Malta

Main applicant requirements

• 18+ years of age
• Good health
• No criminal record
• Successfully pass due diligence checks
• Confirmed investment sources

Eligible dependents

• Spouse of the main applicant
• Children (biological or adopted) under 26 years of age
• Dependant parents

An amendment passed in 2013 to Chapter 188 of the Maltese Citizenship Act, as well as the enactment of Legal Notice LN437 in 2020, legally grant eligible persons Malta citizenship by investment under the country’s “Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment” regulations. Administered by Community Malta Agency, a federal government agency, in order to be considered eligible for investor citizenship a main applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must meet all the Malta immigration requirements outlined below.

Fit and Proper Test
The Malta citizenship by investment regulations include some of the strictest due diligence standards of any immigrant investor program in the world to ensure only deserving and reputable applicants are granted Maltese citizenship. As part of the application process, there is a four-tier due diligence process carried out directly by the Government to assess candidates comprehensively. Applicants must have a clean criminal record, and the Malta Government conducts extensive criminal checks with INTERPOL, the International Criminal Court, and various other sources and authorities. As part of the due diligence process, applicants must also provide a police certificate before they will be approved for Malta citizenship.

Good Health
To be accepted for citizenship by investment in Malta, applicants must show that they do not suffer from any contagious diseases. All applicants must also be covered by an international health insurance policy until they are granted citizenship.

Direct Investment
All individuals and families applying for Malta economic citizenship must make a significant non-refundable investment in the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF) set up by the Government of Malta and run by a board of trustees. The fund, which is on the same level as the central bank, finances projects in the country linked to public health, education, job creation, social improvement, and innovation.

The following investments must be made within four months of being issued a citizenship Malta Letter of Approval in Principle:

• Main applicant – €600,000 (3-year residency) or €750,000 (1 year residency)
• Spouse – €50,000
• Dependent children – €50,000 each
• Dependent parents & grandparents – €50,000 each

Real Estate Purchase or Rental
Applicants must commit to retaining an immovable residence in Malta for a minimum time period of five years. This can be fulfilled by either buying a property in Malta for €700,000 or more and maintaining ownership for 5+ years, or by leasing a property for at least five years with a minimum annual rent of €16,000. Applicants must provide evidence of owning or leasing a property on the islands within four months of receiving a citizenship Malta Letter of Approval in Principle, and are not allowed to sublease the property.

Charity Donation
Once a Malta investment citizenship applicant is approved in principle, he or she must donate at least €10,000 to a local non-profit organization. This charitable donation should be made within four months of official Approval in Principle, and the applicant can choose from numerous qualified philanthropic, artistic, sport, scientific, or cultural non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and societies registered in Malta.

Malta Residency:
Potential candidates who are not already resident in the country are strongly advised to begin the residency process immediately since Malta citizenship by investment has a residency requirement of at least 12 months. To be granted nationality as fast as possible, it is very important that the clock is ticking on an applicant’s residency requirement while they progress through the Malta citizenship application process.

The first step towards obtaining investor citizenship in Malta is always to apply for a Residence Permit, which can allow you to reside in the country and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area of Europe. Candidates must physically travel to Malta in order to formally apply for residency, as biometrics are needed. If approved, residency status is issued for 36 months and can only be extended if the individual has submitted a citizenship by investment Malta eligibility application. Upon Maltese residency approval, a deposit of €10,000 must be made towards the exceptional investment required for citizenship. The following payments are due upon initiation of a nominee’s residency in Malta:

Residency Fees

• Resident Permit fee (main applicant) – €5,000
• Resident Permit fee (each family member) – €1,000
• Residency Card fee (each person) – €27.50

Exceptional Investment
Deposit towards non-refundable investment – €10,000

Day 1: Once a Malta Residency Card has been issued, a citizenship by investment eligibility application can be formally submitted to Community Malta Agency by an Accredited Person. This eligibility pack will contain imperative supporting documents, and evidence of source of funds must also be presented at this stage giving a clear picture of how the applicant obtained his or her wealth over the years. A candidate should now indicate whether they are interested in obtaining Malta citizenship after 12 months of residency (€750,000 investment) or after 36 months of residency (€600,000 investment). Once a citizenship by investment candidate receives a Residency Card, they have 12 months to submit a citizenship eligibility pack. The following fees are now payable:

Due Diligence Fees

• Principal applicant – €15,000
• Spouse – €10,000
• Dependents – €10,000 each
• Benefactor (if applicable) – €15,000

Administrative Fee
Each person – €1,000

Day 5: Community Malta Agency will notify the concessionaire or Accredited Person within five business days of submission to confirm whether client’s eligibility application has been accepted for review or requires additional paperwork. If accepted, the Agency will also send an Eligibility Payment Request Voucher (EPRV), which is how the above due diligence and administrative fees are to be paid to the Government.

Day 90: Confirmation from Community Malta Agency that the economic citizenship eligibility application and supporting documentation are formally in order. The candidate’s eligibility is subject to a further 30 days of additional verification by the Government of Malta’s regulatory body.

Day 120-150: Applicant is approved for eligibility by the Minister. This signifies official Malta citizenship by investment eligibility conditional only on the candidate fulfilling all their remaining obligations in accordance with the country’s investor citizenship regulations.

After 12 Months or 36 Months: Once an investment citizenship candidate has held residency in Malta for more than 12 months or 36 months, depending on which option they previously selected, he or she is eligible to formally apply for citizenship. This involves filing further documentation with Community Malta Agency confirming details previously submitted and informing of any changes. All documentation is thoroughly vetted at this stage, and the Agency performs extensive due diligence on each applicant.

Approval in Principle: Once the Minister approves an investor citizenship application, an official Letter of Approval in Principle is issued by the Agency. The applicant now has four months to fulfil all the citizenship by investment requirements. At this time, the Agency will issue an Investment Request Voucher (IRV), which is a formal request for payment of remaining balance of National Development and Social Fund investment.

Evidence of Fulfilment: Within four months of being approved in principle, a Malta citizenship investment candidate must provide documented evidence of having satisfied all requirements of the legislation. This includes evidence of the following:

• Exceptional direct investment of €600,000 (€10,000 deposit + €590,000) if 36 months residency
• Exceptional direct investment of €750,000 (€10,000 deposit + €740,000) if 12 months residency
• Exceptional direct investment of €50,000 for each dependent included in application
• A copy of lease or purchase agreement for a property in Malta along with a declaration from applicant that property will be kept for a minimum of five years
• Receipt of donation to an appropriate non-profit organization in the country
• Proof that personal, commercial, and financial ties to the country that were committed to in residency proposal letter have been or are currently being honored

Final Review: Once an applicant’s “post-approval pack” is received, final citizenship by investment Malta compliance is performed by the Government. At this point, the entire National Development and Social Fund monetary contribution (exceptional investment) must have already been made in full.

Oath of Allegiance: When the Agency has finished their final review of a Malta citizenship by investment application and determined all obligations were fulfilled in their entirety, a Letter of Invitation will be issued to the applicant and dependents so they can schedule an appointment to take the Oath of Allegiance. Malta immigration candidates aged 18 or older must physical travel to the country to take this oath, and it should be taken within six months of receiving Approval in Principle from the Minister.

Issuance of Naturalization Certificate: Once a citizenship through investment candidate has taken an Oath of Allegiance, they will be issued a Certificate of Naturalization and given a Malta Passport.