Receiving Maltese citizenship for investment

IMPORTANT: As of April 2025, the European Court of Justice ruled that Malta can no longer sell citizenship through the CBI scheme. This means that this service is no longer available. However, you can learn about other CBI options, such as Vanuatu, or European residency programs, such as the one in Portugal.

In the spring of 2014, the Maltese Individual Investor Program (MIIP) was launched, which provides Malta citizenship for investments over a 12-month period. By launching the program, the authorities set a quota of 1,800 satisfied individual and collective applications. By the autumn of 2020, the limit had been met. The program closed, having managed to bring the state about 1.5 billion euros, used in various social programs and supporting the country's economy during the pandemic.

But on November 20, 2020, the Maltese authorities, through the Official Government Gazette No. 20.524, announced a change in the law and the emergence of the MIIP mechanism "Granting the status of a Maltese citizen by naturalization for exceptional services in the form of direct investment" (Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment; MCNESDI). The MCNESDI mechanism is further characterized by changed conditions, a new price that has changed the requirements for documents.

We study the regulatory framework, preparing to issue Malta citizenship for investments

The authorities formed a new agency to serve all applicants for Maltese citizenship status (e.g., through family ties, backgrounds, outstanding sporting merit, investments, etc.) called the Maltese Community (Maltese Agenzija Komunita Malta, English Community Malta Agency).

The independent regulatory body was tasked with scrutinizing the work done by Agenzija Komunita Malta in the context of granting citizenship to investors and ensuring proper oversight. The regulator ensures that the agency's processes and procedures are properly implemented.

According to the Official Government Gazette, the process of granting Maltese passports and citizenship through investments from 21 November 2020 is governed by the following regulations and regulations:

• Legal reservation (more- p.o.) No. 440 "On the establishment of the National Development and Social Security Fund" as amended from 2020;
• P.O. No. 437 "Prescriptions governing the granting of citizen status for special merit" from 2020;
• P. No. 436 "On the establishment of the Agency Maltese Community" from 2020;
• P.O. No. 435 "Agents Regulation (Licensing) " from 2020;
• P.O. No. 434 "Statement on Declaration of Intent" (for real estate agents) from 2020;
• By-law No. 373.01 "Provisions on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing" of 2018.

The new legal framework takes into account a number of recommendations of the European Commission, making the immigration route as legitimate as possible. See the Table below:

The new legal framework

No time and desire to delve into legal subtleties? Our Q Wealth experts are available to assist.

Who will not be able to obtain dual Maltese citizenship through investment?

Maltese government policy prohibits claiming Malta's economic citizenship for investments for applicants of the following jurisdictions:

• Islamic Republic of Afghanistan;
• Islamic Republic of Iran;
• People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea).

If the applicant is not a citizen of one of the above countries, but resides on its territory as a legal resident, conducts business there, and has significant ties with that country, such an applicant will be refused. The blacklist also includes citizens from countries that are banned from entering the United States.

Agenzija Komunita Malta reserves the right to periodically update the blacklist of states whose citizens are prohibited from obtaining Malta's economic citizenship through investment.

The number of successful applicants for Malta's economic citizenship through investments is limited to a total of 1,500 applications (individual/collective). The authorities have pledged to authorize no more than 400 applications annually. In other words, the exhaustion of the quota at full load should be expected in 2024.

Applications are accepted by adult principal candidates (over 18), who are allowed to include the following dependents:

Grounds for disqualifying applicants for a second Maltese citizenship through investments:

• The main applicant/dependent in the application is charged/accused of a crime in the International Criminal Court / prosecuted in the International Criminal Court 
• Interpol/EUROPOL search lists.
• The main applicant/dependent is the source of a real/potential threat to national security, public policy, and the Maltese health system.
• Prosecution/guilty of terrorism, money laundering, financing of terrorism, crimes against humanity, war crimes, desecration of minors, sexual aggression, and other serious crimes.
• Guilty/suspect or receiving a criminal charge punishable by more than one (1) year in prison, except for certain unintentional offences (we recommend consulting with Q Wealth experts).
• Participation/opportunity to engage in activities that could damage Malta's reputation.
• Denial of a visa to the country with which the Maltese government entered into an agreement on a visa-free regime, and non-receiving of visas to the country in question.
• False application/failure to provide substantial information when applying for a second passport and dual citizenship of Malta through investment.
• The fact of inclusion in the international sanctions list.
• The presence of serious contagious diseases can become a burden on the Maltese public health system.

