7 methods of obtaining a Malta citizenship in 2024

1. Malta citizenship by naturalisation is granted to those who have lived in Malta permanently for a long time and have been able to integrate into the local society. As part of the naturalisation process, a candidate is required to pass exams on English proficiency, Maltese history, and law.

The naturalisation path is only suitable for those who live in Malta and do not intend to leave the country.

2. Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment can be obtained if an applicant invests at least €690,000 in the local economy.

An investor gets a residence permit and can apply for citizenship after one or three years. Thus, it takes at least 14 or 36 months to get citizenship, depending on the investment sum.

The investor can apply for citizenship for the whole family at once. To compare, other pathways allow the applicant’s family to acquire passports only after 5 years of permanent residency in Malta.

How to become a Maltese citizen as an investor

3. Maltese citizenship by marriage is the least expensive way to obtain a Maltese passport. A foreign spouse of a Maltese citizen can apply for citizenship after five years of marriage. It is not necessary to live on the island during this time.

Entering into a sham marriage is a bad idea. If this is established, offenders could face up to two years of imprisonment.

4. Nationality by descent or birth is only suitable for children and descendants of the Maltese. Birthright citizenship can be obtained entirely remotely. Applying for a residence permit or living permanently in the country is unnecessary. However, applicants will have to prove their origins with documents.

5. Citizenship through family reunification is only suitable for those with close relatives among Maltese citizens living permanently in the country, e.g. parents, siblings, or grandparents.

6. Citizenship for distinguished service to Malta. For special merit to the country, a passport is awarded personally by the President of Malta. Most often, outstanding scientists, athletes, cultural figures, politicians, and people in business are granted citizenship in this way.

It is impossible to plan to obtain citizenship in such a way: there are no clear criteria for whether merit is considered outstanding.

7. Citizenship for refugees is a forced option. 8,000 to 9,000 refugees, mostly from Africa and the Middle East, arrive on the island yearly. If a refugee stays in Malta, they can obtain a passport after six years.

Refugees do not take language and integration tests or pay the state fee for registration. To be granted asylum or a refugee status, a person must prove that their life is threatened or they are discriminated against in the country of origin.

1. Increased global mobility. Maltese passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival to 169 countries, including major destinations such as the Schengen Area, the USA, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and South Korea.

2. Plan B. After acquiring a Maltese passport, one gets an opportunity to quickly relocate and establish permanent residence in case of an unforeseen situation in the home country.

3. International business development. Citizenship allows the opening of affiliate branches in Europe and registering new businesses. Additionally, global income not remitted to Malta is not taxed.

4. Living in any of the EU or Schengen countries. Maltese citizens can move freely between the countries of the region and stay there for extended periods. They don’t need visas or special permissions to reside.

5. High standards of living. Malta features a stable economy, political tranquillity, and advanced educational, medical, and banking systems.

6. Access to European banking. Maltese citizens have the right to open accounts and deposits in European banks, register assets, and purchase securities.

7. European education opportunities for children. Malta citizenship grants children the same rights as other EU citizens to study at European universities and to remain and work in the EU after graduation.

8. Access to high-quality medicine. Malta’s health system ranks in the top 5 by the World Health Organisation. Citizens of Malta have full access to medical care in the country.

9. Dual citizenship. Malta allows individuals to maintain dual or multiple nationalities.

10. Commonwealth advantages. Holders of a Maltese passport enjoy facilitated processes for obtaining residency in Commonwealth countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and South Africa.

11. Friendly language environment. English is one of the official languages in Malta, along with Maltese, which simplifies communication, education, and adaptation in the country.

From 2014 to 2020, the Malta Individual Investor Programme has been running in the country. The programme was acknowledged by the European Commission as the “golden standard” amongst investment passport programmes. However, in 2020, the Malta Individual Investor Programme was closed and the conditions for investors changed and became stricter.

Starting November 2020, investors cannot get Maltese passports directly by investment. Instead, they are granted citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment.

Wealthy foreigners ready to invest in the country’s economy can apply for citizenship after one or three years of residency, depending on the amount contributed. Upon applying, they immediately receive temporary residence permits enabling them and their families to relocate to Malta and travel visa-free across Europe.

Citizenship is acquired by the entire family at once, including a spouse, dependent children up to 29, and dependent parents over 55.

Learn the benefits and obtaining terms of Malta citizenship for investors

Investment amount and conditions. To obtain a Maltese passport, an applicant must invest €766,000 to €1,500,000 for a couple, increasing with family size. Real estate investments may be recovered after five years.

