Conditions and terms for obtaining citizenship by marriage in Malta
Maltese authorities amended the Maltese Citizenship Act to avoid widespread immigration fraud — a fictitious marriage. A foreigner wishing to obtain a Maltese passport must be married to a Maltese citizen for at least five years. The spouses must live together in or outside Malta.
A fictitious marriage to obtain citizenship is a criminal offence in Malta. Art. 38 of the Marriage Act entails imprisonment for up to 2 years for persons who entered a fictitious marriage.
The documents that the applicant must provide:
- an application for obtaining citizenship (Form B);
- a recent passport-size photo;
- a joint affidavit confirming that the spouses have been married for 5+ years and still live together;
- Passports or IDs of both spouses;
- a birth certificate of a foreign spouse;
- a marriage certificate registered in Malta;
- additional documents like certificates of previous marriages if applicable.
On average, Maltese authorities consider an application within 12 months. If an applicant has been living in Malta for a long time, the period for checking documents may be reduced.
Malta citizenship for a widow or a widower
Unregistered partnership
A foreigner who is in a civil union with a Maltese citizen is eligible for Malta citizenship. The primary condition is that the applicant must be in a civil union at the time of submission of documents and live with their partner for at least five years. In addition, Maltese authorities must ensure that granting citizenship to persons in an unregistered marriage doesn't conflict with public interests.
Same-sex marriages
In 2014, Malta's parliament made concessions for homosexual citizens and started to recognise same-sex unions, including those concluded abroad. And most importantly, it gave same-sex partners the same rights as opposite-sex partners.
Thus, a foreigner in a same-sex marriage may qualify for Malta citizenship. It is necessary to fulfil the same requirement: to be married to a Maltese citizen for at least 5 years.
Foreign spouses of persons who obtained Malta citizenship by registration or naturalisation
The Maltese Citizenship Act states that Malta citizenship can also be obtained by a foreigner whose spouse got a Maltese passport by registration or naturalisation.
If both spouses were married and lived together for at least five years, one of them who is not a Maltese citizen can apply for citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to obtain Malta citizenship by marriage. The main requirement is to be married to a Maltese person and live with them for at least five years.
It is possible for one foreign spouse to obtain Malta citizenship if the other foreign spouse has obtained citizenship by naturalisation or registration. The requirement is to be married and live together for at least five years.
With a Maltese passport, you can live freely in Malta or visit other EU countries without applying for entry documents and travel visa-free to 180+ countries. Malta citizens may also reside in non-EU countries belonging to the Schengen Area, including Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein.
Malta allows dual citizenship. Therefore, those who obtain a Maltese passport are not required to renounce their first citizenship. This only applies to nationals of the countries that allow dual citizenship as well.
All the official documents must be in English or Maltese. If they are in another language, they must be translated by a certified translator.
The marriage procedure in Malta consists of two stages. Firstly, a couple is registered in the Maltese civil registration office. They must provide their valid passports. In addition, a bride and a groom provide birth certificates and copies of passport pages with marital status to confirm their free statuses. Next, they fill in registration forms RZ1 and RZ2 and pay an application fee of €150.
On the wedding day, a marriage certificate is issued, and the fee is €50. A foreigner will need the certificate later to receive a certificate of freedom of movement; this document gives the right to live and work in Malta without visas and work permits. The last step is getting an ID card.
Zlata Erlach