Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services

Granting of Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations

Since 2020, Malta grants Maltese citizenship to investors under the 2020 Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations (Legal Notice 437) with the aim of prescribing the requirements and regulations for the granting of citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services to the Republic of Malta on the basis of exceptional interest, in accordance with Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act.

An applicant applying under these regulations must be at least 18 years of age and undertake to render an exceptional contribution to the Republic of Malta through an exceptional direct investment in the economic and social development of the country.

Eligible Family Members

A main applicant can include in the same application:

• The spouse in a monogamous marriage or partner in another relationship having the same or similar status. The term spouse shall be construed as gender neutral. The Minister responsible for citizenship can also authorize on a case-by-case basis other relationships having a similar status. 
• A child of the main applicant or of his dependant who has not yet attained the age of 29 and who is not married and proves that he is largely supported by the main applicant.
• A parent or grandparent of the main applicant or the spouse who has attained the age of 55 and is largely supported by the applicant. 

Financial Requirements under the Exceptional Services Regulations 

Prior to submitting a citizenship application, the applicant shall first visit Malta and apply for a residence permit. If the Minister is satisfied that the applicant meets the necessary criteria, the applicant is to submit the relevant forms and supporting documents. The applicant shall not submit the final citizenship application before he has completed the residence requirement.

The applicant is required to submit:

• Proof of residence in Malta for at least thirty-six (36) months or by exception of (12) months against a higher investment, preceding the date of application
• Proof of purchase of a residential property worth at least €700,000 or rent a property for a minimum annual rent of €16,000, which shall be kept for a minimum of five (5) years from the oath of allegiance
• Proof of a minimum €10,000 donation to a registered and compliant philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific, animal welfare or artistic NGO or society
• Proof that he has made a non-refundable contribution of €600,000 when the application is submitted after 36 months of residence or €750,000 when the application is submitted after 12 months of residence
• Proof of a non-refundable contribution of €50,000 for each dependant

Once this is submitted, the Agency shall evaluate the application and submit a report to the Minister responsible for citizenship. If the application is approved, the Community Malta Agency shall issue a Letter of Approval in Principle to the Applicant. The applicant shall be required to complete the process and take the Oath of Allegiance within six (6) months from the approval.

Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services Due Diligence Fees

When submitting a citizenship application under the exceptional investment route the following due diligence fees are to be paid:

• €15,000 - Main Applicant
• €10,000 - Each Dependant
• €15,000 – Benefactor (if applicable)

Connecting Factors 

Applicants are required to be physically in Malta and build connecting factors during the residence period.  These requirements shall be satisfied by providing documented proof.  It is required that the applicant presents to the citizenship agency his proposal on how he intends to create these connecting factors when presenting the citizenship eligibility application.

Ineligible Applicants

Article 6 of the regulations lays down a number of conditions rendering an applicant ineligible from applying under these regulations. These include:

• Individuals who are or were indicted of an offence before an International Criminal Court or has been arraigned at any time before an International Criminal Court, whether such person has been found guilty or otherwise.
• Individuals who are listed with INTERPOL or EUROPOL
• Individuals who are or can be of a threat to Malta’s national security, public policy or public health
• Individuals who have been charged or found guilty of terrorism, money laundering, funding of terrorism, crimes against humanity, war crimes, defilement of minors, indecent assault and other serious crimes
• Individuals who have been found guilty or suspected or have criminal charges brought against them for any criminal offence punishable with more than one (1) year imprisonment, other than an involuntary offence.

If an applicant makes a false statement or otherwise omits material information, the citizenship application may be suspended and considered inadmissible.

Applicants who are nationals of or have close ties to the following listed countries shall not be eligible to apply under the Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations. These countries are: Afghanistan, Belarus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Malta Citizenship Benefits

• Maltese citizenship after 3 years or with an exception after 1 year of residence
• Visa free travel to over 190 countries 
• Malta is one of the safest and most stable countries in the World
• Main Applicant may include spouse, children up to the age of 28, parents & grandparents over the age of 55
• Citizenship is passed down to future generations
• Free healthcare and education

Malta Citizenship Quota

The number of certificates issued under these regulations, excluding dependants, shall not exceed four hundred (400) per annum,  and  in any  case  the total  accumulated  amount of successful  applicants  excluding dependants shall not  exceed  one thousand five hundred (1,500).

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License: AKM-ACCA