Malta Citizenship

Malta offers fast track EU citizenship to foreign nationals,who make designated investments in Malta under the Malta Individual investor program. The EU citizenship is a lifetime citizenship to investor and his family members. Only talented, wealthy, highly educated applicants with excellent references are admitted into the Maltese citizenship program.

• Full & Permanent lifetime citizenship in the European Union.
• Family and children can apply under one single application.
• No taxes in Malta unless you decide to live there for more than 6 months.
• EU/EEA citizens are eligible to apply.
• Visa free travel to over 160 countries including United States.
• Live, work, study, settle in any EU member states (Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark etc..)
• No military service. No citizenship tests. No language tests
•  No requirement to permanently live in the Country.

Malta citizenship by investment program is the first in the EU approved by European commission. Under the legal act of Legal Notice 47 of 2014 of Republic of Malta under “Individual investor program” grants individuals and families citizenship and passport who involve in technology, social and economic development in Malta.

Update

Malta has launched new program for exceptional citizenship by investments under Legal Notice 437 of 2020. The IIP scheme has been discontinued and has been replaced with the new scheme effective from Nov 2020.

• Limited cap of 400 investors given citizenship for economic investments annually. New scheme is capped to only 1500 foreign investors.
• Must live in Malta to become a citizen
• All applicants and family members must undergo very strict background checks. Investors will be monitored 5 years post granting citizenship.

Qualifying Investments

Under the Malta  citizenship by investment program,  the investment has to  satisfy all the 3 conditions below..

•  NDF donation (€600,000 non-refundable) to National Development Fund (Citizenship after 3 years)
•  NDF donation (€750,000 non-refundable) to National Development Fund (Citizenship after 1 year)
• Additional Contribution: €50,000 per dependant

Conditions

• Must live in Malta (impossible to become citizen without living in Malta)
• Investment in Real estate (optional €700,000 if purchased for ) or rent a housing (€16,000 per year lease).  Immovable property cannot be let or sublet under the rules and must be maintained for 5 years.
• Health insurance coverage for all persons

Above payments must only be done after receiving initial approval from Malta Government.

Fee and Costs

Agency fee: €10,000 non-refundable)
Contribution: €50,000 per dependant
Due diligence fee: €15,000 for applicant and €10,000 per dependant.
Residence permit : €5,000 for main applicant and €1,000 per dependant
Philanthropic donation: €10,000 to a registered philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific,animal welfare or artistic non governmental organisation or society, or as otherwise approved by the Agency.

Processing time

The processing time is 12-15 months until certificate of naturalization and passport is granted.

Malta citizenship is a lifetime permanent citizenship with one time investment. Family descendants and new born babies automatically acquire citizenship.

Eligibility Conditions

• Main applicant must be 18 years old.
• Demonstrate Good health and undergo fitness test.
• No criminal record.
• Excellent references
• Dependents such as spouse, children (18 or less), Adult children (18 or more less than 27 years unmarried),  Senior parents (aged 55 or above) must be fully supported by main applicant.

Citizenship Refusal

Citizenship application will be refused if, applicant or dependents

• Provide misrepresentation, false or concealed information.
• Has a criminal record (paedophilia, defilement of minors, rape, violent indecent assault, prostitution, abduction, kidnapping etc)
• Pose as a potential national security threat to Malta or member states in EU.
• Involved in any activity likely causing disrepute to Malta
• Denied a visa to a country with which  Malta has visa-free travel arrangements (EU, USA, UK etc) and has not subsequently obtained a visa to the country that issued the denial.
• Associated with business willingly assisting enemy at war.

Citizenship Application Process

1. Initital document preparation with retainer fee  €10,000
2. We will do due diligence test from our firm, if all goes well we will decide to accept you to launch your application with Malta Government. We do not accept clients unless there will be a 100% success rate with Malta Government.
3. Submit IIP application to Identity Malta.
4. In about 2 months, you will receive approval letter (green light), to remit investment €650,000 and you will be given 4 months compliance time to finalize all investments including buying bonds and real estate (accommodation).
5. In the 6th month, you have to take oath of allegiance.
6. After 12 months, you will receive “Certificate of naturalization” which is a proof for acquiring Maltese citizenship.
7. You have to apply for Malta passport in 13th month attaching naturalization certificate.

Residence Requirements

All applicants and dependents have to satisfy residency requirements for proving genuine link to Malta.

Malta requires a visit of minimum number of days in the country in the first year of around 2-3 weeks only for completing various formalities with the Government authorities. Certificate of naturalization only issued after 12 months having proved “genuine link” to Malta and by satisfying residency-requirement.

Restricted Countries

Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia or a country under international sanctions.

Required Documents

You have to arrange the following documents to attach to the application for naturalization under the investment program.

• Birth certificate*
• Police clearance certificate (all countries where you lived past 10 years, FBI clearance for US)*
• Marriage certificate (translated to english)*
• Business connection documents.
• References from bankers, lawyers.
• Global health insurance coverage 50,000 euros.
• Proof of source of income (bank statements).
• Health certificate from registered medical practitioner.
• Proof for current residence (utility bills)
• Personal details, family information, education and employment.
• Tax statements from the country of origin.

* All documents must be duly notorized or apostilled for use in Malta.

Dual Citizenship

Malta does not require you to give up your current or existing citizenship, after becoming a Maltese citizen. Dual nationality is freely allowed.

Citizenship Publication

The Minister shall every year publish in the Gazette the names of all persons who were granted Maltese citizenship under the IIP citizenship program.