Malta and Cyprus are both island nations in the EU that appeal to foreigners with their exceptional standard of living, mild Mediterranean climate, and welcoming environment for expats.
Foreign investors can obtain citizenship in these countries by naturalisation. In Malta, that process will take one or three years and require investment of over €690,000. In Cyprus, foreigners can obtain permanent residence by investing at least €300,000 and be eligible for citizenship in eight years.
In this article, we will explore the quality of life in both countries and examine the different pathways to obtaining citizenship.
Travel freedom. The passports of both Malta and Cyprus offer extensive opportunities for visa‑free or simplified travel. The Maltese passport allows visa‑free or visa‑on‑arrival access to 170 countries, while the Cyprus passport provides similar access to 169 countries.
Citizens of both countries can travel freely within the Schengen Area and the EU, as well as to other popular destinations like the UK, the UAE, Japan, and Singapore. Additionally, passport holders from both Malta and Cyprus can obtain electronic travel authorisation or visas on arrival for countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, and Thailand.
One notable difference between the two passports is that Maltese citizens can obtain an electronic travel authorisation for the United States, whereas Cypriot passport holders are required to apply for a visa. For more detailed comparisons, the Immigrant Invest Travel Freedom ranking offers further insights.
There is no investment-based path to Malta citizenship. Maltese nationality legislation provides for the possibility of naturalisation in cases of exceptional merit.
The statutory framework recognises exceptional contributions across various areas, such as entrepreneurship, job creation, innovation, science, education, culture, or philanthropy.
In Cyprus, the path to citizenship takes at least eight years. Foreigners must first obtain residency through study, work, family reunification, or other purposes. After residing legally in Cyprus for eight years, they may become eligible for citizenship by naturalisation.
There is also an investment option leading to Cyprus citizenship, requiring the purchase of property or securities worth at least €300,000. Similarly to other applicants, investors must live in Cyprus for at least eight years and must not leave the country during the 12 months before applying for citizenship. They must also pass a language and history exam.
Tax rates. In Cyprus, personal income is taxed progressively, with rates ranging from 20% to 35%, and income up to €19,500 per year is not taxed.
In Malta, personal income is also taxed progressively but with different brackets. Taxable income starts at €9,101, with a 15% tax rate.
Corporate tax rates also differ. Cyprus has a standard corporate tax rate of 12.5%, while in Malta, businesses are taxed at a flat rate of 35%. However, certain types of businesses in Malta may qualify for tax refunds of up to 100%.
Cost of living. Everyday expenses in Malta and Cyprus are similar. To live comfortably in both countries, a single person needs around €800—900 per month, excluding rent. Rental prices are also the same — around €950 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre.
Purchasing real estate is more affordable in Cyprus, with an average price of €270 per square metre for an apartment in a prime location. In Malta, a similar apartment costs around €350 per square metre.
Safety. Malta is generally considered a safer place to live than Cyprus. According to Eurostat, Cyprus records 1.5 more homicides than Malta. Still, both countries maintain very low crime rates, especially when compared to other European nations like Latvia and Lithuania, where homicide rates are 2 to 3 times higher than in Cyprus.
In terms of safety, Cyprus is comparable to Finland, while Malta's safety level is on par with Sweden and Slovakia. Additionally, Malta has been recognised in the Global Wealth Migration Review as the safest country for women in Europe and the second-safest in the world.
Quality of life. Both Malta and Cyprus offer a high standard of living, characterised by a pleasant Mediterranean climate, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant social scenes. As EU members, residents of both countries benefit from the protections and rights provided by the Union's laws.
The relaxed pace of life in Malta and Cyprus allows residents to enjoy ample opportunities for outdoor activities, such as beach outings and hiking. The strong sense of community and the welcoming nature of locals make it easy for expats to integrate and feel at home. Additionally, the balanced work‑life culture in both countries enables residents to maintain fulfilling personal lives while pursuing their professional commitments.
According to Eurostat's Quality of Life indicators, Malta and Cyprus score 7.4 and 7.2 points, respectively, slightly above the EU average of 7.1. This reflects the overall positive living experience in both countries, making them appealing destinations for those seeking a high quality of life.
In both Malta and Cyprus, foreigners can obtain a passport only after undergoing the naturalisation process. This involves legally residing in the country for a set number of years and establishing strong ties.
In Malta, investors can obtain citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment after one or three years of residence. This path involves multiple investments:
Investors first obtain residency in Malta. After residing in the country for one or three years, they can apply for citizenship. The residency period depends on the contribution to the National Development and Social Fund: €750,000 for citizenship in one year, and €600,000 for citizenship in three years.
Along with the main applicant, their family members—spouse or partner, children under 29, and parents over 55—can also obtain citizenship.
Another way to obtain Malta citizenship is to reside in the country for at least five years and apply for a passport following the general rules of naturalisation.
In Cyprus, there’s no fast track to citizenship since the citizenship by investment program closed in 2020. However, investors can obtain a permanent residence status with an investment of at least €300,000.
There are several investment options for obtaining permanent residence:
Investors’ family members can also obtain residence. This applies to their spouse or partner and children under 25.
Obtaining permanent residence in Cyprus takes at least nine months. If the investor moves to the country and resides there for most of the year, they can apply for citizenship by naturalisation in eight years. A naturalisation candidate must not leave the country for 12 months before the application. They are also required to pass a language proficiency test, a history exam, and an interview.
| Criteria | Malta | Cyprus |
| 1 or 3 years | 8+ years | |
| Investment required | ||
| Necessary citizenship exam | No | Yes |
| Visa-free countries | 170 | 169 |
| Minimal taxable income | €19,501 at 20% | €9,101 at 15% |
| Everyday expenses for a month | €800 | €900 |
| 1-month rent in the city centre | €950 | €950 |
Investors and their entire families can acquire a Malta residence permit and then apply for citizenship either one year or three years later, depending on the amount invested.
