Malta
Time to
Citizenship
Visa-Free
Travel
Real Estate
Investment
Government Donation
Malta is a beautiful island country located at the heart of the Mediterranean. It is a popular tourist destination and the world’s 10th smallest country in area.
Malta is a member of the EU.
The Malta Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment allows the obtention of citizenship by naturalisation. This process is reserved for foreign individuals and their families who contribute to the country’s economic development. The naturalisation follows a 36-month residence period that can be reduced by exception to 12 months. A stringent due diligence process is applied to all applicants. The naturalisation programme is regulated by CMA (Community Malta Agency), the government agency competent on all matters pertinent to this process.
Why become a citizen of Malta?
Extensive visa-free travel
Malteses can travel to 186 countries and territories visa-free including the United States
EU full mobility
Right to live, work and study anywhere in Europe
Inclusion of family members
Can be included in the application: the spouse, the dependent children and the dependent parents over the age of 55
Good air links
Easy access to the rest of Europe
Euro is the local currency
No need to add another currency to your portfolio
Safe place
One of the lowest crime rates in Europe
Great location & holiday destination
Beautiful sceneries at the heart of the Mediterranean, halfway between the western and eastern tips of the Mediterranean. Great climate with 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.
Low tax jurisdiction
Malta has both low personal and corporate tax
Business hub
In Malta, you have access to a reputable financial centre with a wide range of professional services, making it a perfect jurisdiction for international business
How to obtain citizenship?
You can obtain citizenship via the Malta Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program that welcomes new citizens ready to contribute to the economy. The investment requirements are as follows:
The purchase or lease of a residential property
Applicants must either:
- Buy of a residential property in Malta of at least €700,000. The property must be held for five years. OR
- Lease a residential property with a rental value of at least €16,000 per annum. The lease must be held for five years.
In both cases the property cannot be sublet during those five years. period
Make a non-refundable exceptional direct investment of a minimum of €600,000
Applicants are required to make an exceptional direct investment (non-refundable) of either:
- €600,000 for a required residence status length of 36 months before naturalisation, OR
- €750,000 by exception for a required residence status length of 12 months before naturalisation
The non-refundable exceptional direct investment is a donation to the Government of Malta to develop the country
Make a donation of €10,00
The applicant must make a donation of at least €10,000 to a registered sport, cultural, scientific, philanthropic, animal welfare, or artistic non-governmental organisation or society, as approved by the CMA
Pay applicable government fees
At the various stages of the residency and citizenship application process, various government fees apply, also depending on the number of family members on the application. As an example, for the principal applicant the main items are: residence permit (€5,000) and due diligence fee (€15,000). For a full breakdown please, contact us (see below)
How long does it take?
- Residency: The Residency Card is obtained within 15 days of submitting the application.
- Citizenship: Depending on the value of the exceptional direct investment made (see above), citizenship is obtained approximately within 1.5 year or 3.5 years of becoming a resident.
Who can apply?
Any adult over the age of 18 can apply to become a citizen of Malta, as long as they:
- pass the stringent due diligence process, including thorough background checks
- hold a valid passport or travel document
- follow the investment requirements mentioned above (exceptional direct investment + real estate investment)
- are not a citizen of one of the following countries (as of March 2021): Afghanistan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen