The Malta Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES) program provides a special opportunity for individuals and their families to become Maltese citizens. This program aims to attract people who can make significant contributions to Malta’s economy and society. It is also often referred to by its much-shorter Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) name.
Both terms describe the same initiative, which allows individuals to acquire Maltese citizenship through significant economic contributions and investments in the country. This usually involves contributing to the National Development and Social Fund, buying or renting property, and investing in government-approved financial instruments. The Malta MEIN program includes a thorough due diligence process, making it a reputable and secure option for those seeking citizenship in an EU member state.
In this article, we’ll explore what the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN) is, the benefits and the various requirements for becoming a Maltese citizen.
What is the Malta Citizenship by Investment program?
If you have ever dreamt of being a citizen of beautiful Malta, there are a few options available. However, the most common path is through the Malta Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program (CES). Sometimes also referred to as the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN), it expedites the process of naturalization via foreign investment.
Launched at the end of 2020 and ratified by the Maltese government as a new policy for the old Malta citizenship by investment program, CES replaced the previous Malta Individual Investment Program – also known as Malta’s Investor Visa.
This scheme came out after changes occurred in the Malta citizenship by investment program and can lead to a Maltese passport on the condition that applicants meet the updated Malta citizenship requirements for the investment program.
These changes to the direct investment regulations raised the bar for acquiring Malta citizenship by investment, further ensuring that only those who want to invest in and boost the Maltese economy, as well as pass the enhanced due diligence checks, can acquire new Malta citizenship.
This option extends beyond what the Malta Investor Visa offered. It grants full Maltese citizenship and a Maltese passport (European passport), provided that the investor meets the investment and eligibility requirements.
Applicants of CES can qualify for Maltese citizenship by naturalization by maintaining a consistent period of residence in the country, similar to what would be required for Malta citizenship by marriage.
Requirements for Malta Citizenship by Investment
The investments that qualify investors for this Malta citizenship program are a direct non-refundable investment, an investment in real estate, and a philanthropic donation.
Note that each application goes through a strict due diligence process conducted by Community Malta Agency (CMA), the federal government agency that oversees and grants applications for Malta citizenship by investment.
The due diligence process includes detailed background checks related to character, source of funds, and anything else the Community Malta Agency finds pertinent to ensuring that only the highest-quality candidates are selected for citizenship consideration. To qualify for Maltese residency, you must meet the following requirements:
- If you have proof of residence in Malta for 36 months, you must donate €600,000.
- If you have proof of residence there for 12 months, you must contribute €750,000.
- Purchase a residential home in Malta worth at least €700,000 and retain it for at least five years.
- A donation of €10,000 to a registered philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific, or animal welfare non-governmental organization or society as approved by the Community Malta Agency.
Additional requirements include:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old
- Must have global health insurance coverage of at least €50,000 and must be in good health, not suffering from any contagious diseases.
- Applicants and their dependents must pass stringent due diligence checks to ensure they do not pose any risk to the national security or public policy of Malta.
- Not have been previously denied a visa to a country that has a visa waiver agreement with Malta
- Not be deemed a national security risk or a reputation risk
- Not be under a criminal investigation
- Not hold the following nationalities or be a non-national but reside, do business, or have significant ties or connections to the following countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Yemen,
- Not be a citizen from a country that’s on the US travel ban list.
Investment Criteria
A Direct, Non-Refundable Investment
Real Estate Investment
Philanthropic Donation
Benefits of Malta Citizenship by Investment
The new Maltese Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES) allows foreign nationals to enjoy all the benefits that come with having a Malta passport and more.
1. Freedom of movement within the EU
Malta is a full member of the European Union (EU), which means investors who acquire a Maltese passport acquire an EU passport. As per the EU freedom of movement legislation in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, citizens of the EU are entitled to live and work or conduct business in any member state of the European Union.
A corporate base in the European Union is ideal for foreign entrepreneurs looking to start a business or trade in Europe. Trade between EU countries is tariff-free, and as part of the world’s largest trading bloc, companies have access to lucrative EU trade deals on international imports and exports.
Malta also lies within the Schengen Zone, meaning there are no visa or passport checks when traveling from country to country in the Schengen Area.
2. Visa-free travel
The Malta passport is one of the strongest in the world, and besides freedom of movement within Europe, a Maltese passport opens up a world of travel doors, allowing visa-free travel and visa-on-arrival access to 170 countries worldwide.
3. Obtain Malta dual citizenship
Another key benefit of the Malta immigration investment program is that it allows investors to obtain citizenship and a European passport within 12 to 36 months, as well as maintain dual citizenship with their home country. This is on the condition that foreign nationals who apply for citizenship maintain residence status in Malta.
