Malta is a beautiful mediterranean island nation having robust economy, stable political system, sound financial institutions and highly developed nation in Europe.
Under the legal act of Legal Notice 437 of 2020 of Republic of Malta grants individuals and families citizenship and passport for exceptional contributions to social and economic development in Malta. The Individual investor program also known as IIP, is replaced by a new Direct citizenship program for exceptional services with new legislation published in the Government Gazette Of Malta No. 20,524 on 20.11.2020
Maltese passport is highly respected in the world rated as the 7th best passport for travel. It is possible to apply for fast track citizenship through naturalization under this scheme.
Qualifying Investments
Under the Malta citizenship by investment program, the investment has to satisfy all the 3 conditions below..
- NDF donation:
- Option 1: €600,000 non-refundable) to National Development Fund (citizenship after 3 years)
- Option 2: €750,000 non-refundable to National development fund (citizenship after 1 year)
- Additional Contribution: €50,000 per dependant
- Investment in Real estate (optional €700,000 if purchased) or rent a housing (€16,000 per year lease). Immovable property cannot be let or sublet under the rules and must be maintained for 5 years.
- Health insurance coverage for all persons applying under
Above payments must only be done after receiving initial approval from Malta Government.
Update: Malta has launched new program for exceptional citizenship by investments
Legal background
Download below the legal acts and approved legislation for the Maltese citizenship investment program.
Maltese Citizenship Act [CAP 188]
Individual Investor Programme of the Republic of Malta Regulations, 2014
Exceptional citizenship for direct investments
LN 440 of 2020 – National Development and Social Fund (Establishment as an Agency) (Amendment) Order, 2020
LN 439 of 2020 – Malta Individual Investor Programme Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Order, 2020
LN 438 of 2020 – Identity Malta Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Order, 2020
LN 437 of 2020 – Granting of citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations, 2020
LN 436 of 2020 – Community Malta Agency (Establishment) Order, 2020
LN 435 of 2020 – Agents (Licences) Regulations, 2020
LN 434 of 2020 – Declaration of Intent Regulations, 2020 for Property Agents
LN 458 of 2020 – Publication of Names of Maltese Citizenship Act 2020
Due Diligence
Only talented, wealthy, highly educated applicants with excellent references are admitted into the Maltese IIP program. All applicants are subjected to stringent due diligence and background checks before approval. Malta has a refusal rate of 25% (one out of four applications are refused)
Citizenship Benefits
- No military service.
- No maltese language tests.
- No citizenship tests.
- Application approval within 3-4 months.
- Full & Permanent lifetime citizenship in the European Union.
- Family and children can apply under one single application.
- No taxes in Malta unless you decide to live there for more than 6 months.
- EU/EEA citizens are eligible to apply.
- Visa free travel to over 160 countries including USA.
- Live, work, study, settle in any EU member states (Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark etc..)
- Only wealthy, talented, individuals with excellent references are admitted (high rejection rates)
Eligibility Conditions
- Main applicant must be 18 years old.
- Demonstrate Good health and undergo fitness test.
- No criminal record.
- Excellent references
- Dependents such as spouse, children (18 or less), Adult children (18 or more less than 27 years unmarried), Senior parents (aged 55 or above) must be fully supported by main applicant.
- Not from a restricted country (see below)
Citizenship Withdrawal
Citizenship application will be refused if, applicant or dependents
- Provide misrepresentation, false or concealed information.
- Citizenship is revoked if imprisoned abroad for more than 12 months in another country.
- Has a criminal record (paedophilia, defilement of minors, rape, violent indecent assault, prostitution, abduction, kidnapping etc)
- Pose as a potential national security threat to Malta or member states in EU.
- Involved in any activity likely causing disrepute to Malta
- Denied a visa to a country with which Malta has visa-free travel arrangements (EU, USA, UK etc) and has not subsequently obtained a visa to the country that issued the denial.
- Associated with business willingly assisting enemy at war.
Malta Taxation
No taxes apply unless you have lived for more than 183 days (tax resident) in Malta. Taxes determined based on the “residence status” not based on holding “citizenship”. The acquisition of Maltese citizenship under the IIP doesnot, in itself, trigger tax residency, but even if one decides tomove and take up permanent residence in Malta, one would normally still retain the status of a non-domiciled person.
Malta does not impose estate or gift tax but does levy a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on various assets (mainly immovable property and shares). CGT is not levied on transfer of immovable property if the person transferring the property has owned it and occupied it as his main residence for a period of three consecutive years immediately preceding the date of transfer and if the property is transferred within 12 months from vacating the premises. Otherwise, tax may be levied at up to 35% on the gain if the property is sold within the first 12 years of ownership or 12% on the sales consideration if the transfer is made after 12 years of ownership. The 12% final tax, however, does not apply if the individual property owner is not resident in Malta.
Malta Real Estate
Malta real estate in in high demand and costs 700,000 euros or upwards. The immovable property must be held for 5 years under the rules, after which it can be sold freely
- No inheritance / death tax
- No estate duty
- No wealth taxes
- No municipal taxes
One can choose the option of renting at a minimum of €16,000 per annum rather than opting for outright purchase. It stands with the main applicant to decide.
Additional Fee and Costs
- Agency fee: €10,000 non-refundable)
- Contribution: €50,000 per dependant
- Due diligence fee: €15,000 for applicant and €10,000 per dependant.
- Residence permit : €5,000 for main applicant and €1,000 per dependant
- Philanthropic donation: €10,000 to a registered philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific,animal welfare or artistic non governmental organisation or society, or as otherwise approved by the Agency.
Processing time
The processing time is 12-15 months until certificate of naturalization and passport is granted.
Malta citizenship is a lifetime permanent citizenship with one time investment. Family descendants and new born babies automatically acquire citizenship.
Application Process
Residence Requirements
All applicants and dependents have to satisfy residency requirements for proving genuine link to Malta.
Malta requires a visit of minimum number of days in the country in the first year of around 2-3 weeks only for completing various formalities with the Government authorities.
Certificate of naturalization only issued after 12 months having proved “genuine link” to Malta and by satisfying residency-requirement for the 750K direct investment category. Applicant has to spend 36 months living in Malta for citizenship under the 600K investment category.
Restricted Countries
If the applicant has a direct link to, shall not be eligible to apply under the Exceptional citizenship regulations.
- Afghanistan
- North Korea
- Iran
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
- Venezuela.
The Agency reserves the right to update the list of banned countries from time to time. Such list will be communicated with all Agents accordingly.
Required Documents
You have to arrange the following documents to attach to the application for naturalization under the investment program.
- Birth certificate*
- Police clearance certificate (all countries where you lived past 10 years, FBI clearance for US)*
- Marriage certificate (translated to english)*
- Business connection documents.
- References from bankers, lawyers.
- Global health insurance coverage 50,000 euros.
- Proof of source of income (bank statements).
- Health certificate from registered medical practitioner.
- Proof for current residence (utility bills)
- Personal details, family information, education and employment.
- Tax statements from the country of origin.
* All documents must be duly notarized or apostilled for use in Malta.
Dual Citizenship
Malta does not require you to give up your current or existing citizenship, after becoming a Maltese citizen. Dual nationality is freely allowed.
Citizenship Publication
The Minister shall every year publish in the Gazette the names of all persons who were granted Maltese citizenship under the direct citizenship program. or reasons of security, the Minister may in his absolute discretion not publish the names of such persons.
Maltese passport
Maltese passport ranked 7th best passport in the world with free travel to 181 world countries. Malta is a member of Schengen area and EU member state. Maltese citizens are EU citizens with full rights of travel and establishment in the EU member states.