Malta
citizenship
A second passport for living in the EU and travelling to 180+ countries visa-free
Download the guide
Calculate the cost
€690,000+
Investment amount
1 or 3 years
Obtaining period
Licence
№AKM-IMIN
The main path to obtaining a Maltese passport for investors is naturalisation. They can apply for Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment to get a residence permit and apply for a passport.
Applicants pass a strict Due Diligence check and fulfil several investment conditions. By making a non-refundable investment of €600,000, applicants earn the right to apply for citizenship after maintaining residency for three years. If the investment increases to €750,000, the required residency period shortens to one year. Other stipulations include making a charitable donation and renting or owning a property in Malta for 5 years.
Malta citizenship allows investors to live in the country or move to another European state, run an international business, provide high-quality healthcare and education to their family members, and travel the globe freely.
The Maltese Citizenship Act regulates the rules of naturalisation for exceptional services.
Benefits of Malta citizenship
1
Living in Malta and other EU and Schengen states
Investors with Malta passports may live in the country or reside in other EU and Schengen states without obtaining residency beforehand.
2
Visa-free travelling to 180+ countries
The list of visa-free destinations for Maltese citizens includes the entire Schengen Area, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and other states.
3
Running an international business
Malta citizens can open companies in this country or other EU states to expand their businesses.
4
Getting access to high-quality healthcare and education
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.
5
Citizenship for the whole family
The investment route to Malta citizenship allows for family inclusion, meaning the spouse, dependent children, parents, and grandparents can also become citizens.
6
Opportunity to maintain your first citizenship
Malta allows dual citizenship, so you do not have to give up your original nationality to become a Maltese citizen.
Over 180 visa-free destinations on a Malta passport
Asia
Armenia
Hong Kong
Georgia
+ 32 countries
Africa
Botswana
Egypt
Zambia
+ 30 countries
Europe
Austria
Belgium
United Kingdom
+ 44 countries
Oceania
Australia
Vanuatu
Micronesia
+ 17 countries
North America
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Grenada
+31 countries
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Bolivia
+9 countries
Get maximum information about the process
- Step by step procedure
- Requirements for applicants
- Required documents
- Answers to frequently asked questions
Download the guide
PDF, 36 page, 12 МB
Who can apply
for Malta citizenship
Investor
- Over 18 years old
- With legal income
- Not under sanctions
- Without criminal record
- No visa denial from countries with a visa-free regime with Malta
Spouse or partner
- In an official marriage or registered partnership with the investor
- Including same-sex spouses
Children up to 29 years old
- Including children from previous marriages
- Adult children must be unmarried and principally dependent on the investor
Parents and grandparents over 55 years old
- Principally dependent on the investor
Expenses for obtaining Malta citizenship
Investors must rent or buy housing, contribute to Malta National Development and Social Fund (NDSF), and make charitable donations to non-government organisations. In addition, they have to pay state fees.
Real estate investment is €16,000+ annually for rent and €700,000+ for real estate purchase. Applicants must rent a property or remain the objects’ owners for at least five years.
Investors can’t buy several properties: they must choose one object for €700,000 or more.
Contribution to NDSF is €600,000 if an investor applies for citizenship after three years of residence, and €750,000, if after a year. An additional €50,000 is paid for each family member.
Charitable donation of €10,000 is paid to a Maltese non-government organisation.
Additional costs include state fees, for example, the one for the Eligibility test. Also, investors rent housing while maintaining residency, buy health insurance, pay taxes if they buy properties, and pay for legal services.
1 option
Renting real estate
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 €750,000 |
€750,000 €900,000 |
| 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+ |
2 option
Purchasing real estate
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 €750,000 |
€750,000 €900,000 |
| 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+ |
Individual calculation of the Maltese citizenship cost
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Get the cost calculationWe will send you a quote by email within 1 hour.
Real estate to buy to obtain Malta citizenship
MLT, St Julian's
€184,000+
Modern apartments, Qawra, Malta
94 m²
2
2
MLT, Kalkara
€495,000
Modern penthouse with sea view
191 m²
3
2
MLT, Kalkara
€245,000+
Maisonettes, apartments and penthouse in prestigious part of Malta
104 m²
2–3
2
Selection of real estate
Individual selection
of properties
for investment
- Discuss your tasks and goals
- Choose between properties from reliable developers
- Get fully prepared and verified documents for a purchase
Elena Kozyreva,Managing Director
for Real Estate projects
How to get Malta citizenship: a step-by-step procedure
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.
1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Preliminary Due Diligence
1 day
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.
Up to 2 weeks
Getting the Police Clearance Certificate
Getting the Police Clearance Certificate
Up to 2 weeks
Maltese police check the data about all applicants over 12 years in Europol and Interpol databases. When the check is completed, it is possible to continue preparing the residency application documents.
About 3 weeks
Obtaining a Malta residence permit
Obtaining a Malta residence permit
About 3 weeks
Each applicant of 18+ years old must obtain a Malta residence permit. Also, children 12—17 years old may be included in the application if they wish.
At this stage, Immigrant Invest lawyers prepare a Level 1 Due Diligence report, help investors to find real estate to rent, get health insurance, and prepare all the necessary documents and forms.
An Investor and their family members must visit Malta for fingerprinting and applying for residency. Residency cards are issued in two weeks; Immigrant Invest lawyers get them and send them to the investor. The cards are valid for three years, enabling you to live in Malta and travel the Schengen Area visa-free for 90 days in 180.