4. Passports for your whole family
Investing in the Maltese citizenship by investment program means you can acquire new Malta citizenship not just for yourself but also for your immediate family members. This facilitation for family members to obtain a Malta passport is a key benefit of the program. Your family can work in any European Union country, and enrolling in universities across the EU is also straightforward.
As EU citizens, your children will access many educational benefits, such as tuition-free higher education in Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Norway.
Do note that additional contributions must be made for dependents to get Maltese citizenship alongside the primary applicant. However, children born to Maltese citizens are automatically granted citizenship by birthright, meaning you can pass on your Maltese citizenship to your children and grandchildren born after you acquired it. This is based on the Malta citizenship by descent law.
5. Tax efficiency
Malta’s tax system is based upon residency, not citizenship, meaning that you may not have to pay tax in the country even if you become a Malta citizen. Malta also has special tax schemes for new citizens, which can result in additional tax efficiency and extremely advantageous tax exposure.
There is no income tax on global income, and global assets are not taxed either. You also pay tax at a significantly reduced rate of 15 percent [or a minimum of €15,000 ($16,000)] for money brought into Malta.
6. Stable and secure country
Malta has one of the highest GDPs per capita in Europe and one of the lowest unemployment rates. It has an overall stable political climate and is regarded as one of the safest countries in Europe.
With the constant political turmoil and tension many of us experience in our respective countries, Malta is a breath of fresh air for those who wish to escape politics and live a peaceful life.
7. Quality of life for your family
Malta is an incredible country, and your family will enjoy the lovely climate, beautiful Mediterranean Sea, freedom of speech, and property rights, just as Maltese nationals would.
Additionally, there are many touristic places like the medieval hilltop town of Mdina and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. With modern infrastructure, fast internet speeds, and secure banking and payment options, the Maltese islands have become a top holiday destination for Europeans and foreigners from around the world.
8. Access to the Maltese healthcare system
Despite being a tiny Mediterranean island nation, Malta has one of the best healthcare systems in the world and was ranked highly in a recent study published by Statista for the world’s best healthcare systems.
Health insurance and public taxation fund Malta’s highly-rated public healthcare system. By investing in Malta, individuals can enjoy medical services under health insurance coverage – including hospitalization, pregnancy, childbirth, medical prescriptions, and specialist treatment. Your family will have good medical care under Malta’s well-developed healthcare system.
9. LGBTQ friendly
Malta was featured in TIME magazine after being crowned number one on the ILGA-Europe listing of countries promoting LGBT rights in 2016. It has ranked in first place ever since – a remarkable feat with Europe already being home to the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in the world, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal.
From being the first country in the European Union to prohibit conversion therapy and guarantee equal rights and freedom to LGBTQ citizens, to ensuring a safe environment for the LGBTQ community, this demonstrates that Malta’s dedication toward ensuring fairness for all citizens isn’t just a signal of virtue to please outsiders.
Malta has been the ultimate leader in building a fair, safe, and secure society for its LGBTQ community, which has reverberated around the world, encouraging other countries to improve the rights of their marginalized citizens.
Process of Obtaining Malta Citizenship by Investment (CES)
The process of obtaining Maltese Citizenship by Naturalization through Exceptional Services is broken up into three primary stages:
1. Residency
The main applicant, along with any dependents included in the application, must first apply for a Maltese residence card to gain a residency permit in Malta. To get the residence card, they must first pass the Community Malta Agency due diligence check.
Once your Malta residency visa is approved, you are issued a permanent residence card with a 36-month validity. Afterward, you must visit the country to submit biometric data for the residence card. Keep in mind that you must lease an apartment before lodging your residence application.
Payment
- €10,000 for the Malta residence permit to secure your residency
- Government residency application fees – €5,000 ($5,300) for the main applicant and €1,000 ($1,070) per dependent
- Residency card fees – €27.50 ($29.30) per applicant
2. Citizenship
A Malta citizenship eligibility application must be submitted to the Community Malta Agency within 12 months from the issue date of the residency card. Otherwise, the Agency will revoke the card.
As usual, the Community Malta Agency performs due diligence to ensure the application is completed correctly. Further information and documents may be requested. Afterward, the CMA presents the application to the Minister, who then decides whether applicants are eligible to apply for Maltese citizenship.
Roughly speaking, applications take between 120 and 150 calendar days to be processed. If you’re eligible, you’ll then kick off the citizenship process. You’ll receive a Letter of Approval in Principle, upon which you need to pay extra fees.
