Malta Citizenship

Malta Citizenship By Investment

Introduced in November 2020, legislation granting Malta citizenship by naturalization for exceptional services offers citizenship in a highly respected EU member country to individuals and families worldwide who contribute to the nation’s economic development. Malta has been a member of the European Union since 2004, enjoys a stable political climate, bi-partisan political scene, growing economy, and has some of the soundest banks in the world. The Malta citizenship by investment application process is extremely efficient, and the Government of Malta is committed to the highest standard of due diligence and vetting of investor applicants ensuring only persons of impeccable standing and repute will be admitted.

Successful candidates will be granted citizenship in Malta by a Certificate of Naturalization, which can also be extended to include their families. Once a candidate is awarded Maltese citizenship, they have the ability to set up business in the country and can get a Malta passport enabling them to enjoy visa-free travel to more than 170+ countries across the world including the United States.

The investor can apply for Citizenship after 12 months of residency or 36 months of residency, the contribution amount will depend on which option the applicant chooses.

Eligibility Criteria for Malta Citizenship by Investment (MEIN):

• The main applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
• Due Diligence: The Malta citizenship by investment regulations include some of the strictest due diligence standards of any immigrant investor program in the world. There is a four-tier due diligence process carried out directly by the Government. Applicants must have a clean criminal record, and the Malta Government conducts extensive criminal checks with INTERPOL, the International Criminal Court, and various other sources and authorities.
• Good Health: All applicants must show that they do not suffer from any contagious diseases. All applicants must also be covered by an international health insurance policy until they are granted citizenship.
• The main applicant or any of the dependants shouldn’t have been denied a visa to a country with whom Malta has visa-free travel arrangements, and has not subsequently obtained a visa from that country.
• Banned nationalities: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela

Three Requirements for Malta Citizenship:

1. Contribution of €750,000 (After 12 Months of residency) or €600,000 Contribution (After 36 Months).
2. Purchase Property worth €700,000 OR Rent a property with minimum rent of €16,000/Annum Min. for 5 years.
3. Charity Donation of €10,000 to a local non-profit organization.

Benefits:

• Only program in the world that leads to Direct EU citizenship.
• Easy and straight-forwarded process, fast processing.
• There is no minimum stay requirement in Malta to maintain the PR or citizenship.
• Investment is needed only after 12 months or 36 months residency.
• Visa Free travel in Schengen Area during Residency period.
• Visa free travel to more than 180 countries including EU, Schengen, and USA after Citizenship.
• Strong passport, open business opportunities across Europe.
• Eligible Dependents: Spouse, kids under 18Y, 18-28Y old child who is unmarried and financially dependent, disabled and dependent child regardless of age, dependent parent min. 55Y old
• Citizenship for 4 generations, spouse, kids, parents, parents’ in-law, grandparents and grandparents in-law.
• Non-taxable global income, only Maltese income will be taxed.
• Malta allows dual citizenship.
• The future children and grandchildren will be Maltese Citizen as well.
• There are no language tests and applicants are not required to know Maltese or even English to be accepted.

FAQs:

1. Does Malta allows Dual Citizenship?

Individuals that obtain a second citizenship by investment in Malta are not required by Maltese law to renounce their existing citizenship. Malta has no restrictions on holding dual nationality.

2. Will My Future Children/Grandchildren Be Citizens of Malta?

Any child born to a parent who is a Maltese citizen will also be a citizen of Malta. This means children born to men or women who obtained Maltese nationality under the country’s citizenship by investment regulations will be full Malta citizens even if their place of birth is not in Europe. Consequently, if your family obtains Malta investor citizenship then when your children grow up and have families of their own your grandchildren can also have a Malta passport.

3. Is Malta Investment Citizenship Permanent?

Malta citizenship through investment is granted by a Certificate of Naturalization, and once you obtain Maltese citizenship by naturalization for exceptional services you will have it forever and can even pass it on to future generations.

4. How Fast Can I Obtain Second Citizenship?

If you have not already procured Maltese residency, the minimum amount of time needed to gain Malta citizenship by investment is 12 months. If you have already met the residency requirement of the country’s nationality by investment regulations, however, you can secure citizenship in Malta in as little as six months.

5. Is Malta Citizenship by Investment Available to Everyone?

Any person of integrity who is at least 18 years of age and has a clean police record is eligible to apply for second citizenship in Malta except the citizens of banned nationalities.

6. Who can not apply for Malta Citizenship by Investment?

The citizens of Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela, are not allowed to apply. People with close ties to any of these countries are also disqualified from applying for Malta citizenship by investment.

7. Should I Buy or Rent an Apartment in Malta?

Malta citizenship by investment applicants must purchase or rent an immovable residential property. If an investor purchases an apartment on the islands, they must spend at least €700,000 on the property. If an investor rents or leases an apartment on the islands, it must have a minimum annual rent of €16,000.

8. Is There a Language Requirement?

There are no citizenship tests when a person applies for Malta citizenship by investment, and applicants are not required to know Maltese or even English to be accepted for financial citizenship.

9. Can My Malta Passport Be Revoked?

Malta citizenship can be revoked if an applicant does not follow through with all the requirements laid out in the regulations, e.g., if a person does not comply with the requirement of keeping the property for 5 years and stops renting an apartment or sells their home in Malta before the five years is up, they can have their citizenship as well as their EU passport taken away. Investors who successfully become Malta citizens must file a Compliance Form with the Agency on a year basis, for five years from the date they were granted nationality, stating that they are abiding by all the requirements stipulated in the citizenship by investment legislation.

10. Will I have the Voting Rights?

People who acquire Malta citizenship by investing can vote in political elections provided they have been resident in the country for 6 of the past 18 months.

11. Who need to provide Biometric Data?

All Malta citizenship applicants, with the exception of children under six years old, must at some point visit in person a Maltese embassy or the Malta Passport Office in Valletta to give their biometrics. Biometric data that is given as part of the Malta citizenship by investment application process can be stored for as long as six months.

12. If I Make the Full Investment Am I Guaranteed Citizenship?

Applicants are not required to make the sizable contribution until after they have passed the eligibility and due diligence stage and have been approved in principle.

13. Can My Children Study in Europe?

Yes, your children can go to any university in Europe without needing to qualify as foreign student.

14. What Type of Health Insurance Do I Need?

All applicants must hold a valid comprehensive health insurance policy that covers all worldwide medical expenses up to at least 30,000 euros per family member. This medical insurance policy must be held until the person is issued citizenship.