Marsaxlokk Harbour, Malta, picturing various Lzus

Malta: Dual Nationality, Second Citizenship by Investment, Naturalisation Golden Passport

Citizenship for Exceptional Services

Apply for the Maltese passport

Description of Malta's Citizenship by Investment Program

The Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services program provides (fast-track) EU citizenship to persons who (i) have made an exceptional contribution to the Republic of Malta or (ii) to humanity or (iii) are of exceptional interest to Malta or (iv) are willing to contribute to the economic and social development of Malta through an exceptional direct investment.

The Maltese passport is valid for 10 years and gives visa-free access to over 182 countries and territories including to the United States.

Key Benefits of the Malta Golden Passport Program

• Malta is one of the few (fast-track) EU citizenship programs: passports are issued within 3 years (exceptionally within 1 year)
• Immediate right of work and establishment in the Schengen area
• Visa-free travel to 160 countries (including 90-days visa-free travel to the US under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program)

Key Downsides of the Malta Economic Citizenship Program

• The Maltese Government Gazette publishes a yearly list of all persons naturalized via the Maltese citizenship by investment program (often picked up by investigative journalism)
• Malta opposition leader Simon Busuttil from the Nationalist party (43% of government seats) said in 2013 he will strip any buyers of their new passports if he gets back to power
• In 2014, the EU Parliament issued a non-binding resolution saying that "EU citizenship should not have a price tag"
• In 2018, the European Justice Commissioner stated that "the European Commission must ensure that Malta only gives citizenship to people with a real link to the country"
• The program is among the CBI/RBI schemes which were identified by the OECD in November 2018 as "potentially posing a high risk to the integrity of the CRS" warranting enhanced bank due diligence
• In October 2020, the European Commission opened infringements against Cyprus and Malta, as it considers that EU investor citizenship schemes are not compatible with the principle of sincere cooperation under the Treaty of the European Union and undermine the essence of EU citizenship. Under an infringement procedure, EU Member Countries have 4 months to address a suspected violation of EU law. If deemed unsatisfactory, the European Commission may refer the case to the European Court of Justice and ask the Court to impose financial penalties, either a lump sum and/or a daily payment.
• In September 2022, the EU took Malta to court over its golden passport program (here)

Personal Income Tax in Malta

> Persons who are resident but not domiciled in Malta are taxable on a source and remittance basis, that is, they are not taxable on income and capital gains arising, or received, outside Malta.

Corporate Income Tax in Malta

> Certain categories of investment income are taxed at 15% or 10% while certain categories of rental income are taxed at 15%.

Real Estate Tax in Malta

How to Get the Malta Passport and What Are its Costs

1) The main applicant must be (i) over 18 years old and (ii) have been a resident of Malta for at least 3 years (exceptionally 1 year) before applying for citizenship.

2) The applicant must make a non-refundable exceptional direct investment into Malta:

• Main applicant: €600,000 (exceptionally €750,000)
• Each dependant: €50,000
• Philanthropic donation: €10,000

3) The main applicant must own Maltese residential real estate worth €700,000 (chosen by 10% of all applicants) or provide a Maltese lease contract for an adequate and suitable residential property given the applicant's family size worth at least €16,000 p.a. and valid for a minimum rental period of 5 years (chosen by 90% of applicants).

> The property cannot be (sub)let or sold. However, purchased property may be switched to equivalent property over the holding period.

4) Applicants for Maltese citizenship must provide a health certificate issued by a recognized medical practitioner, clinic, hospital, medical or health institute attesting that all applicants are (i) in good health and (ii) not suffering from any contagious disease and (iii) unlikely to become a burden on the Maltese public health system.

5) Applicants for Maltese residency (which is a prerequisite for Maltese citizenship) must provide a global health insurance coverage of at least €50,000 for the main applicant and each dependant, in addition to proof that such insurance can be maintained for an indefinite period.

6) Applicants for citizenship in Malta must provide a local Malta Police certificate, in addition to an international "police conduct certificate" (that is, a clean criminal record from a national law enforcement authority) from any country where they have resided for at least 6 months over the last 10 years.

1. The spouse of the main applicant living in a monogamous marriage, civil union, domestic partnership, or in any similar, including same-sex, relationship
2. An (adopted) child under the age of 18 of the main applicant or spouse
3. An (adopted) child between the age of 18 and 29 who is (i) unmarried and (ii) "wholly maintained or otherwise largely supported" by the main applicant
4. A parent or grandparent of the main applicant or spouse who is (i) over the age of 55 and (ii) "wholly maintained or otherwise largely supported" by the applicant
5. An (adopted) child of the main applicant or spouse who is (i) of any age and (ii) is a qualified person with a disability

Grounds for Refusal

The applicant or any dependant:

• was indicted before an International Criminal Court regardless of the outcome of the case
• is listed with Interpol or Europol
• is an actual or potential threat to Malta's national security, public policy, or public health
• was charged with terrorism, money laundering, funding of terrorism, crimes against humanity, war crimes, violations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) regardless of the outcome of the case
• was charged with sex crimes or human trafficking regardless of the outcome of the case
• was found guilty of any criminal offence punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment or, during the processing of the application, is interrogated, or under investigation, in connection with such an offence
• is, or is likely to be, involved in any activity causing disrepute to the Republic of Malta
• has been denied a visa to a country with which Malta has visa-free travel arrangements (and has not subsequently obtained a visa from such country)
• is on an international sanctions list

Non-refundable Costs of Maltese Citizenship by Investment

What are the Steps to Get Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services

1) Application for an Eligibility Assessment

• Medical health certificate
• Clean criminal record
• Sworn declaration of truthfulness
• Payment of the non-refundable citizenship application and due diligence fee
• Title to residential property in Malta

Eligibility Assessment

• Due diligence checks by an independent internationally recognized due diligence firm

> Authorization to submit a full application.

2) Application for a Maltese Residence Permit

> Application for an E-Residence Card (valid for 18 months), payment of the non-refundable residence permit application fees.

> After 10 working days: Interview with a government official in Malta, submission of biometric data by all applicants over 12 years.

3) Application for Maltese Citizenship:

• Proof of residence in Malta for a period of 3 years (exceptionally 1 year)
• Undertaking to purchase or rent a residential property in Malta
• Undertaking to carry out an exceptional direct investment into Malta
• Undertaking to make the philanthropic donation

4) Agency Due Diligence Update

> Issuance of a Letter of Approval in Principle

> Within 4 months: Submission of a certified copy of the purchase contract or lease agreement, in addition to proof of having made the exceptional direct investment.

> Within 6 months: Issuance of the Certificate of Naturalization provided the applicant has taken an oath of allegiance to the Republic of Malta including an oath to abide by the Constitution of Malta. In addition, new Maltese citizens must commit to comply with relevant citizenship obligations for a period of 5 years.

> 5-YEAR "TRIAL" PERIOD: during the first 5 years following naturalization, new Maltese citizens are subject to increased Agency vigilance and may at any moment be asked to provide additional information and respond to further questions in an interview.

> QUOTA REGIME (2021-): target rate of 1,500 successful applicants (excluding dependants) to be accepted under the reformed Maltese economic citizenship program, but not more than 400 successful applicants per year.

Download factsheet on how to get citizenship in Malta