Investor’s expenses on obtaining Malta citizenship are the following:

• a contribution of €600,000 to the state fund if applying for citizenship after three years of obtaining a residence permit or €750,000 if applying after one year of residency;

• an additional contribution of €50,000 to the state fund for each family member;

• a charitable donation of €10,000 to a non-governmental organisation in Malta;

• property purchase for €700,000 or rental for at least €16,000 annually.

Examples of residential real estate in Malta

Malta, Kalkara

€300,000 — €1,900,000

Apartments in a large-scale residential project on the first coastline

71 m² — 310 m²

1—3

1—3

Malta, Sliema

€920,000 — €1,300,000

Apartments in a new residential high-rise project near the sea

176 m² — 211 m²

2—3

2

Malta, Valletta

€1,510,000 — €3,370,000

Modern apartments not far from sea in Valetta

123 m² — 281 m²

1—3

1—3

Eligibility Test. Applicants and their families must undergo a rigorous background check to confirm the legality of their income and assets, with no criminal affiliations or impediments to citizenship.

The Eligibility Test is subject to a fee. The cost of the test is as follows:

• €15,000 一 for the main applicant;

• €10,000 一 for the spouse, each child aged 12 to 29, parents aged 55 and over.

Additional costs. These include payments to lawyers and solicitors, document translation and legalisation, and various state fees. Property buyers will also incur taxes and realtor fees.

Timeline.Depending on the chosen investment amount, investors and their family can apply for Malta citizenship after 12 or 36 months of residency. Six months are required for the Eligibility Test, and collecting, preparing, and issuing documents takes one more year.

General naturalisation is typically the longest route to obtain Malta citizenship, taking 5 to 18 years. Therefore, it is only suitable for those who already live in Malta and do not intend to leave it for a long time.

Foreigners with no family ties to Malta can obtain a passport by naturalisation if they meet the following conditions:

1. They have lived in Malta for a cumulative period of four years in the last six years, having obtained a residence permit and a permanent residence permit. During this time, they have not spent more than six consecutive months or ten months in total outside the country.

2. They continuously lived in Malta for a further 12 months immediately prior to their application.

3. They have a permanent place of residence, either owned or rented.

4. Several Maltese nationals must vouch for the applicants in writing.

5. They must demonstrate a regular legal income sufficient to support themselves and their families.

6. They have Maltese health insurance.

7. They have passed language proficiency, history, and law exams with a minimum score of 75%. Preparation for the exam is taken in a compulsory course of 100 hours.

Applications and all documents must be submitted in person at the Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs. Applications are processed within three months.

Applicants must also demonstrate their benefit to the Maltese society and trustworthiness, supported by reference letters from locals detailing their integration into the community.

Two guarantors must sign the citizenship application. Guarantors cannot be the applicant’s family members. Both guarantors confirm that the applicant is a person of integrity and worthy of obtaining a passport to the country. Their signatures must be notarised.

The first guarantor must hold one of the following positions:

• a lawyer;

• a doctor;

• a civil servant of at least a certain rank;

• a magistrate;

• a notary;

• an officer with the status of captain or above;

• a police officer of a rank not lower than an inspector;

• a prosecutor;

• a parish priest;

• a judge;

• an MP.

The second guarantor is any Maltese citizen over 18 who has not acquired a passport by naturalisation.

The minimum period for obtaining Malta citizenship by naturalisation is 7 years. But in practice, if a person has lived in Malta for less than 12 years, the application is often rejected without explanation or right of appeal. In rare cases, obtaining citizenship only after 18 years of living in the country is possible.

The cost of obtaining Malta citizenship by naturalisation can vary significantly, typically ranging between €200,000 and €400,000 over 12 years, depending on the chosen path, legal support, annual residence permit renewals, housing, and various administrative fees.

Legal marriage to a Maltese citizen is another way of obtaining citizenship. Once married, the foreign spouse is eligible to reside in Malta without a visa and work without a work permit. They can also open bank accounts, rent property, and travel visa-free around the Schengen Area.

Conditions for obtaining citizenship. It is only possible to apply for citizenship after five years of marriage. The birth of a child does not affect this deadline. It will take another year for the application to be processed. There is no need to live permanently in Malta. Spouses may live in any country in the world.

Divorced and widowed spouses are eligible for citizenship if the marriage lasted more than five years, provided the relationship was genuine.

Malta citizenship by marriage is retained even in the event of divorce or death of the spouse.

A sham marriage is a criminal offence in Malta. A special committee evaluates the genuineness of the relationship: it is a compulsory procedure before documents are submitted to the local registry office. Convictions for sham marriages can lead to fines or imprisonment for up to two years.

Since 2014, Malta has recognised same-sex marriages, affording the same rights and opportunities for citizenship as opposite-sex marriages. Conditions for obtaining citizenship for such couples are no different from the standard ones.

This option is only suitable for children and relatives of Maltese or former Maltese citizens. Expenses are low — about €80 of a state fee.

The applicants who can obtain Malta citizenship by descent and family reunification are the following:

1. Born in Malta to one or both Maltese parents since 1989.

2. Born between September 21st, 1964 and July 31st, 1989, outside Malta, to a Maltese father.

3. Born on September 21st, 1964, in Malta, or to Maltese parents, on the day of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom.

4. Born in Malta to one or both Maltese parents before September 21st, 1964.

5. A former subject of the United Kingdom or its colonies before September 21st, 1964.

6. Born abroad to a Maltese father also born abroad, if a grandfather or a great-grandfather was born in Malta.

7. A former Maltese national.

8. A child from another country, adopted or fostered by Maltese nationals.

9. A grandson or granddaughter of a Maltese citizen.

10. A sibling of a Maltese citizen.

11. A child of foreign parents, one of whom subsequently obtained Malta citizenship.

12. Guardians of a minor Maltese national.

These categories of applicants do not need to obtain a residence permit or live permanently in Malta. Citizenship can be acquired without travelling to the country: through an embassy or a consulate.

The fact of paternity or maternity and birth dates must be documented on birth and marriage certificates. In some cases, two Maltese guarantors will also be required.

An applicant for Malta citizenship provides original documents or certified true copies. All documents must be translated into English. Besides, there are several forms the applicant needs to fill out. The type of the form depends on the application status.

A standard pack of documents submitted with all applications, irrespective of the ground for citizenship includes the following:

• a passport or an ID;

• a passport-size photo;

• filled in state forms;

• a receipt confirming payment of a state fee;

• birth and marriage certificates;

• the Oath of Allegiance.

For investors, the list of documents is supplemented depending on the application stage. Documents for a residency application include the following:

1. International passports and foreign residency cards for all applicants.

2. Evidence of dependencies, such as marriage, civil union, cohabitation, or birth certificates.

3. A property lease agreement for 36 months or a purchase agreement.

4. Level 1 Due Diligence report.

5. Curriculum Vitae of the main applicant.

6. Health insurance for each applicant.

7. Bank statements for 6 months.

To pass the Eligibility Test, the investor prepares the following documents:

1. International passports.

2. Residency proposal letter stating the main reasons for applying for Malta citizenship, commitment to satisfy the requirements, and the chosen residency period.

3. Bank statements showing 6 months of recent transactional activity.

4. Government-issued photographic identification documents for all applicants.

5. Residence permits and Maltese e-Residence cards.

6. Birth certificates.

7. Military records, if applicable.

8. Corporate affiliations, evidence of employment, or source of income.

9. Marriage or divorce certificates, if applicable.

10. Evidence of residential address.

11. Police Clearance Certificates.

12. Applicable affidavits for each dependent applicant over 18, except for the spouse.

13. Tax residency declarations.

An investor must confirm their eligibility to apply for Malta citizenship by naturalisation after 12 months of residency. Apart from the required forms to fill in, they submit an affidavit declaring no changes in the applicants’ state of affairs since the beginning of the residency period. Should any changes have occurred, they must be accurately reflected in an affidavit and accompanied by the relevant updated forms.

For investors applying after 3 years of residency, the application must include updated documents that demonstrate continued compliance with the investment conditions and residency requirements. These documents include recent bank statements, Police Clearance Certificates for all applicants over the age of 16, and proof of a residential address in Malta.

1. Foreigners can acquire Maltese citizenship through naturalisation, marriage, descent, or family reunification. Additionally, the Maltese Government offers a naturalisation route for refugees and individuals prepared to invest in the country’s economy.

2. The most affordable way is to prove one’s Maltese ancestry. But this option is only suitable for those with parents, relatives, or ancestors on the island.

3. The longest way is to live permanently in the country and undergo naturalisation.

4. Investing in the local economy is another way to become a Maltese citizen. Applicants first acquire residency in Malta followed by citizenship after one or three years. Passports can be obtained for the whole family, including parents.

5. Non-investment ways of obtaining a Maltese passport might take many years and require confirming knowledge of the language and culture of the country, as well as attending interviews and providing references. The whole family can’t obtain citizenship through these paths: family members can only apply for citizenship after several years.