Malta Citizenship by Investment: Complete Guide
STEP BY STEP GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING FOR THE MALTA GOLDEN VISA
Malta Golden Visa Program
A few countries in the EU offer a “Golden Visa” program to provide investors an opportunity to obtain a long-term visa in a given country. Malta, however, is very unique as the Malta Golden Visa program goes a step further. The Malta citizenship by investment program offers a complete route to full citizenship as an expedited process—as long as you make a qualifying investment in the economy and meet their requirements.
Because the Malta citizenship by investment program offers investors significant European Union benefits, it’s a highly popular option for people looking to get an EU passport. Malta is a gorgeous nation, and becoming a Maltese citizen allows you access to the European Union by obtaining a Malta passport by investment.
Below, we cover the Malta nationality by investment program (sometimes called the Malta Golden Visa) in depth to help you learn how to qualify and complete Malta investment citizenship.
Malta Citizenship by Investment At a Glance
Malta Golden Passport - Requirements Overview
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| General Requirements | ● At least 18 years old ● No active criminal investigations ● Pass national security and background checks ● No visa denials for countries with visa waivers with Malta ● Not on the US travel ban list ● No ties to Afghanistan, Belarus, DRC, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Yemen |
| Contribution | One of the following: ● €600,000: Requires 36 months of legal residence ● €750,000: Requires 12 months of legal residence |
| Property | One of the following: ● Purchase property worth at least €700,000 (held for 5 years) ● Rent property with a minimum annual lease of €16,000 (held for 5 years) |
| Donation | Minimum €10,000 to a registered Maltese NGO |
Malta Golden Visa Process (Step-by-Step)
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Initial Residency | ● Apply for a residence permit ● Make qualifying real estate purchase or rental agreement |
| 2. Citizenship Application | ● Submit application within 12 months of receiving a residence card |
| 3. Due Diligence | ● Four-tier background checks for all applicants |
| 4. Approval | ● Approval in principle takes 4-6 months ● Additional 2-3 months for processing final approval |
| 5. Naturalization | ● Complete investments and NGO donation ● Take the oath of allegiance within 6 months of approval |
Malta Golden Visa Cost Breakdown
| Cost | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial Residency | ● Permit: €10,000 ● Application: €5,000 (plus €1,000 per dependent) ● Residency card: €27.50 |
| Due Diligence Fees | ● Main Applicant: €15,000 ● Benefactor: €15,000 ● Per Dependent: €10,000 ● Admin Fee: €1,000 |
| Investment Options | ● Contribution: €600,000 (36-month residence) or €750,000 (12-month residence) ● Property: €700,000 purchase or €16,000 annual rent (5 years minimum) ● Donation: €10,000 to an NGO |
| Other Fees | ● Citizenship application fee: €500 |
| Estimated Total (Single Applicant) | ~€1,341,527.50 (smaller contribution, property purchase, no dependents) |
What Is Malta Nationality by Investment?
This pathway to Maltese citizenship involves making a direct investment in the country of Malta along with a charitable donation and the buying or leasing of property in the country. That will give you a relatively expedited residency requirement, so you’ll only need to live in the country for one year (or 3 years if you want to make a smaller contribution).
The official name of the program is Malta Citizenship with Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES), also known as the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization (MEIN).
The Malta nationality by investment program started in 2013 when changes to the Maltese Citizenship Act created a few qualifying investment types. The minimum investment amounts were quickly raised, and after pushback from the European Commission, a short 12-month residence requirement was added.
The country has always set a hard limit of 1,800 people per year who can get Malta nationality by investment. When the number of applicants starts growing close to this limit, the Malta parliament typically takes action by adjusting the requirements.
In 2020, the Malta Golden Visa capital requirements were increased yet again, and a tier system was implemented so that smaller investments require a longer residence requirement.
Currently, Malta citizenship by investment applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens are not allowed.
Note: Learn more information on other paths for how to get Maltese citizenship and a Maltese passport.
Requirements for Maltese Citizenship by Investment
The Malta citizenship by investment program breaks down the requirements into two different sections. The first is the general requirements for naturalization, and the second are the rules surrounding what investments qualify. You’ll realize that the size of your investment can significantly reduce how long you will be required to live in the country to become a citizen of Malta by investment (the residence requirement).
Malta Citizenship by Investment Requirements
- At least 18-years old
- Not actively under criminal investigation
- Determined to be safe for national security and reputation (this will require passing background checks)
- Have never been denied a visa to any country that has a visa waiver agreement with Malta
- Not on the US travel ban list
- No ties to, connections with, business transactions with, or residences in Afghanistan, Belarus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Yemen
Investment and Residence Requirements
There are three primary components to this section of requirements:
1. Contribution and Residence
The first and most important element is contributing to the National Development and Social Fund. There are two tiers of contribution, each with their own residency requirement:
- €600,000: You’ll need 36 months of legal residence
- €750,000: You’ll need 12 months of legal residence
The residence begins when you first apply for a residence card from Malta.
2. Property
You’ll then need to either purchase or lease property. That means one of the following:
- buy a property worth at least €700,000
or - lease a property with a minimum annual rent of €16,000
You’ll need to hold onto this property for at least 5 years.
3. Donation
Finally, you’ll need to donate at least €10,000 to a registered Maltese non-governmental organization (NGO).
Application Process for Maltese Citizenship by Investment
- Initial Residency: Applicants file for their residence permit and make their qualifying real estate purchase or rental agreement. The permit costs €10,000, the application costs €5,000 for you and €1,000 for each dependent, and the residency card costs €27.50.
- Citizenship Application: Within 12 months of getting your residence card, you will submit a Maltese citizenship application. Administrative fees at this step cost €500.
- Due Diligence: A four-tier due diligence process looks into your background and the background of your dependents. You will pay significant fees to fund this entire portion of the application process. That costs €15,000 for you, €15,000 for your benefactor (if any), and €10,000 per dependent. You’ll also need to pay €1,000 in administrative fees.
- Approval: This takes anywhere between 4 to 6 months. Processing after this might take 2 to 3 more months. Your approval is in principle, as you’ll need to complete the final step to fully naturalize.
- Naturalization: At this point, you are ready to make your direct investment and charitable donation to a Maltese NGO. This makes everything official. Within 6 months of getting your citizenship, you’ll need to take an oath of allegiance.
Learn more about applying for Maltese citizenship.
How Much Does Malta Dual Citizenship by Investment Cost?
Altogether, if you have no dependents, are opting to buy real estate (rather than rent), and are making a smaller contribution, you can expect to pay a total of about €1,341,527.50.
Of course, changing any of those factors will change your total cost to complete citizenship by investment with Malta.
How Long Does Malta Investment Citizenship Take?
You can expect the whole process to take anywhere from 1.5 to 4 years. This is largely determined by the contribution tier you choose. There are ways to expedite the Malta golden visa process.
In comparison to other Golden Visa options in the EU, Malta is among the very shortest timelines to obtain citizenship in the European Union. In fact, EU boards have pressured Malta to expand the residence requirements. Due to pressure, they create residence requirements, so if you are intent on obtaining an EU passport through the Malta citizenship by investment program, it’s worth getting started as quickly as possible. This will grandfather you into the very short process the program offers today.
As you’ll see below, making significantly contributions might still set you up for a path to citizenship, but this will expand to 7 years to fully naturalize.
What If I Can’t Afford the Investment? Try Malta Residency by Investment
If the minimum investment for the Malta citizenship by investment program is too high for your budget, you can take advantage of a different Maltese program called Malta Residency by Investment. This Permanent Residency Program does not provide full citizenship but allows you to live in the country freely.
The best part? The investment minimums are much lower:
- Donate €2000 to a Maltese NGO
- Buy a real estate property for at least €350,000 (that goes down to €300,000 if purchased in the South of Malta) or rent a property at the rate of €12,000 per year (€10,000 per year in the South of Malta)
- Directly pay Malta €58,000 (that number goes down to €28,000 if you own real estate in the country)
This program has no residence requirements, so you can enjoy the benefits of living in Malta immediately. After 7 years, you will qualify for naturalization.
You might also consider citizenship by descent and citizenship by marriage as other options to get Maltese citizenship and a Maltese passport.
Is There Help Getting a Malta Passport by Investment?
MDC can help you through the full Maltese citizenship by investment application process. It is a complex process and significant amount of money, so you want to be confident your application is handled professionally to prevent unnecessary delays. We have a dedicated team of lawyers, genealogists, officially registered translators, and Maltese citizenship professionals that assist clients worldwide in obtaining Maltese citizenship by investment.
Interested in learning more about getting a Malta passport by investment?
We offer a free consultation call to review your situation and options with an Maltese citizenship expert.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much does it cost to get residency in Malta?
If you want to go through the citizenship by investment program, the application and permit costs to get a residency card are €15,000. That number goes up €1,000 per dependent.
Other investments will cost significantly more than that.
Is Malta a good place to invest?
The answer depends greatly on your focus. But because of its orientation to business growth and favorable taxation policies, investors generally consider it a great place to invest.
How much to invest in Malta to get citizenship?
There are two levels of qualifying investment: €600,000 and €750,000.
But be warned. Getting Malta citizenship by investment has additional costs that can nearly double your final price tag. This includes buying real estate (although renting can also qualify you) and significant fees along the way—both for processing and paying for investigation procedures to thoroughly check your background.
Can an American become a citizen of Malta?
Yes, there are no restrictions for Americans to become dual citizens.
Can I get residency in Malta if I buy a house?
Yes, but you’ll also need to make charitable donations and direct investment in the government. The amounts required depend on whether you want Malta residency by investment or to become a full citizen in the shortest time possible.
How long do you have to live in Malta to get citizenship by investment?
It depends on the tier of contribution you make:
- €600,000: 36-month residency requirement
- €750,000: 12-month residency requirement
What is the Golden Visa for Malta?
The “Malta Golden Visa” is a misnomer for its citizenship by investment program. If you make a significant contribution to the government, a sizeable charitable donation, can pass a deep background check, do not have ties to enemy states, and are willing to buy a house or rent property above a certain amount, you can become a citizen on a very short timeline (1.5 to 4 years total).
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
Contact Us
Malta has favorable Golden Visa laws which allow you to become an EU citizen. Contact us at (213) 672-6522 to learn if you qualify.
