Citizenship by Investment in Malta
- Visa-free travel
- Live, work or study in any EU country
- Fast route to European citizenship
Minimum Investment Amount
€888,000
Processing Time
12 months
Key Residency Benefit
Route to a European passport
Why is Malta a popular investment location?
Located in the central Mediterranean Sea, Malta is the smallest EU state. The two main languages are Maltese and English. However, Italian is also widely spoken.
Whether visiting or relocating, the island country is a popular choice thanks to its rich history, natural beauty and Mediterranean lifestyle. It is also a hub for various thriving industries such as financial services, gaming and film production.
The island is also known for its amazing food, captivating dive sites, buzzing nightlife and year-round events.
About the Malta Citizenship by Investment programme
Malta’s Citizenship through Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES) programme was launched in 2020 and is aimed at non-EU nationals.
The government introduced the programme to attract foreign investment and business expertise into the country. It allows applicants and their families to become Maltese citizens by contributing to the country’s economic development.
Maltese citizenship opens up many opportunities to its holders, such as the ability to live, work or study in any EU country. The programme also grants a Maltese passport, allowing visa-free travel to over 180 countries.
The Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme is highly regarded as one of the fastest routes to obtain European citizenship.
What are the Benefits of Citizenship in Malta?
No minimum stay requirements
Live, work or study in any EU country
Visa-free travel to over 180 countries
Malta allows for dual nationality
A favourable tax system
Citizenship is indefinite and passed down to future generations
How to obtain Citizenship in Malta
Renting or purchasing a residential property
Renting or purchasing a residential property
Purchase real estate for a minimum value of €700,000 or lease a residential property with a rental value of at least €16,000 per year.
In both cases, these must be held for at least five years. Rentals/purchases only need to be made after the initial approval of the application.
Making a charitable donation
Applicants can make a donation to charity of at least €10,000.
Be aware that specific donation requirements apply. The donation must be made to a non-government organisation (NGO) approved by the Residency Malta Agency (RMA). NGOs include areas such as science, animal welfare, culture, sport, the arts and more.
Investing
Make a non-refundable investment to the Malta National Development and Social Fund. The amount varies depending on whether the applicant will opt for the 12-month route (1 year) or the 36-month route (3 years).
To apply after 1 year of residence, the minimum investment is €750,000 plus €50,000 per dependent. The minimum amount required to apply after 3 years of residency is €600,000 plus €50,000 per dependent.
In both cases, this amount is paid in two stages. The first is €10,000 on submission of the application, which is non-refundable. The remainder of the contribution will be on approval of the application.
Key Benefit of Citizenship in Malta
The Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme offers one of the fastest routes to obtaining European citizenship. Once approved, applicants receive their Maltese passport, which provides numerous benefits, including greater global mobility.
Malta is part of the European Union (EU), joining the Schengen Area in 2007. This allows Maltese citizens to travel to all 26 countries in the Schengen Area without border checks and the freedom to work in any of the EU member states.
Passport holders also benefit from visa-free travel to over 180 countries. This includes the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, China and the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Citizenship is indefinite and passed down from generation to generation. Any child born to a Maltese citizen automatically becomes a citizen at birth. This applies whether the child is born in Malta or overseas.
The eligibility requirements for the Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme are:
Applicants must fulfil specific residency requirements before becoming a citizen through Malta’s Citizenship through Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment programme. This includes completing 12 to 36 months of residency in Malta.
Family members can be included in the application. Those eligible include:
- Spouse or life partner
- Children under the age of 18
- Children between the age of 18 and 29, provided they are economically dependent on the applicant and not married
- Children over the age of 18, provided that they have been certified by a medical professional as having a disability as per the Equal Opportunities Act
- Dependent parents of the applicant or the spouse who are over 55 years old
- Dependent Grandparents of the applicant or the spouse who are over 55 years old
Which programme is right for you?
| Citizenship or Residency Programme? | Citizenship or Residency Programme?Citizenship | ||
| Minimum Investment Amount | Minimum Investment Amount€888,000 | ||
| Minimum Stay Requirement | Minimum Stay RequirementNo | ||
| Initial Permit Duration | Initial Permit DurationN/A | ||
| Time to Residence | Time to ResidenceN/A | ||
| Time to Citizenship | Time to Citizenship14 months | ||
| Family Inclusion? | Family Inclusion?Spouse, children under 29 and grandparents/parents over 56 | ||
| Right to Work? | Right to Work?Yes | ||
| Type of Document Received | Type of Document Received?Certificate of citizenship and passport | ||
| No. of Visa-Free Countries with Passport? | No. of Visa-Free Countries with Passport?188 | ||