minister is received, the investor makes a charitable donation of €10,000, buys or rents a property, pays state fees, and contributes the necessary amount to the Malta National Development and Social Fund. The time limit to fulfil the requirements is 4 months.
Up to 2 months
Obtain Malta citizenship
The investor and their family members visit Malta to submit the biometrics within two months. All applicants over 18 take the Oath of Allegiance.
Adult applicants and children over 12 receive their passports in person at the Malta Passport Office.
The investor and their family members visit Malta to submit the biometrics within two months. All applicants over 18 take the Oath of Allegiance.
Adult applicants and children over 12 receive their passports in person at the Malta Passport Office.
5 benefits of Malta’s second citizenship
By obtaining Malta citizenship, investors get the same rights and freedoms as any European citizen. They can travel worldwide, move freely within the EU and the Schengen Area, and enjoy high European living standards.
The main benefits that the Malta second citizenship grants are the following:
The right to live and work in Malta or other EU and Schengen countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Visa-free travelling to more than 180 countries, such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UK. The duration of stay depends on the country.
The opportunity to establish an international business in Malta or any other EU country.
Full access to high-quality healthcare and education in Malta or other EU states. Maltese citizens are also eligible to free medical treatment, check-ups, and medication.
The right to open bank accounts and deposits in any EU country.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for government programs in the European Union and the Caribbean.
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