Since 2014, the Maltese citizenship process is highly regulated and Maltese law requires the applicant to be assisted by licenced Malta citizenship agents. 2014 saw the creation of a dedicated governmental agency responsible for administering the Maltese citizenship by investment programme of the time, the Malta Individual Investor Programme or MIIP. A first best practice created at the time was the introduction of a regulatory framework for licenced citizenship agents together with the setting up of a dedicated agency taking special care of Maltese investor citizenship applicants and responsible for due diligence, processing of citizenship applications and making recommendations the Minister responsible for Citizenship.
When the quota of 1,800 approvals was reached in 2020, this programme closed. In September 2020, new rules were enacted laying down the process and terms for naturalisation as Maltese citizens for exceptional services by direct investment, in short, the new Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services Rules. These rules improved on the already robust due diligence process, and strengthened the framework for regulating and supervising Malta Citizenship Agents.
Licensed Immigration Law Firm since 2002
Chetcuti Cauchi's citizenship practice dates back to the inception of the firm, with the firm's co-founder and warranted advocate Dr Jean-Philippe Chetcuti assisting individuals and families seeking citizenship by descent or citizenship by naturalisation, or seeking Maltese Permanent Residence.
In 2011, a regulatory framework for immigration agents was introduced to ensure high quality practices by qualified and competent immigration agents. This came with Act XVI of 2011 which introduced the High Net Worth Individuals - EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals Rules, 2011. This new legislation amended the Income Tax Act and replaced the old Permanent Residence Scheme. The firm's immigration subsidiary obtained immigration agent licence no. ARM00103 that it still holds today.
First Licenced Citizenship Agent in 2014
2014 saw the introduction of a first Maltese citizenship by investment programme, the Malta Individual Investor Programme or MIIP Regulations. The firm was granted the first licence as a Maltese Citizenship Accredited Person, licence IIP001, having represented the programmes first applications (and approvals) that year. The MIIP closed upon reaching its quota in 2020 bringing this licensing system to an end with it.
Licenced Citizenship Agent since 2020
Under the new Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment, our Senior Partner Dr Priscilla Mifsud Parker is duly authorised to act as a licenced citizenship agent in terms of the Agents (Licences) Regulations, 2020 (L.N. 435 of 2020) and bound by the “Licence Agreement and Code of Conduct and Ethics for Agents” entered into with Community Malta Agency. Citizenship Agent Licence AKM-ACCA.
Role of Citizenship Agents in Malta
Applicants must be represented by a Licensed Malta Citizenship Agent. The Maltese Citizenship Rules impose more responsibilities on citizenship agents to ensure the highest standards of quality are maintained throughout the application process, for the protection and benefit of applicants and the reputation of the Maltese citizenship by direct investment rules.
