It takes only 14 months to obtain Malta citizenship for an investor compared to 5 years in other EU countries. The investor's spouse, children under 29 years old, parents, and grandparents over 55 can all be included in the same citizenship application as the investor.
Benefits of Malta citizenship
Travel visa-free around the world. Maltese citizens can travel to 186 countries visa-free. The list includes the Schengen countries, the USA, the UK, Canada, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Possibility to quickly change your tax residence. The Maltese government has developed for individuals and businesses one of the most attractive tax regimes in Europe for tax optimisation. Malta does not have taxes on gifts, inheritance and, in some cases, on property. Malta is one of six EU countries with a VAT below 20%.
International business. Maltese citizens can open a company either in Malta or any EU country, enabling them to expand their business into the global market and operate more efficiently.
High-quality healthcare. Maltese passport holders have access to quality Maltese healthcare. The country ranks among the top 30 countries in the world for quality healthcare, with rates even higher than the USA or Israel.
Possibility of family members and relatives of the investor to join Maltese citizenship. Malta is one of the few EU countries allowing parents of spouses to apply for citizenship. The age of children for the application is not limited to 18 years and is up to 29 years.
Maltese citizenship can be obtained by:
- the investor's spouse or a registered partner, including a same-sex partner;
- children under the age of 29, including investors or their spouse’s children from previous marriages;
- the investor's parents over the age of 55.
Education for children. Education at public universities is free for Maltese residents. Maltese university degrees are valid in Europe and the USA. Successful students receive scholarships and benefit from tax deductions on tuition fees.
High level of security in Malta. French travel insurance company Insurly rates 180 countries on several criteria: frequency of natural disasters, quality of medicine, risk of terrorism, number of crimes, and number of road accidents. Malta consistently scores high in the security rankings.
Сlean country environment. Malta is actively participating in the European New Bauhaus initiative. This new project is about how we can better live together with the post-pandemic environment, respecting the planet and protecting the environment.
The Maltese government has developed strategies to transition to a green economy. Infrastructure development is a future-oriented investment, including plans to invest in industrial zones and estates in Malta. There are also schemes to support start-ups through venture capital.
Malta has invested in a wastewater treatment process at a sewage treatment plant, which has improved the quality of the seawater around the Maltese Islands. Malta's seashore is considered one of the best in Europe. Local beaches are awarded Blue Flags every year.
Malta is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which consists of 54 independent countries. Citizens of this union enjoy benefits when living, studying and doing business in any Commonwealth country. For example, they can receive scholarships to study at certain British universities.
Our individual calculation of the cost of obtaining Malta citizenship for the whole family includes all related costs, cost of support services, and the payment schedule.
Conditions for obtaining Malta citizenship
Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment does not require you to live there or learn the language. There are two key conditions for an investor:
- An application for citizenship can be submitted after holding a Maltese residence permit for 12 or 36 months.
- The investor and their family included in the application must undergo Malta’s strict Due Diligence check.
Costs are borne by an investor when applying for Malta citizenship:
- A non-refundable contribution of €600,000 to the National Development and Social Fund if the investor has been a residence permit holder for three years when they submit their citizen application, or a non-refundable contribution of €750,000 if the citizenship application is submitted one year after the investor became a residence permit holder.
- Buy a property for €700,000 or rent for €16,000 per annum for five years.
- A non-refundable charitable contribution of €10,000.
- Undergo the government’s Due Diligence check.
We discuss an investor's costs when applying for Malta citizenship in our article “Malta citizenship: how much does a Maltese passport cost?”.
They also need to pay additional administrative fees. The non-refundable contribution to the state fund is increased by €50,000 for each additional family member included in the application.
With a Maltese passport, the investor's family can move to Malta or another EU country, even when tourists with valid visas cannot enter, for example, due to a pandemic. Maltese citizens can use the services of European banks to keep their savings secure in hard currency. Malta citizenship allows you to travel visa-free worldwide and improve the quality of your and your family's lives.
Frequently asked questions
Visa-free travel. Malta has visa-free travel agreements allowing its citizen’s free entry to 186 countries around the world, including the Schengen countries, the United States and Britain.
Live in the European Union. Malta is a European Union member, meaning its citizens can live, work and study in any EU country. With a Maltese passport, you can freely open accounts in European banks and maintain your savings in hard currency. Furthermore, Maltese citizens can study in the EU without applying for a student residence permit.
No, Malta does not grant citizenship by investment. However, Maltese law allows citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment.
This means that high-net-worth individuals and their families can obtain a residence permit in Malta and apply for citizenship a year later. However, the application process includes undergoing Malta’s strict Due Diligence check and meeting several investment conditions.
Malta citizenship can be obtained by any law-abiding person who has relatives in Malta, is married to a Maltese citizen, or has been legally living in the country for a long time. In these cases, citizenship can be obtained in about five years.
However, the fastest way to get Malta citizenship is by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment, which can be attained in just 14 months.
Investors must meet the following conditions to apply:
- be over 18 years old;
- have a certificate of no criminal record and not be subject to criminal prosecution;
- not be under sanctions;
- not have had a visa application rejected in countries with which Malta has visa-free agreements;
- must confirm the legality of the source of their income.
Malta citizenship by naturalisation or based on family ties can be obtained in 5 to 7 years. However, Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment can be granted in just 14 months.
High-net-worth individuals and their families can obtain a Maltese residence permit and apply for citizenship after one year or three, depending on the investment amount. The application process also requires undergoing a strict Due Diligence check by the Maltese government. If the government approves the application, investors must invest specified in their application before their passport is produced.
Investors must make the following investments:
- A non-refundable contribution to a government fund.
- A non-refundable donation to a charity.
- Buy or rent real estate.
In return, they receive a Maltese passport in 14 months or 38 months, depending on the contribution to the government fund.
Investors applying for Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment must fulfil three financial conditions:
- Make a non-refundable contribution of at least €600,000 to the National Development and Social Fund.
- Donate €10,000 to a charity.
- Rent a property for €16,000 per annum for five years or buy a property for €700,000.
The minimum costs for one applicant are €690,000. In addition, they must also pay the applicable state duties and fees.
Maltese citizens do not have to get a visa when entering 186 countries, including the Schengen zone countries, the UK, USA, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Maltese passport is known as one of the most popular passports because of the 186 countries passport holders can visit without a visa. Of the total number of countries, 31 require a visa on arrival, 11 require electronic entry clearance (eTA), and the remaining 144 do not require a visa.
The list of visa-free countries and entry requirements change periodically. Therefore, we recommend you check the country’s consulate website before travelling.
Yes, you can. Every Maltese citizen is also a citizen of the European Union.