Payment fees
- Due diligence fees – €15,000 for the main applicant, €15,000 for the benefactor (if applicable), and €10,000 per dependent aged 13 years old and above (paid directly to the CMA)
- Administrative Fees – €1,000 per applicant (paid directly to the CMA)
You can submit your application for the investment passport scheme to the Community Malta Agency after 12 months or 36 months from your residency stage. The Community Malta Agency updates its due diligence on the applicants and presents its final findings to the Minister. Basically, your Malta citizenship application depends on whether the Minister approves it or not. Once approved, Maltese citizenship is granted.
The processing time to get citizenship takes around two to three months from the approval date. If the citizenship is approved, the main citizenship application must fulfill the exceptional investment, donation, and property requirements in order to start the process of naturalization.
Payment
- Administrative fees – €500 ($530) per applicant (paid directly to the CMA)
4. Naturalization
After fulfilling all the Malta citizenship by investment requirements, the main application and any dependents included in the citizenship application will be invited to visit Malta and take the Oath of Allegiance. The Oath of Allegiance must be completed within six months from the issuance date of the Letter of Approval in Principle.
Applicants receive citizenship and a Maltese passport and are issued a Certificate of Naturalization. The name of all naturalized persons will be announced yearly in the Government Gazette.
Payment
- Government Direct Investment – €600,000 or €750,000 for the main applicant and €50,000 per dependent
- Charity Donation – €10,000
Monitoring
It is possible to have your Maltese citizenship revoked if you do not comply with the program’s requirements, as the Community Malta Agency conducts continuous monitoring for five years. Therefore, to maintain your Malta citizenship status, you must commit to retaining your residence in Malta for a period of no less than five years from the date you are issued an official certificate of citizenship.
What Are the Tax Implications of Malta Citizenship by Investment?
Potential investors in this program who are looking to reduce their tax burden must know that the state has:
- No inheritance tax
- No estate duty
- No wealth tax
- No municipal taxes
- No property ownership tax
Malta is also an excellent country for American retirees.
For pension incomes of no more than €14,968 ($15,965) per annum, the tax exemption amount of 20 percent [capped at €2,864 ($3,055)] in 2022 will be raised to 40 percent of pension income [capped at €5,987 ($6,640)] during 2023.
This illustrates the Maltese government’s empathy toward elderly Maltese citizens, ensuring they’re taxed fairly and can maintain a good quality of life.
How to Get Malta Citizenship by Investment
1. Buy property and register for residency
2. After 12-36 months, apply for Malta CBI
3. Receive conditional acceptance
4. Finalize your investment and apply for passport
1. Purchase qualifying real estate in Malta and register for residency. You may refer to this Malta real estate guide.
2. After 12 to 36 Months, apply for the Malta investment program, pay the due diligence fees, submit paperwork, and pass a criminal background check assessed by INTERPOL, the International Criminal Court, and other authorities.
3. After 120 to 150 days, relevant authorities will officially confirm whether the application has been successful and provide a conditional acceptance.
4. Upon completing all requirements, the investor and dependents will receive a naturalization certificate and be given Maltese passports.
Malta Citizenship by Naturalization Timeline
Alternative Route to Malta Citizenship by Investment
If you are still deciding whether to commit to the Malta citizenship by investment application, Malta happens to run a Permanent Residence Program, too. The Malta Permanent Residency Program (MPRP) provides permanent residency status to foreign investors for a lower qualifying investment. Permanent residency is based on three qualifying investments and can be acquired by:
- A property purchase worth at least €350,000 ($373,000) [€300,000 ($320,000) in the South of Malta/Gozo] or leasing a property with an annual rental agreement of €12,000 ($12,800) [€10,000 ($10,600) in the South of Malta/Gozo]
- Making a government contribution of €28,000 ($30,000) or €58,000 ($62,000) if leasing or renting a property in Malta
- Making a charitable donation worth €2,000 ($2,130) to an NGO registered in Malta.
Qualifying applicants can obtain permanent residence permits with no minimum stay requirements through the Malta residence permit program. The Malta Residency by Investment Program has an array of benefits, from residing in a country with a high quality of life and stunning climate to enjoying significant tax advantages.
Choosing the Permanent Residence Program doesn’t mean you can’t acquire citizenship later. The scheme provides a pathway to gain Malta citizenship by naturalization after living there for seven years. You may also like to read up on the Malta Visa Types Requirements Application and Guidelines.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
Frequently Asked Questions about Malta Citizenship by Investment
Is Malta dual citizenship allowed?
