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Since 2015, Malta has had a Permanent Residence program for investors. In 2021, amendments and additions were made to the law. Passports are issued after 1-3 years of naturalization, making direct investments, and passing a reliability check.
Financially independent individuals do not need to know the language or pass tests on local culture and history. Children born in Malta become Maltese citizens by right of blood and soil. Here, we detail how to obtain citizenship through the state investment program and explain its advantages.
Living Standard
The island state is home to 518,540 people. The high population density per square meter is due to its geographical location and the shortage of land. There is no natural gas and little fresh water, so resources are imported from the continent. The quality of life index is moderate. According to Numbeo, Malta ranks 49th in terms of comfort, ahead of Russia and Turkey.
Healthcare, safety, income, and real estate prices are rated above average. Since 2016, residential property prices have been increasing by up to 5% per year. Purchasing power is low. In terms of cost of living, Malta ranks 35th out of 140 countries. The minimum expenses amount to 785 EUR per person.
Every fifth resident is a foreigner. In Valletta and provincial towns, 12% of the population are Italians and 10% are British. The number of emigrants from CIS countries has significantly increased over the past two years. In 2024, due to sanctions, residence permits are not being issued to citizens of certain countries and Belarusians. Relocants are obtaining residency in Romania or Bulgaria through simplified programs and then moving to the Maltese archipelago. There are schools with teaching in Russian, the church conducts liturgies in Slavic.
Advantages of Maltese Citizenship
Obtaining this status offers numerous benefits. These are relevant to anyone who wishes to live in the island republic with its Mediterranean climate, improve living conditions, expand their business, and receive a good education.
Developing business environment
The government is interested in attracting investors, freelancers, and self-employed individuals. They earn money at home and invest in the local economy. Entrepreneurs open startups or relocate existing companies with their teams.
They are involved in maritime logistics, pharmaceuticals, and developing the entertainment and tourism industries. Businesspeople have the opportunity to bring their companies to the European market, which has 450 million clients. Digital nomads and business people are granted residence permits and, in the near future, citizenship by the authorities.
Visa-free entry
Up to 400 passports are issued to foreigners within a year, without requiring them to renounce their original citizenship. New EU citizens are automatically granted the same rights as other Europeans. They are free to choose their location, work, receive medical treatment, and get an education in any state of the Union, including Norway and Liechtenstein.
Tax benefits
Residents pay low rates on income and assets. The law does not provide for inheritance taxes, capital taxes, or municipal taxes. Real estate transaction fees are payable under certain conditions. Non-residents are also not charged interest on global income.
Healthcare and education
The country ranks 19th in the quality of healthcare in the world. Healthcare services are free for Maltese citizens. Residents are also assisted by private health insurance. Children attend educational institutions for free, and private schools offer favorable financial programs. After graduation, students enroll in the national university, the University of Science and Technology, the College of Arts, and the Tourism Institute. The diplomas of these institutions are recognized worldwide.
Who Can Obtain a Passport
Wealthy foreigners can invest capital into a comfortable life in one of the jurisdictions friendly to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. These individuals include successful entrepreneurs, oligarchs, or bourgeois families. Citizenship is granted for special merits or capital investments after a short period of naturalization through a residence permit. The requirements for candidates include:
- Being of legal age;
- Having a flawless reputation;
- Owning a legitimate business with transparent income;
- No outstanding debts in Schengen countries.
According to the updated program rules, the primary applicant is either one of the spouses or a long-term business partner. In the family application, applicants can include close relatives of the older generation, financially dependent heirs up to 29 years old who are unmarried.
The program's conditions are less strict compared to the American investor visa. The Maltese do not require the creation of jobs for local citizens or the investment of euros in local businesses.
Direct non-refundable investments
Large financial injections into the state budget allow wealthy foreigners to reside indefinitely in the country and benefit from social services. To participate in the program, one needs to fill out a prescribed form, obtain preliminary approval from the authorities, and purchase citizenship.
Residents with 3 years of residence in the Mediterranean country must pay €690,000. If financial means allow and time is of the essence, €750,000 is required, provided the person has held a residence permit for 12 months. Additionally, there are extra payments — €50,000 for a spouse, each child, or relative. Another €10,000 must be contributed to a fund for distribution among accredited organizations approved by the Komunità Malta agency. The authorities use foreign capital to support charitable, scientific, and other non-profit organizations.
Acquisition of residential/commercial real estate by the applicant
Wealthy foreigners are given the option by the authorities to choose between purchasing an apartment for €700,000 in ownership or renting for 5 years for €80,000. The annual rent payment is from €18,000. The amount depends on the region. Compared to the north, the southern part of the republic and the island of Gozo lag in terms of infrastructure quality. In these regions, the payments are reduced.
Cost of Investment Citizenship
First, foreign citizens apply for a residence permit for 3 years. A simple way for foreigners to obtain permission is by participating in the Malta Global Residence government program. They are required to rent real estate starting from €12,000 for 1-3 years (€36,000), make a contribution to the residency cards – €8,000, purchase health insurance, and pay administrative fees.
Irrecoverable costs for a passport:
- investments in favor of the state, a fund for purchasing/renting real estate;
- additional payments for dependents;
- purchasing a private health insurance policy starting from €500;
- fees: for the applicant €3,000, for a couple – €6,000, for a family of 3 – €9,000.
The due diligence process in Malta is one of the most expensive in the world. Due diligence directly impacts the approval or rejection of participation in the program. Local police verify documents, financial assets, and information in Interpol and Europol databases. Authorities are interested in the criminal background of applicants, inclusion in sanctions lists, and ways of capital accumulation. This measure prevents economic crimes and money laundering. Expenses in euros:
- €15,000 for one investor;
- €25,000 for a partner/spousal couple;
- €10,000 for dependents aged 12 and over;
- €1,000 for services;
- €110 for the residence permit card.
The verification period is 5-6 months. It depends on the program and access to information. EU countries exchange results of a four-level verification. If a candidate fails the verification in Malta, their application will be rejected in another EU country.
Procedure for Obtaining Maltese Citizenship
The country's law does not allow foreign investors to submit documents independently due to legal complexities. The preparation is handled by official representatives (agents) licensed to provide services. Applications are reviewed after 1 or 3 years.
Naturalization under CES/MEIN
It requires residency in the territory for up to 36 months. The following documents are needed for citizenship application:
- Passport and valid residence permit
- Completed Form E
- National ID
- Documents to confirm ties to the jurisdiction (utility bills, club membership)
- Tax declaration
- M1 level Eligibility Test proving good conduct
- Lease agreement or transaction documents
- Criminal record certificate with an apostille
- Certificate of absence of deadly diseases.
The applicant proves that they are the owner of an investment portfolio and real estate worth €500,000. One-third of the assets must be available in cash equivalent.
Legal procedure
The agent submits a package to the Residency Malta Agency for review. The Minister for Citizenship reviews the documents for up to 3 months and officially notifies the decision. After the application is approved, the applicant is given 4 months to fulfill the investment requirements. They pay an administrative fee, obtain a residency card valid for 5 years, and either purchase or rent accommodation.
After the payments are made, the lawyer documents the transactions and submits them to the Residency Agency for final confirmation. The applicant is granted status and a Maltese card. The certificate of naturalization is ready 7 days after the oath, and the passport is issued 5 days after the biometric data is submitted. If minor children are included in the program, their status is updated independently once they turn 14 and 18, regardless of the duration of use. In the first 5 years, the new citizen of the republic confirms compliance with the program's conditions with certificates of property ownership and capital availability.
How to Obtain Maltese Citizenship by Other Grounds
In addition to participating in an investment project, one can become Maltese by right of soil, marriage, or family reunification. Children born in the island nation acquire affiliation by blood and place of birth. This provision is enshrined in the country’s constitution. Since 2000, it has served as the regulatory framework for immigration authorities. To apply, you need the birth certificates of the child and parents, the marriage certificate, and passports.
Marriage to a Maltese Citizen
To obtain status, a foreign citizen must formalize their relationship and live together for at least 5 years, though this does not have to be within the country. This right also applies to divorced couples who were married for the specified number of days.
Family reunification
The residence of a close relative in Malta with residency allows family members to obtain passports. The procedure is regulated by the act of 2007 and amendments made in 2016. The application for status is submitted by the sponsor, who has been residing in the republic for at least 2 years with a monthly income of €1,100. The applicant must attach copies of documents, a cover letter, and health insurance to the application package. Citizenship status can also be granted after purchasing an apartment or based on personal merits.
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