List of Documents for Malta Citizenship through Investments

Documents for resident status

• Recommendation (introductory) letter;
• Trust;
• Forms CEA K/J, ID1A /ID2 and rental declaration form;
• Passports for travel abroad (passports) and foreign resident cards (residence permits);
• Evidence of the presence of dependents listed in the application, in financial dependence on the main candidate;
• Sponsor's declaration and bank statement;
• Lease/purchase of real estate;
• Level 1 Comprehensive Checks (Tier 1);
• Parental consent form;
• Landlord's declaration;

Documents to verify a candidate's suitability for a Maltese passport through the MCNESDI mechanism

• The agent's cover letter;
• Trust;
• Letter with an application for residency;
• Forms R, S, PDFEE, SSFW, PSC, and MR;
• Bank statements;
• Passports to travel abroad (passport);
• Government-issued identity cards;
• Resident cards, including Maltese electronic cards (Verzjoni Elettronika);
• Birth certificates;
• Name change documents;
• Military tickets;
• Written confirmation of corporate affiliation/employment certificates/documents with information regarding sources of funds and wealth:
  • Employment income (SSFW form, B3 to B7);
  • Business income (SSFW form, B8 to B18);
  • Income from another source (SSFW form, B19);
  • Current net value of own assets (SSFW form, C1, C2)
  • Source of wealth (SSFW form, C4);
• Marriage/divorce certificates;
• Proof of residence address;
• Certificates of lack of criminal record from the police;
• "Social Credit" report;
• Applicable affidavits;
• Declaration on the jurisdiction of tax residency;

Malta Citizenship Documents for Investments (12-Month Residency)

• The agent's cover letter;
• Forms R1, S1 and T;
• Affidavit (no change in the applicant's circumstances);
• Affidavit (change of circumstances of the applicant);

Malta Citizenship Documents through Investments (3-Year Residency)

• The agent's cover letter;
• Forms R1, S1 and T;
• PDFEE, SSFW, MRJ, bank statements, proof of residence address, police certificates and any corporate documentation;

Application forms

• Form R - Applicant (right to apply);
• Form R1 - Applicant (citizen status);
• Form S - Adult dependent, including spouse (right to participate);
• Form S1 - Adult dependent, including spouse (citizen status);
• Form T - Juvenile dependents (citizen status only);
• PDFEE Form - Personal data, family, education and employment information;
• SSFW Form - Statement on the source of funds and the source of wealth;
• PSC Form - Confirmation of photo and signature (right to participate);
• The MRJ form is a medical report and questionnaire.

General rules for the preparation of supporting documentation for Malta's citizenship for investment

Authentication

Certified copies of any documents must be prepared in high resolution, ensuring readability. Color copies of the originals should be provided as much as possible. A lawyer's written statement that the document is an "exact copy of the original" is required. If you have a document that includes a photo, you should specify the authenticity of the photo.

Authentication should be carried out in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Apostille and additional legalization are not required for documents certified:

• A lawyer/notary registered by the Maltese authorities;
• Maltese Consulate/other diplomatic mission of the country.

2. Documents certified by a foreign-registered lawyer/notary in any country that is a party to the Apostille Convention must be apostilled. If the authorities refuse to put the apostille on the document, it is recommended to visit the Maltese consulate/diplomatic mission ready to complete the authentication;
3. The legalization of documents certified by a lawyer/notary registered abroad in a country that is not a party to the Apostille Convention and where there is no Maltese diplomatic representation will require a lawyer/notary to be involved in the procedure and the document to be handed over to the government authorities of the relevant jurisdiction for the necessary state authentication;

Since the Agency recognizes that the originals of the apostated documents are required in the public registry office, the Agency will have sufficient certified copies unless otherwise stated.

Translation

The official English translation must always accompany any accompanying documents submitted when applying for a passport and citizenship of Malta for non-English investments (including certificates or stamps).

Translations should be prepared with the help of a professional interpreter (officially accredited), a government agency, an international organization or a similar official institution.

When preparing a translation in a country where there are no officially accredited translators, a company whose sole/main activity is to provide professional translation services should be involved. The translated document must be accompanied by the signature of at least one authorized representative of such a translation company.

Important: Translators should specify in a clear and legible format the date of the translation, their full name, position and the name of the company in which they work, the address of residence or work, the phone number and email address / website. In the case of a translation agency, you should use a company form containing key information related to the translation firm.

It is highly recommended to use the services of well-known and reputable translation agencies/ translators. In the case of translators accredited to the country's court or similar official institutions, the provision of accreditation information would be considered a plus.

It is important to note that at any stage of the application process, the Agency reserves the right to request additional information relating to the interpreter and/or translation agency, or even to request a re-translation by another interpreter.

How much does Malta citizenship cost for investment: the price of residency and passports

The tables below provide detailed information on the minimum investment and administrative fees required to obtain Maltese citizenship through investments in accordance with current rules.

Cost

Timeline: the process of obtaining a second Maltese citizenship for investment, terms

The process is conditionally broken down into the 11 steps described in the table below.

The process of obtaining

Key pros and cons of Malta citizenship through investment

Pros and cons