The Maltese Passport has been ranked among the world’s most powerful passports in the latest Passport Index. This means that the Maltese passport has moved up three places from last year’s index, climbing from eight to fifth place. Data to compile this report is gathered from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA).
Rankings are calculated based on the number of travel destinations its holders can access without the need to obtain a visa. Such ranking means that the Maltese passport is stronger than bigger countries like Australia, Canada and the United States of America. The Maltese Passport grants visa free access or visa on arrival to 190 countries, just four countries short of what the most powerful passport allows. The 190 visa free countries include Australia, countries in Central and Eastern Europe, countries in Africa and nearly all of the Americas.
This year’s ranking is the best ranking the Maltese passport achieved. In 2010, the Maltese passport was ranked in the 15th spot, and from 2018-2022 it ranked consecutively at the 7th place. Countries forming part of the European Union lead this year's rankings, with the Afghani passport retaining its status as the least powerful ranking 104th and access to only 28 countries without a visa.
Malta Passport for High Net Worth Individuals
The Granting of Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services offer investors and their families a route to apply for Maltese citizenship by making a contribution to Malta through an investment. Apart from Malta’s Passport strength, Malta offers much more to families interested in becoming Maltese citizens including a stable economy, a safe environment, English as an official language, free healthcare and education and a Mediterranean lifestyle. Being part of the European Union, Maltese nationals also benefit from the freedom to reside, work, live and study in all the 27 European member states.
The Maltese Citizenship by Investment programme is regulated by the Maltese Citizenship Act and Legal Notice 437 of 2020. Applicants must satisfy three main requirements including a contribution paid on approval to the government of Malta, a property investment, and a donation to charity.
The government contribution is paid to the National Development and Social Fund and varies from €600,000 if applying after 36 months of residence or €750,000 if applying after 12 months of residence. An additional cost of €50,000 is to be paid for other family members included in the application. The investor is also required to make a donation of €10,000 to a registered non-governmental charity organisation. Separate from the above two requirements, the applicant must either purchase a property with a minimum value of €700,000 or lease a property for a minimum annual rent of €16,000.