Based on the experience of Immigrant Invest experts, it takes at least 1.5 months to prepare the documents and start the official application process for the initial residence permit.
The eligibility test is a crucial step in the process of obtaining Maltese citizenship; its outcome determines whether an investor will receive a passport. To ensure success during the review, Immigrant Invest’s certified Anti-Money Laundering Officers perform a thorough Preliminary Due Diligence check on each applicant.
If any issues are identified that could lead to rejection, we will provide alternative solutions, such as exploring different routes to acquiring second citizenship.
The Maltese police conduct thorough background checks on all applicants aged 12 and over by reviewing their data in Europol and Interpol databases. Once this verification process is complete, applicants can proceed with preparing the necessary documents for their residency application.
Investors and dependent applicants are first required to obtain a Malta residence permit.
Immigrant Invest lawyers prepare a Level 1 Due Diligence report, assist investors in finding suitable real estate for rent, arrange health insurance, and handle the preparation of all necessary documents and forms.
The investor and their family members visit Malta to submit their fingerprints and residency applications. Residency cards are typically issued within two weeks.
The cards are valid for three years, allowing the holder to live in Malta and travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
After obtaining residency, each applicant over the age of 12 must undergo the Eligibility test. The investor’s agent applies to this check.
Immigrant Invest’s lawyers assist the investor by providing a comprehensive list of required documents. They handle the translation, apostille, and notarisation of copies, complete government forms, help investors compile their welfare history, and prepare all necessary affidavits.
The entire process of collecting and preparing the documents typically takes at least two weeks.
The Eligibility test process takes approximately four to five months. After the test is completed, the Minister responsible for matters related to Malta citizenship reviews the application and makes the final decision to approve or reject it.
If the application is submitted after one year, the investor must provide an affidavit confirming that their circumstances have not changed. If any changes have occurred, an affidavit along with specific forms will be required.
Additional documentation is necessary for those applying after three years of residence. This includes submitting updated forms, a new police clearance certificate, and confirming their registration address. If any of the previously submitted documents have changed, the updated versions must also be provided.
This letter grants the investor the right to obtain citizenship in Malta, provided that they will fulfil the investment conditions.
The investor must fulfil all the required investment conditions within four months and submit documents verifying their residence in Malta.
Investors and all family members over the age of six have two months to complete fingerprinting in Malta. Additionally, all applicants over 18 years old are required to take the oath of allegiance.
Four working days after the oath, the passports are ready for collection at the Malta Passport Office.
Foreign investors can obtain Cyprus citizenship by first investing a minimum of €300,000 in the country’s economy and obtaining residency. They can then apply for citizenship after meeting the general naturalisation rules. The residency requirement for investors is eight years.
1. Preliminary Due Diligence — 1 day. A certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer at Immigrant Invest reviews your documents and checks international databases for issues. If a problem is found, we suggest solutions like attaching an affidavit or considering alternative programs. This confidential check takes one business day and reduces the risk of rejection to 1%.
2. Document Preparation — 2 weeks. The applicant gathers all the necessary documents. With professional assistance, they translate and apostille the papers before submission, and arrange medical insurance and real estate leases.
3. Fulfilment of Investment Conditions — several months. The applicant makes an investment. For property investments, they submit documents to the Cyprus Department of Lands and Surveys and apply to reduce VAT to 5%. The investor transfers €300,000 plus VAT to the developer.
4. Application Submission — 1 day. The application is submitted to the Cyprus Migration Service. If a lawyer acts on the applicant’s behalf, the investor does not have to be present during this step.
5. Application Processing and Residency Approval — 2 months. The Cyprus Migration Service processes the application in two months. After approval, the investor and their family visit Cyprus within a year to submit biometric data and obtain residence permits.
6. Residency and Integration — 8+ years. To be eligible for Cypriot citizenship by naturalisation, an investor is required to live in Cyprus for most of eight years and reside continuously for one year before applying.
7. Applying for Citizenship. When applying for Cypriot citizenship, candidates pay state fees along with the €500 free for the naturalisation certificate. Required documents include:
The processing of the application can take from a few months to up to 2 years.
When deciding between living in Malta or Cyprus, both countries offer a high standard of living, a relaxed pace of life, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant social scenes. As EU members, they provide similar protections and rights for residents, along with ample opportunities for outdoor activities. According to Eurostat, Malta and Cyprus score slightly above the EU average in quality of life, making both appealing destinations.
However, Malta is generally considered safer than Cyprus, with lower crime rates and recognition as one of the safest countries in Europe, particularly for women. While Cyprus is also safe, Malta’s stronger safety record might be a deciding factor for some. Ultimately, the choice depends on personal preferences, but both countries offer a high‑quality, secure lifestyle.
A Maltese passport allows its holder to travel to 170 countries visa-free, including the Schengen and EU states, Australia, Japan, and the US. Malta also provides a high standard of living and a safe and expat-friendly environment.
To obtain citizenship in Cyprus, a foreigner must first legally reside in the country for at least eight years. Foreign investors can obtain residence in Cyprus in exchange for purchase of real estate or securities for €300,000.
Yes, there are several paths for foreigners to obtain a Maltese passport. One of them is citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment — this way implies residence in Malta for one or three years and a significant investment in the country’s economy.
