Information on the tax residency of the investor and their family members will be required at the time of application for due diligence. The details must include:
- applicant's name;
- date of birth;
- address of residence;
- TIN - Individual Taxpayer Number;
- type and manner of residence rights acquired, which is the basis for obtaining Maltese citizenship. For example, residence permit;
- Copies of all documents relating to the right of residence - passports and residence permit cards of the applicants.
The rule will take effect for investors who apply for due diligence after 1 January 2022.
A due diligence is carried out by the Community Malta Agency. It is responsible for issuing Maltese citizenship on the basis by Direct Investment under the provisions of secondary legislation No. 188.06 of 20 November 2020.
Community Malta Agency will notify the Malta Revenue Authority of all applicants who are granted citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment . The Malta Revenue Authority will then inform the tax jurisdictions of the applicants that they have obtained Maltese passports.
The Maltese government values the country’s reputation and therefore scrutinizes all applicants for a Maltese passport. Data on tax jurisdictions will help Community Malta Agency make sure that the applicant for citizenship is not evading taxes or breaking the law of any country.
At the same time, in itself, obtaining a residence permit or citizenship of Malta does not mean a change of tax residence to a Maltese one. In order to start paying taxes in Malta, an investor needs to reside in the country for at least 183 days in a year and then register with the tax office as a Maltese taxpayer.
Head of the Malta office of Immigrant Invest, certified Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officer
What other information investors provide in order to obtain Maltese citizenship
A due diligence, involves a comprehensive review of an investor's background. The check is mandatory for all applicants wishing to obtain a second citizenship for an investment.
Malta Due Diligence is carried out in accordance with the European Union Anti-Money Laundering Directive No. 2015/849.
In order to pass the check, the investor:
- Confirm his or her identity: that he or she is the person whose name appears on the citizenship application;
- Provides information about their place of work or business and whether they or their company is associated with offshore activities;
- Specifies whether he or she is a politically exposed person and whether he or she appears on sanctions lists;
- Confirms the legitimacy of sources of income, assets and money for the investment;
- Reports whether he or she has a criminal record or has been charged with a criminal or administrative offense
Due diligence in Malta is strict but objective: all applicants are assessed against the same parameters. Investors are vetted before applying for citizenship and then annually for the first five years after receiving a Maltese passport.
Even if there are problems in an investor’s background, this does not mean that he or she cannot get a second citizenship. Each case has to be considered individually. For this reason, Immigrant Invest has its own compliance department, which conducts preliminary due diligence and identifies all possible risks in advance.
Head of the Malta office of Immigrant Invest, certified Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officer
How investors obtain Maltese citizenship
To become a Maltese citizen, an investor goes through six steps:
Agreement with a licensed agent. The investor cannot submit the documents to Community Malta Agency himself. An agent licensed by the Maltese government must do this for him or her.
Immigrant Invest obtained a new licence in February 2021. Its number is AKM-IMIN-21.
Obtaining a residence permit in Malta is a mandatory step before applying for citizenship. Residence cards are issued to the investor and all his family members over the age of 18. One or three years of Maltese residency status must be maintained before applying for citizenship.
The Eligibility Test is an investor due diligence carried out by the Community Malta Agency. An investor can only apply for Maltese citizenship if he or she passes the test.
The application for citizenship must also be submitted through a licensed agent. The Minister of Citizenship decides on the investor's application.
Investment in the Maltese economy is allowed only after the investor has been approved by the Minister of Citizenship. The amount of the investment depends on whether the investor applies for citizenship one year or three years after the residence permit.
The investor rents or buys a property in Malta, makes a contribution to the National Development Fund and a charitable contribution, pays due diligence and fees. The total cost depends on the composition of the family and the property option chosen - renting or buying.
Get a personalized quote for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Maltese passports are issued to all applicants over the age of six. You must collect your completed documents in person at the Malta Passport Department.
The names of Malta's new citizens are published annually in the state-owned Gazette.
Apartments that can be purchased for Maltese citizenship
Apartments in a new five-storey apartment complex in Marsascala.
Price - from €265,000
Apartments in a new apartment complex with panoramic sea views in Mellieha.
Price - from €310,000
Apartments with private pool in St Julian's.
Price - €740,000
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent who helps investors obtain Maltese citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment. If you want to obtain a passport from an EU member state, seek advice from experts in investment programs.
