A new path has been launched, Citizenship by Merit, granted for exceptional contributions to Malta or humanity, replacing investment-based routes and aligning with EU principles and Vision 2050.
Permanent residency in Malta is still available, with approval taking 4 weeks or more.
Malta citizenship offers the freedom to live, work, and do business in Malta or any other EU country, access high-quality healthcare and education, and travel globally without restrictions.
The main route to a Maltese passport for investors is naturalisation. By making a direct investment, applicants can obtain a residence permit and later apply for citizenship. The rules for naturalisation through exceptional services are governed by the Maltese Citizenship Act L.N. 437 of 2020.
Applicants undergo a strict Due Diligence check and must meet investment requirements, which include a contribution to the state fund, a charitable donation, and renting or owning property in Malta for 5 years.
Investors with Malta passports may live in the country or reside in other EU and Schengen states without obtaining residency beforehand.
The list of visa-free destinations for Maltese citizens includes the entire Schengen Area, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and other states.
Malta citizens can open companies in this country or other EU states to expand their businesses.
Malta passport holders can turn for medical help or education at facilities in Malta and other EU countries. They don’t need a visa to study at a university or undergo a long-term treatment course.
The investment route to Malta citizenship allows for family inclusion, meaning the spouse, dependent children, parents, and grandparents can also become citizens.
Malta allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to give up your original nationality to become a Maltese citizen.
Applicants must rent or buy housing, contribute to the Malta National Development and Social Fund (NDSF), and make a charitable donation. Additional costs include state fees, such as the one for the Eligibility Assessment.
Investors must also rent housing while maintaining residency, purchase health insurance, and pay for legal services. Those purchasing real estate in Malta are subject to a stamp duty of 5% of the property value, plus approximately 1.5% in legal fees.
Investors rent real estate for five years for €16,000 a year or more. The amount of rentals doesn’t depend on the property’s region or family composition.
| Investor | Family of four | |
| Renting real estate for 5 years | €80,000 | €80,000 |
| Contribution to the NDSF | €600,000 For citizenship application after three years€750,000 For citizenship application after one year |
€750,000 For citizenship application after three years€900,000 For citizenship application after one year |
| Charitable donation | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| State fees | ||
| Eligibility test | €15,000 | €15,000 + €10,000 for each family member over 12 |
| A fee for residence cards | €5,000 | €8,000 |
| Administrative fees | €3,000 | €12,000 |
| Additional costs that are not stated by the regulations, an approximate estimate | ||
| Renting real estate for the time of residence If the investor does not initially buy a property |
€12,000+ annually | €12,000+ annually |
| Health insurance | €500+ | €2,000+ |
An investor can buy one property for €700,000 and own it for at least five years after getting citizenship. Then they can sell the object and return the investment with profit.
| Investor | Family of four | |
| Purchasing real estate | €700,000 | €700,000 |
| Contribution to the NDSF | €600,000 For citizenship application after three years€750,000 For citizenship application after one year |
€750,000 For citizenship application after three years€900,000 For citizenship application after one year |
| Charitable donation | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| State fees | ||
| Eligibility test | €15,000 | €15,000 + €10,000 for each family member over 12 |
| A fee for residence cards | €5,000 | €8,000 |
| Administrative fees | €3,000 | €12,000 |
| Additional costs that are not stated by the regulations, an approximate estimate | ||
| Renting real estate for the time of residence If the investor does not initially buy a property |
€12,000+ annually | €12,000+ annually |
| Fees, taxes and services when buying real estate | 8—15% of the property price | 8—15% of the property price |
| Health insurance | €500+ | €2,000+ |
Spouses and two children, one minor and one adult
| Type of expenses | Property rent, citizenship in 3 years | Property rent, citizenship in 1 year | Property purchase, citizenship in 3 years | Property purchase, citizenship in 1 year |
| Real estate | €116,000 | €92,000 | €700,000 | €700,000 |
| NDSF contribution | €750,000 | €900,000 | €750,000 | €900,000 |
| Donation | €10,000 | €10,000 | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| Eligibility Assessment | €35,000 | €35,000 | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| Other fees | €14,000 | €14,000 | €59,500 | €59,500 |
| Total | €925,000 | €1,051,000 | €1,554,500 | €1,704,500 |
Investors and all their family members obtain a Malta residence permit and apply for citizenship a year or three after that, depending on the investment amount. Some additional documents are necessary for submission after three years of residency, but generally, the procedure is similar.
The Eligibility test is the most important stage of obtaining Malta citizenship. Its results determine whether an investor will receive a passport or not.
To prepare for the primary check, Immigrant Invest’s certified Anti Money Laundering Officers conduct a preliminary Due Diligence for each applicant. They examine the investor’s documents and search for information in international databases to foresee all the possible issues.
If anything may cause the rejection, we will offer you a solution, for example, another path to a second citizenship.
Maltese legislation does not allow investors to apply for citizenship for exceptional services by themselves. They must turn to a licensed agent, a consulting company approved by the Government of Malta, to prepare and follow the applications.
The procedure for obtaining Malta citizenship is complicated: you’ll need to submit a comprehensive package of personal and financial documents and pass a strict and detailed Eligibility Assessment. So, when it comes to choosing an agent, it must be a meticulous and experienced one.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of Malta citizenship for exceptional services. Our Compliance Department conducts preliminary Due Diligence, which helps our clients prepare for and successfully pass the Eligibility Assessment. We have been working since 2006, and you can count on the qualified assistance of our lawyers trained in international law and an individual approach to your case.
With over 20 years of experience and established partnerships in Malta, Immigrant Invest provides strategic legal guidance for individuals pursuing Maltese citizenship.
A multidisciplinary team of legal, compliance, and real estate professionals accompanies clients at every stage of the process — from preliminary Due Diligence and residency arrangements to the preparation of a substantiated proposal and navigation of the multi-layered evaluation and approval procedure.
Each phase is handled with precision, discretion, and strict adherence to Maltese legislation, ensuring a seamless, transparent, and professionally managed pathway to citizenship.

The list of required documents usually includes:
All copies must be notarised and apostilled or legalised. Documents that are not in English or Maltese must be translated. Lawyers assist investors with all procedures.
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Investors and their family members might need additional services after getting Malta citizenship. We can help you with passport renewal, opening a bank account, purchasing real estate and other requests.
We help investors and their families renew their passports after 2—10 years, depending on a citizen’s age. And in case of passport loss, we prepare the application and help them get a new one.
We prepare the required documents and fill out the bank forms.
It is possible if you spend the required number of days a year in Malta.
We consult on the process of obtaining a Maltese driver’s licence. The applicant needs to pass the driving exams.
We will get an ID card for you at your request and renew it if you change your address or the card’s validity period has expired.
For family members that were not included in the initial application.
We help to register yachts under the Maltese flag.
We help investors choose an object online and check the property. Then we help to conclude the deal.
Asia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Africa
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Comoros
Congo – Kinshasa
Côte d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Nigeria
Rwanda
São Tomé & Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Europe
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Oceania
Australia
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
New Zealand
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
North America
Antigua & Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Canada
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Mexico
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Trinidad & Tobago
United States
South America
Argentina
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela