Malta Citizenship Requirements, Do You Qualify?
UNDERSTANDING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLYING FOR MALTA CITIZENSHIP
Interested in obtaining Maltese citizenship? Then you’ll need to meet the requirements. Knowing exactly what will be required is first step in getting Maltese citizenship.
In this article, we focus on Malta’s requirements for each specific path to citizenship. Some people will qualify through time in the country, marriage to a citizen, investment, or descent. The Maltese Citizenship Act outlines different legal requirements for each path.
It’s worth taking time to focus on the differing Malta residency requirements. Investment, naturalization, and marriage (aka registration) all have differing time windows—and there are even variations within some of these routes based on other specific details of your case.
If you have questions or need support, feel free to contact MDC for a free consultation to speak with an expert.
General Requirements for Malta Citizenship & Residency
While the various paths have special requirements, there are a few things that every person will need to do to become a citizen of Malta.
- Oath of Allegiance: To become a Maltese citizen will mean swearing an oath of allegiance to Malta. At this point in the process, however, you’ve already cleared the bureaucratic hurdles—so this is usually a very moving and stress-free event.
- Register: Your certification of citizenship is, obviously, a requirement no matter what form you apply with.
- Application for ID and Passport: At this point, you are technically already a citizen.
Requirements for Maltese Citizenship (sorted by path)
Malta Citizenship Requirements for Investment
This is the most popular way to become a Maltese citizen. In fact, it’s so popular that many EU oversight commissions have pressured the country to change some of the rules to be more stringent. That’s why citizenship by investment now requires some residency before applying (though this is a very short period by international standards).
What makes it so popular? It doesn’t require any social ties (like marriage or Maltese ancestry), and it is fast (requiring only 12 months if you make the largest investment). Because of Malta’s size, it is rare to have Maltese ancestry or to marry a national. So, naturalization and investment are the two main ways to achieve this. And since wealthy people in particular seek out the country for its beauty and EU membership, this pathway gives them a fast track to do that.
What do the Maltese citizenship by investment requirements include?
- A direct contribution to Malta’s National Development and Social Fund (€600,000 or €750,000)
- Purchase a residential property worth at least €700,000 or rent a property with an annual lease of at least €16,000
- A €10,000 donation to an approved Maltese NGO
- Residency in Malta for a minimum of 36 months at the €600,000 contribution level, reduced to 12 months with a higher contribution level of €750,000
- Passing due diligence checks and providing evidence of legal and sufficient financial resources
Clearly, finances are the biggest factor here. If you can meet those financial requirements, you can be fast-tracked to Maltese citizenship. Learn more about the Malta citizenship by investment program.
Malta Citizenship Requirements for Descent
This is the one route where Malta residency requirements are not necessary. Instead, you’ll need a parent or grandparent who was born a Maltese citizen to at least one parent who was born a citizen.
As long as you can prove the above, you meet the requirements.
Learn more about Maltese citizenship by descent.
Malta Citizenship Requirements for Registration (by Marriage)
In Malta, citizenship by marriage happens through something called “registration.” This category actually contains many routes (including certain widows/widowers and children to people who would have been citizens had they been alive long enough to see the country’s independence).
For the vast majority of cases, however, registration is used for people who’ve married a Maltese citizen and want to become one themselves.
The requirements for this are fairly simple:
- Be married to a Maltese citizen for at least 5 years
- Live together for the last 5 years (not necessarily in Malta)
That last line is worth considering. You actually don’t need to live together in Malta—just be living together somewhere. This makes Malta one of the most flexible citizenship-by-marriage countries in the world, though the timeframe is a bit long compared to others.
Also, if your spouse dies but you would still qualify through the above if they were living, you can likely get citizenship by registration.
To learn more about applying for Maltese citizenship through marriage.
Malta Citizenship Requirements for Naturalization
This is the route open to just about anybody. As long as you’ve been mostly living in Malta for the last 7 years, you can likely gain citizenship this way, provided you meet these requirements:
- Live in Malta continuously for the 12 months prior to the application
- Live in Malta for 4 years altogether during the 6 years before the period of 12 months in the requirement above
- Have a good character attested to by two sponsors (one must be in an officially recognized position in society, including a member of Parliament, notary public, judge, police officer, parish priest, etc.)
- Have a basic grasp of the Maltese or English language
Malta residency requirements can be a bit confusing. Essentially, for the first 6 years living here, you’ll need to spend 4 inside the country. Then, spend an entire 12-month period in Malta. Together, that will meet the 7-year residency requirement.
Meet the Malta Citizenship Requirements and Start Your New Life
MDC works with people worldwide through the Maltese citizenship application process. We provide them with the Start to Finish support they need to meet Maltese citizenship requirements, whether that’s filling in gaps in documentation, finding appropriate investments, or any other snag you can imagine.
If you’d like help on this journey, reach out to us. Book a free call with one of our experts and learn what your best next steps are.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I become a Malta dual citizen?
If you can meet the requirements for any of the pathways above and your home country allows dual citizenship, then yes.
What are the Malta residency requirements?
The Malta residency requirements depend on your path of applying
For naturalization, you’ll need to have lived in the country for the last 7 years (you can have gaps adding up to no more than 3 years in that period, and you must live in the country for the entire 12-month stretch before the application).
For citizenship by marriage, you’ll need to have lived with your Maltese spouse for the last 5 years, though not necessarily in Malta.
For citizenship by investment, you’ll need to live in the country for 36 months if you are making a €600,000 contribution, but you’ll only need to live in the country for 12 months if you are making a €750,000 contribution.
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
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