Obtaining Malta Citizenship

Malta citizenship may be acquired by children of Maltese passport holders at birth and by foreigners who have lived in the country long enough and fulfilled a number of mandatory conditions. A special simplified procedure for granting citizenship is available to former citizens, their descendants, and migrants who have made a significant contribution to the country's development.

The procedure for acquiring a passport is governed by the Maltese Citizenship Act of 1964 and additional regulations, such as the Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations (SL 188.06). People from many countries around the world seek to obtain a Maltese passport. First, the document ranks fourth in the global passport strength ranking, is considered one of the most prestigious, and provides a high level of visa-free travel. Second, the country is among the wealthiest jurisdictions in the world and ranks highly among EU states in terms of quality of life.

Benefits of Malta Citizenship

A Maltese passport provides a number of important benefits for confidently planning your future, achieving personal fulfillment, and advancing your career, including:

1. visa-free travel to 173 countries worldwide, including destinations where entry permits are difficult to obtain, such as the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Japan;
2. permanent residence and official employment without restrictions in Malta and any other EU country;
3. the establishment and development of a business in the European market, with the option to choose the most advantageous jurisdiction and receive state support through funding and grant programs;
4. the ability to use the services of leading European banks and obtain cards, accounts, and loans on the terms available to EU citizens;
5. access to high-quality medical care under the state insurance program;
6. the opportunity to pursue higher education at the best universities in Europe free of charge or at reduced tuition rates available to EU citizens.

You can enjoy similar benefits with a passport from any other EU country. All European Union citizens have equal rights throughout its territory, with only a minor difference in the number of visa-free destinations. Therefore, those seeking to become European citizens should choose the simplest available programs.

You can learn about options for obtaining European citizenship quickly from our specialists. During the initial consultation, the company's lawyers will analyze your situation and propose the optimal solution.

Main Ways to Obtain Malta Citizenship

A foreign national can obtain Malta citizenship in one of four ways. The most common option is naturalization, but it takes a very long time and requires compliance with strict conditions. The country previously had an investment program that did not allow applicants to purchase a Maltese passport directly but made it possible to naturalize more quickly. The program ceased to operate in 2025.

Naturalization

Naturalization is a process in which an immigrant moves to the country, lives there for an extended period, learns the language, complies with local laws, and ultimately becomes a full member of society. In Malta, this process takes at least five years. You must arrive on the island with a visa and obtain a residence permit on one of the established grounds. This may be done, for example, through employment, business, or family reunification. The permit must then be renewed on time while maintaining the basis for your stay in the country. After five years, you become eligible to obtain permanent residence. After one year of continuous residence in Malta and provided that all naturalization requirements are met, you may apply for a passport if you previously spent four of the preceding six years on the island.

Spouses of Maltese citizens may obtain citizenship under a special procedure. The standard naturalization rules do not apply to them, and prior residence in the country is not required at all. The main condition is that the marriage must have lasted for at least five years and the couple must have lived together, even if abroad. A foreign spouse may obtain Malta citizenship even after the death of the Maltese spouse, provided that the marriage had lasted for five years at the time of application.

Investment

Until recently, Malta operated an investment program under which a passport could not be obtained immediately but could be acquired within a shorter period. With a direct investment of at least EUR 600,000 in the country's economy, naturalization took three years instead of six, while an investment of at least EUR 750,000 reduced the period to 12 months. These were not the only expenses. Applicants were also required to purchase real estate worth at least EUR 700,000 or rent property for at least five years at an annual cost of at least EUR 16,000. A contribution of EUR 10,000 had to be made to a charitable fund. The process followed this sequence: the applicant made the investment under the selected three-year or one-year scheme, obtained a residence permit on that basis, and applied for citizenship after the prescribed period. Family members could obtain Maltese passports together with the applicant.

The country's legislation was amended in 2025. Direct investment is no longer a basis for granting immigration status. Investors, philanthropists, and distinguished individuals who have contributed to the country's development may receive citizenship by decision of the Government of Malta.

Registration

The law defines three categories of applicants who do not need to undergo naturalization. An applicant may become a citizen of Malta simply by registering their status. This option is available to:

1. former citizens of the country who lost their status for any reason;
2. children of Maltese mothers who were not granted citizenship at birth;
3. direct descendants of Maltese citizens, provided that they and their ancestors were born on the island.

After preparing documentary evidence that they belong to one of the listed categories, applicants may submit an application immediately. They do not need to live in the country in advance or meet additional conditions.

Requirements and Procedure for Obtaining Malta Citizenship

In 2026, applicants seeking Malta citizenship through naturalization must meet the following requirements:

1. reside continuously in the country for four of the six years of the naturalization period and for an additional 12 months before submitting the application;
2. have sufficient knowledge of Maltese or English for communication;
3. be law-abiding and a worthy member of Maltese society, with no legal issues, criminal convictions, or offenses.

Applicants must also have two citizen sponsors, one of whom must belong to a specified profession, such as a judge, lawyer, or doctor, and both must be willing to provide recommendations for the foreign applicant. No financial participation is required from them, but they must confirm that the applicant is worthy of becoming a citizen of Malta.