Malta permits dual citizenship, meaning individuals can hold Maltese citizenship along with citizenship of another country simultaneously. This policy enables Maltese citizens to enjoy the benefits of citizenship in Malta while also maintaining their ties to another country. Dual citizenship can result from various circumstances, such as birthright, marriage, or naturalization.
How can I get Malta citizenship?
You cannot get Malta citizenship, but you can be eligible for Malta’s Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program.
In order to qualify for naturalization after three years, you must place a minimum investment of €600,000 ($640,000). If you place an investment of €750,000 ($800,000), you can reduce the length of the process to one year.
You will be required to live in Malta throughout the period of eligibility to be granted citizenship by naturalization.
What is Malta's new program?
Malta’s new program refers to the new and updated policy of the previous Malta citizenship by investment scheme, which came into effect in early January 2021.
The new program is referred to as CES, following the new Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (CES) Regulations. It is also known as the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN).
Is there a language test?
There is no language requirement for acquiring Maltese citizenship or Malta citizenship by investment. If you are a British, Canadian, or US expat, you may be pleased to know that one of Malta’s two official languages is English, and 88 percent of the population speaks it.
Do I need a lawyer to investment in Malta?
While there is no Malta citizenship by investment program to become a Maltese citizen, the process leading up to citizenship eligibility must be carried out by a government-approved agent. You will need a lawyer that is familiar with Malta citizenship and real estate law.
Is Malta a member of the European Union?
Malta is a full member of the EU, and citizenship in Malta comes with European citizenship, entitling bearers to freedom of movement to live and work in member states of the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area.
Is Malta in the Schengen Zone?
Malta is a member of the Schengen Area, which is a zone of 26 European countries that have abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders.
Being a Maltese citizen with a valid Maltese passport entitles you to enjoy the benefits of free movement and borderless travel within the Schengen Area.
This means that you can travel to any country within the Schengen zone without the need for a visa or any additional documentation, and you can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
How much does Malta citizenship cost?
The Maltese citizenship by naturalization program is not a direct route to citizenship but through naturalization.
The Maltese citizenship by investment total cost involves investments amounting to around €690,000 ($736,000) [at the very minimum].
Can I rent out my property in Malta?
According to the Maltese law, as a non-EU citizen who buys property in Malta, you are required to maintain residence in the country for a minimum of five years.
During this period, you are not allowed to rent out your property as it may be perceived as being in conflict with your intention to maintain residency.
Can I pass on Maltese citizenship
Yes, Malta citizenship law abides by the rule of jus sanguinis (right of blood), so any child born to a Maltese is a citizen at birth through the right of descent, whether born in Malta or overseas.
Citizenship can be passed on to children and grandchildren. One of the key advantages of the Maltese citizenship program is that members of your immediate family are also eligible.
Can my Maltese citizenship be revoked?
Under specific conditions, Maltese citizenship can be revoked. For example, if you fail to pass the government’s periodic due diligence checks, your citizenship can be revoked.
Maltese nationality can also be revoked in rare but obvious cases, such as obtaining citizenship through fraudulent means or circumstances threatening national security.
Can I buy Malta citizenship?
It is not possible to buy or be granted Maltese citizenship, or acquire Malta citizenship by investment. However, citizenship by naturalization is possible. Your family members can also get citizenship when you’re eligible to apply for citizenship by naturalization.
Can I get residency in Malta if I buy a house?
It is possible to obtain residency in Malta through the purchase of a property. The Malta Residence Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) governed by the Residency Malta Agency allows individuals to acquire Malta residency by investing in real estate.
To qualify for a residence permit, you need to make a minimum investment of €300,000 (about $324,000), fulfill the residency requirements, and meet the other due diligence criteria set by the program.
What is citizenship by investment?
Citizenship by investment is when individuals obtain a second nationality from a foreign country by making a substantial investment in its economy. This usually occurs through real estate investing, purchasing shares in an existing business, starting a new company that creates jobs, or contributing to a national development fund.
Who can apply for Malta's Citizenship-by-Investment Program?
You must be 18 years old or more. Invest at least €600,000 if you have completed 36 months of residency in Malta or €750,000 after living in the country for 12 months. You also need to buy a residential property worth at least €700,000 in Malta, which should be held for at least five years.
Can you include family members in Malta Citizenship by Investment?
The primary applicant can include family members, including a spouse and children under 18 as dependents in their citizenship application. Additionally, dependent children up to 25 years old, as well as parents and grandparents over 55, may also be included.
How long does it take to get Malta Citizenship by Investment?
The journey to obtaining Malta citizenship by investment typically spans 12 to 18 months. Begin by gathering all required supporting documents and assembling your application file. Ensure that these documents are signed by a Maltese Consul.
