In 2020, the Maltese government announced its renewed citizenship by investment program, which gives the opportunity to investors to obtain Maltese citizenship and contribute to Malta’s growing economy. Malta's citizenship benefits include the freedom of movement & settlement within any of the EU member Countries as well as a free local educational system, a high prosperity index, and one of the most powerful global visa-free travel access including the United States of America. In this article, we’ll explore the Malta citizenship by investment program and the benefits it comes with.
Key Takeaways
- The key benefits of getting Maltese citizenship are visa-free travel, EU citizenship, a high quality of life, and a high prosperity index.
- Malta citizenship benefits for investors are family reunification, business opportunities, an investor-friendly tax system, and high investment returns.
- Maltese citizenship requirements are to be at least 18 years old, be in good health, and have a clean criminal record.
- The main investment opportunities to obtain Maltese citizenship are direct investment, real estate investment, and charity donation.
5 Benefits of Getting a Malta Passport
Over 1500 people have received Malta citizenship since 2014. Why do so many people want a Malta passport? Here are just some benefits:
1. Visa-free travel
Malta citizenship enables its citizens to have visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 190 countries including Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This fact makes the Maltese passport rank as the 5th strongest passport in the world.
2. EU citizenship
Getting Maltese citizenship grants you the right to live, work, and study in the EU. You and your family get access to EU social, educational, and healthcare systems – some of the best in the world.
3. Multiple Citizenship
Malta is one of the few European countries that allows citizens to hold multiple citizenship. That means you can keep your original passport while still acquiring one from Malta.
4. High Quality of Life
Having a growing economy, a high standard of living, and affordable prices, getting citizenship in Malta becomes an attractive option for individuals. Moreover, Malta offers free healthcare and education, enhancing its attractiveness as a place to live and work.
5. High Prosperity Index
Countries can be assessed based on various indexes to determine their overall attractiveness. One of those indexes is the prosperity index which takes into account factors such as business environment, education, governance, safety and security, and personal freedom. Malta ranks 28th in the prosperity index, making Malta citizenship desirable.
4 benefits of getting citizenship in Malta as an Investor
Malta citizenship benefits as an investor are the following:
1. Family reunification
Getting citizenship in Malta can become easier for the applicant’s relatives if they are included in the application. The applicant is allowed to include the following dependents:
- Parents or grandparents over the age of 55
- Spouse
- Children under the age of 18
- Financially dependent children under the age of 29
2. Business Opportunities
Malta citizenship benefits include the possibility to establish and expand your business in Malta as well as the entire EU. Having a favorable business environment, a well-regulated financial sector, a strong legal framework, and supportive governance policies, this country encourages entrepreneurship and innovative business solutions.
3. Investor-friendly tax system
Malta has adopted the full imputation tax system, which is designed to prevent the same income from being taxed multiple times. Here’s how it works: after making a profit and paying corporate tax (35%), the company distributes after-tax profit as dividends to shareholders, including a tax credit for the corporate tax that the company has already paid. After that, shareholders include the dividend and the tax credit in their taxable income and use the tax credit to reduce the amount of personal income tax they need to pay.
As for individuals, Malta has a progressive tax system, meaning the higher an individual’s income is, the higher the tax must be paid. The rate ranges from 0% to 35%
4. High investment returns
One of Malta's citizenship benefits as an investor is that it gives high returns off of real estate property and business. Pay attention to the fact that Malta’s real estate market is growing, more than three million tourists have visited Malta in 2023, providing high rental income. Investing in sectors such as business, finance, technology, and gaming can ensure high investment returns as well.
How to Get Citizenship by Investment in Malta
Before having a look at investment opportunities in Malta, you should make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria. Malta citizenship requirements for investors are:
- To be 18 years old or more
- To be in good health
- To have a clean criminal record
As for the investment part, the main applicant needs to comply with ALL the following requirements:
Maltese Resident
The Main applicant and all the adult applicants of the citizenship application, must have maintained a legal Maltese Residence of a minimum of 12 months.
Real estate investment
Applicants must keep a permanent residence in Malta for 5 years. The applicant can:
- Either Buy a property in Malta for €700,000 or more and maintain its ownership for 5+ years
- Or Lease a property in Malta that has a minimum annual rent of €16,000 for 5+ years. Subleasing the property is not allowed.
Direct Investment
The applicant should make a significant non-refundable investment in the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF). This fund operates on the same level as the central bank and finances projects in the country related to public health, education, job creation, social improvement, and innovation. The applicant should have completed at least 1 year of residency. The investment must be made within 4 months after receiving a letter of approval for your Malta citizenship.
The minimum amount of investment is:
- Single applicant: If the applicant has already completed 3 years of residency in Malta, the minimum amount of investment is €600,000, if he/she has completed only one year of residency, €750,000,
- Spouse: €50,000,
- Other dependents (children/parents): €50,000 each.
Charity Donation
After receiving a letter of approval for Malta’s citizenship by investment, within 4 months the applicant must donate a minimum of €10,000 to a local non-profit organization. Applicants can select from various eligible philanthropic, artistic, sports, scientific, or cultural non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and societies registered in Malta.
The applicant must provide evidence of owning or leasing the property within 4 months after receiving a letter of approval for his/her Malta citizenship.
In order to understand whether this citizenship by investment fits you, what documents you are required to submit, and how to make the overall application process smoother, the specialists behind Mirabello Consultancy Agency are always ready to help you. We’ll help you find out which investment opportunity works best for you, gather all the required documents, and submit the application.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve talked about how to become a citizen of Malta through an investment program, what eligibility criteria you should meet, and investment opportunities. We’ve also highlighted Malta citizenship benefits which include business opportunities, high investment returns, and an improved quality of life.
FAQ
How long does it take to get Malta citizenship?
Depending on the method you choose to apply for Malta citizenship, the period of time may vary. If you choose the citizenship by investment program, you can be naturalized as a Maltese citizen only after 12 months of legal Maltese residency status. If you choose naturalization, obtaining citizenship can take at least 7 years.
Does Malta allow dual citizenship?
Yes, Malta allows dual citizenship. Maltese citizens have been permitted to hold another citizenship since February 2000.
Can investors’ family members get Malta citizenship with them?
One of Malta's citizenship benefits is family reunification, which allows applicants to include their family members, such as spouse, minor and adult children as well as their dependent parents. All of them may naturalize as Maltese Citizens.