Up to 12 months since getting residency
Applying for the Eligibility test
Applying for the Eligibility test
Up to 12 months since getting residency
Each applicant over 12 years old passes the Eligibility test. The agent must apply for the check within 12 months since the family acquired Malta residency.
Immigrant Invest lawyers provide the investor with a list of the necessary documents. Then they translate, apostille and notarise copies, fill out government forms, help investors to complete their welfare history, and make all the necessary affidavits. Collection of documents takes 2+ weeks.
4+ months
Application processing and approval
Application processing and approval
4+ months
The Eligibility test takes 4—5 months. Then the Minister responsible for the matters related to Malta citizenship approves or rejects the application.
1 or 3 years after getting residency
Applying for citizenship
Applying for citizenship
1 or 3 years after getting residency
Investors apply for citizenship after a year or three of residence in Malta.
If the application is submitted after one year, the investor submits an affidavit that their circumstances have not changed. And if they did, an affidavit and specific forms are required.
If the investor applies for citizenship after three years of residence in Malta, they have to submit some additional forms, an updated police clearance certificate and confirm a registration address. If some documents have changed, they must also be submitted.
2—4 weeks
Final approval by the Minister
Final approval by the Minister
2—4 weeks
The letter of approval gives the investor the right to obtain Maltese citizenship.
Up to 4 months
Fulfilment of the investment conditions
Fulfilment of the investment conditions
Up to 4 months
The investor fulfils all the investment conditions in four months. In addition, they submit documents confirming their residence in Malta.
Up to 2 months
Getting a Malta passport
Getting a Malta passport
Up to 2 months
Investors and all their family members over six years old have two months to undergo fingerprinting in Malta. All applicants over 18 must take the oath of allegiance.
Four working days later, the passports are ready and can be received at the Malta Passport Office.
What help can you get from us after obtaining Malta citizenship?
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.
Passport renewal or replacement in case of loss
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.
ID card receiving
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.
Opening a bank account
We prepare the required documents and fill out the bank forms.
Getting a residence permit for family reunification
For family members that were not included in the initial application.
Registration of tax residency
It is possible if you spend the required number of days a year in Malta.
Registration of yachts
We help to register yachts under the Maltese flag.
Getting a driver’s licence
We consult on the process of obtaining a Maltese driver’s licence. The applicant needs to pass the driving exams.
Selecting a property to buy and conducting the deal
We help investors choose an object online and check the property. Then we help to conclude the deal.
Frequently asked questions
How can I become a citizen of Malta?
Malta citizenship can be acquired by descent, naturalisation, registration or exceptional services. Regular naturalisation requires 5+ years of residence in the country.
Investors may apply for citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment. The required residency time is one or three years in this case.
Is it easy to become a citizen of Malta?
No, it’s not easy to get a Maltese passport. Applicants must fulfil several conditions: for example, to live in the country for a long time and to learn the Maltese or the English language.
Investors can get Malta citizenship by naturalisation after one or three years of residency. They undergo a strict Eligibility test to prove their good character and legality of all income sources and invest €690,000 or more in the country’s economy.
What are the benefits of Malta citizenship?
Investors with Malta citizenship get several opportunities:
- reside in Malta or choose another EU country to live in;
- travel visa-free to 180+ countries, including the Schengen Area, the EU and the USA;
- get access to high-quality medical care and education;
- run a business or work in the EU.
In addition, if an investor buys real estate to obtain Malta citizenship, they can sell the object after five years of holding a passport. Maltese property may be a profitable investment: Malta house prices have grown 4—6% annually since 2015.
Does Malta allow dual citizenship?
Yes, Malta allows its citizens to have dual citizenship. This means that applicants don’t have to renounce their previous citizenship to get a Maltese passport.
Who is eligible for Maltese citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment?
Investors over 18, with no criminal record, sanctions or visa denials, and with legal income may apply for Malta citizenship. Also, their spouses, children under 29, and parents and grandparents over 55 may be included in the application.
How strong is the Malta passport?
The Maltese passport is one of the strongest in the world. It allows its holders to travel to 185 countries visa-free, including the entire Schengen Area, the UK, and the USA.
How long does it take an investor to become a Maltese citizen?
Obtaining Malta citizenship for exceptional services by direct investment requires one or three years of residency in the country. In addition, several months are needed to prepare documents, fulfil the investment conditions and receive a passport.
How do I become a Maltese citizen by naturalisation?
You can choose the regular path, which requires 5+ years of living in Malta, learning English or Maltese, and having two Malta citizens as sponsors for the application.
Another possible path is Malta citizenship by exceptional services, which requires one or three years of residency for naturalisation and an investment of €690,000 or more. Applicants prove good character and legality of income sources and undergo a strict Eligibility test.
Spouses and children of Maltese citizens may get citizenship by registration.
Can a foreigner get citizenship in Malta?
Yes, foreigners can obtain Malta citizenship by naturalisation. Malta allows investors to acquire naturalisation by making a significant direct investment in the country. Such applicants are subject to stringent Due Diligence checks and must meet other requirements, including residency.
Is Malta in the EU and Schengen?
Yes, Malta is part of both the European Union and the Schengen Area. The country joined the EU in 2004 and the Schengen zone in 2007.
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Let’s discuss the details
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.
Zlata ErlachCaribbean investment program expert