The citizenship process proceeds as follows:

1. Arrival in the Country and Obtaining a Residence Permit. An application for a residence permit may be submitted only within the country through the Identity Malta Agency. This means that you must travel to Malta on a D visa, having first applied for it at a consulate. The application is submitted on the same basis that will subsequently be used to obtain the residence permit. The procedure takes several weeks; the first residence permit is issued for a period of at least one year and must be renewed. After five years, you may apply to the Identity Malta Agency for permanent residence. A decision is made within 30 days, after which you will hold an indefinite status in the country.
2. Preparing Documents for a Citizenship Application. Once all naturalization requirements have been met, you may begin preparing the file for registering a citizenship application. You will need to complete an application form and attach a passport-size photograph, birth and marriage certificates where applicable, a passport, a residence permit, a police certificate, an employment history, a residential lease agreement, and a letter explaining the reasons for applying for citizenship. Various receipts, an employment contract, bank statements, and utility payment records must be used to prove that you lived in Malta throughout the required period.
3. Obtaining Malta Citizenship. An application for citizenship is submitted through the Identity Malta Agency. No exact processing period has been established, and it is not possible to check the status of the application. Once the application is approved, you will be invited to take the oath. At the end of the ceremony, you will receive a citizenship certificate, on the basis of which you may apply for a Maltese passport at the passport office. The document is normally issued within four working days for a fee of EUR 70-80, or within several hours for a fee of EUR 140.

If you do not want to spend five to seven years and complete all the stages described above in order to settle in Malta, contact our company for a consultation. Our specialists will explain the current simplified EU citizenship programs, help you choose the best option, and provide support throughout the immigration process.

How Much Time and Money Are Required to Obtain Malta Citizenship

The time and cost involved in obtaining Malta citizenship depend on the method used:

1. Naturalization: your period of residence must be at least five years. Including the time required to obtain temporary and permanent residence permits and to await the outcome of the citizenship application, the process will take approximately seven years. A fee of EUR 450 is payable when submitting the application, and EUR 50 is charged for issuing the certificate. Tens of thousands of euros will have to be spent on living in the country for several years, as confirmed by reviews from immigrants who have obtained citizenship. One month on the island, excluding rental costs, will cost approximately EUR 800.
2. Marriage and registration: in this case, residence in the country is not required, so living expenses are excluded. Only several months will be needed to collect the documents and await a decision. The fees are EUR 150 for submitting the application and EUR 50 for the certificate.

What Does Not Work: How a Maltese Passport Cannot Be Obtained

Several myths are associated with obtaining Malta citizenship and may be misleading, create false expectations for the future, or even lead to violations. Among the nonexistent ways of obtaining a passport on the island that are still discussed are:

1. Childbirth. Some countries apply the principle of jus soli, under which foreigners may enter the country, give birth to a child, and automatically obtain local citizenship for the child. Malta does not provide this option. Citizenship is granted only to children of Maltese citizens, while foreigners who arrange for childbirth in Malta pass on only their own citizenship by descent to the child.
2. Marriage. Marriage to a citizen of the country significantly simplifies the process of obtaining citizenship. In many countries, even spouses must live in the country for a certain period and meet various naturalization conditions, whereas in Malta the process is much simpler: applicants need only confirm that the marriage has lasted for five years. Such favorable conditions lead many people to believe that citizenship can be obtained through a sham marriage. We do not recommend attempting this. Although the procedure for spouses is simplified, the authenticity of the marriage is verified. If a sham relationship is discovered, you are unlikely ever to be able to immigrate to Malta or another EU country in the future.
3. Investment. Malta did indeed have an investment program, but it was terminated in 2025. At present, citizenship may be granted only for exceptional services to the state. Each such case is exceptional, so this route is suitable for only a very small number of applicants.

It is difficult to determine how the myths listed above arose. With regard to investment, not everyone is aware that the program has already been abolished following recommendations from the European Commission. As for childbirth and marriage, potential migrants most likely misinterpret certain provisions of the law because they lack experience. This is precisely why it is important to work with professional lawyers in order to avoid mistakes and risks and to pursue your goal lawfully.

Specialists will help you choose the fastest and most advantageous way to obtain EU citizenship. For example, under simplified programs, a passport can be obtained within 12 months. Contact us for a consultation, and we will explain this in greater detail.

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Dual Citizenship in Malta: Is It Permitted to Hold Multiple Passports?

Multiple citizenship has been permitted in Malta since 1989. This means that when obtaining a passport by any method, you will not have to renounce your original citizenship. As a result, you will hold two citizenship statuses and enjoy all the benefits they provide. However, keep in mind that each country will recognize you only as its own citizen. This will not affect the scope of your rights, but the number of your obligations may increase.

Strictly speaking, dual citizenship is possible only when an appropriate agreement exists between two countries. Malta has no such agreements, as is also the case for most countries worldwide. Therefore, in Malta you may obtain only a second citizenship, together with the full range of rights associated with it.

Where Is It Faster and Easier to Obtain a Second Passport? An Overview of Alternatives

To obtain Malta citizenship, you will have to travel to the country on a visa and allow five to seven years for the passport process. Such a long waiting period is a significant disadvantage. It is therefore worth considering alternative solutions that may prove more advantageous.

For residence in the EU, it generally makes no difference which passport you hold, provided that it was issued by an EU member state. You may live on the island and enjoy the same rights as local residents with citizenship of any European Union country. Therefore, you should not limit yourself solely to Maltese programs if they do not suit you in certain respects.

You may consider any current mechanism for obtaining an EU passport. For example, citizenship in Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia can be obtained under simplified programs within 12 months. To obtain a second passport, you do not need to reside in the country, obtain temporary or permanent residence, or meet other complex naturalization requirements. The program conditions are simple and easy to fulfill. Learn more about simplified ways to obtain EU citizenship and assess your chances during a consultation with our company's specialists. The doors to Europe are ready to open for you - do not miss this opportunity.