Malta

Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations allow applicants to obtain citizenship of Malta, but only after first residing in Malta.

Applicants must hold residency status in Malta for at least 12 months and pass an eligibility assessment to submit an application for citizenship.

Licence: AKM-ACCA-21
Source: Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations, 2020 and the Community Malta Agency official website

Citizenship of Malta comes with a wide range of benefits, including:

Under the Regulations, applicants may obtain citizenship of Malta upon the completion of a three-stage process, consisting of:

1.  The Residency Stage
2.  The Eligibility Stage
3.  The Citizenship Stage

Applicants must first apply to the Community Malta Agency (through an authorised agent) for residency in Malta. Residency status is initially issued for 36 months, and applicants aged 18 and over must hold residency status in Malta for at least 12 months to submit an application for citizenship.

It is expected that the timeframe from submission of a residency application to the issuance of the relevant e-residency card is 15 working days.

Process

1. The main applicant must select a licensed agent, who will submit the residency application and ensure relevant payments are made to Community Malta Agency on behalf of the main applicant.
2. Once the application and payments are received by Community Malta Agency, it performs Tier 1 due diligence on the main applicant/dependants and requests a first law enforcement clearance.
3. Community Malta Agency then contacts the agent to inform the main applicant/dependants that they must attend a biometrics appointment and, potentially, an interview within six months of clearance.

Costs

At the residency stage, the following costs apply:

Before completing the residence requirement, and in general within 12 months of the issuance of the residence card,  the main applicant must apply through the same agent for an eligibility assessment with the Community Malta Agency.

If the main applicant passes the eligibility assessment and completes the residence requirement (12-36 months or 36+ months), then he/she can apply for citizenship.

Process

1. Upon receiving the application for an eligibility assessment, Community Malta Agency issues a formal receipt (including a payment request voucher) within two working days.
2. Upon receipt of the relevant fees due at this stage, Community Malta Agency performs Tier 2 due diligence on the main applicant/dependants. Further due diligence fees may be required at this stage.
3. Community Malta Agency then performs Tiers 3 and 4 due diligence.
4. Finally, Community Malta Agency presents the application and its due diligence conclusions to the Minister.
5. After receiving the Minister’s final decision on whether to grant citizenship to the main applicant/dependants, Community Malta Agency reports the decision to the main applicant’s agent via a letter of approval. A letter of approval for eligibility is expected to be issued within 120–150 calendar days of payment of the fees due at this stage.

Fees

At the eligibility stage, the following fees apply:

At this stage, the applicant must make the relevant investment, the total cost of which differs according to how long the applicant resided in Malta under the residency stage. Upon completion of this stage, the main applicant/dependants receive citizenship of Malta.

Process

1. The main applicant must fulfil all the following requirements:
   • Make an exceptional direct investment;
     • Note that the amount due for the exceptional direct investment varies according to whether the applicant has resided in Malta for (a) 36 months or (b) between 12 and 36 months.
   • Make a real estate investment (either a purchase or rental) to be held for a minimum of five years;
     • Note that the real estate chosen must be fit for the main applicant and dependants to live in
   • Make a donation; and
   • Pay administrative fees.
2. An undertaking to complete the above, and evidence of completion of the residence of requirement, must be provided
3. Approximately five working days from the provision of the relevant undertaking/evidence of completion of residence, an invitation to travel to Malta to take the Oath of Allegiance is issues to the main applicant and any dependants ages 18 or over
4. The Oath of Allegiance must be taken in Malta within six months of the letter of approval, and the applicants will not be allowed to take the Oath unless:
   • all requirements are fulfilled and fees paid; and
   • the applicant undertakes in writing to observe and fulfil all obligations for a period of five years from the issuance of the Certificate of Naturalisation.
5. The Certificate of Naturalisation is issued
6. The Community Malta Agency conducts continuous monitoring of the main applicant/dependants for five years, and the main applicant/dependants must complete and file a Compliance Form at the Community Malta Agency every year for the first five years from the date of the Oath of Allegiance

Costs and Fees

The following costs and fees apply:

The following dependants may be included in an application under the Regulations:

1. The spouse of the main applicant in a monogamous marriage, or a person with an equivalent relationship such as a civil union or another relationship with similar status.

2. Biological/adopted children of the main applicant or spouse/equivalent, who:

(1) at the time of application submission and approval in principle are:

• aged under 18;
• aged 18-28, unmarried, and wholly maintained or otherwise largely supported by the main applicant; or

(2) at the time of application submission, are at least 18 and with a disability as defined in the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act

3. Parents/grandparents of the main applicant or spouse/equivalent aged at least 55, who, at the time of application submission and approval in principle, are wholly maintained or otherwise largely supported by the main applicant.

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*Citizenship by investment programme requires a financial investment into the country.

Community Malta Agency