How to Get Citizenship in Malta | 3 Easiest Ways

Malta is one of the few EU countries that allows for multiple citizenships, visa-free travel to 190 countries, and high investment returns. There are many ways to get citizenship in Malta such as citizenship by marriage, descent, or family reunification, there’s also an option created especially for investors. In 2020, Malta launched its new citizenship-by-investment program, officially known as Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment. In this article, we are going to cover how to get Malta citizenship by investment, its benefits, investment opportunities, and how to get Malta citizenship by investment.

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Key Takeaways 

• The main benefits of obtaining citizenship in Malta as an investor are a strong global visa-free travel, family reunification, an investor-friendly tax system, high investment returns, business opportunities, and multiple citizenship permission.
• There are 3 requirements you must follow to obtain citizenship by investment in Malta: direct investment, real estate investment, and charity donation.
• To obtain citizenship in Malta, you need to contact a professional, ensure you meet eligibility criteria, choose the type of investment, submit the application, and within the next 4 months after receiving the letter of approval-in-principle for your citizenship, you execute with the investment. 

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What is a Citizenship by Investment Program and How Does it Work in Malta?

If you’re looking for information on how to get Malta citizenship, you’ve probably looked into the citizenship by investment program. This program, which was announced in 2020, helps you and your family get Maltese citizenship by contributing to Malta’s economic development. As an investor, you’ll need to make the minimum amount of investment and reside in this country for 12 or 36 months. After direct investment, you must maintain a residential property for the following 5 years and make a one-time charity donation.

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6 Benefits of Getting Citizenship in Malta as an Investor

1. Visa-free travel

Many people are interested in how to get Malta citizenship because of its strong passport. The Maltese passport ranks as the 5th highest passport in the world and allows its holders to travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 190 countries including every country in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and many more.

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2. Family Reunification

As an investor, you can include your relatives in the application for citizenship. The applicant can include the following dependents:

• Spouse
• Parents of the Main applicant and Spouse, over the age of 55
• Children under the age of 18
• Financially dependent children under the age of 29

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3. Investor-friendly tax system

Malta is one of the few EU countries that has implemented the full imputation tax system, aiming to prevent the same income from being taxed multiple times. Here's how it works: After earning a profit and paying the 35% corporate tax, the company distributes the after-tax profit as dividends to shareholders, along with a tax credit for the corporate tax already paid. Afterward, shareholders include both the dividend and the tax credit in their taxable income. They can use the tax credit to reduce the amount of personal income tax they owe. 

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4. High investment returns

Many people are interested in how to get Malta citizenship by investment because they are attracted by high investment returns. Considering the fact that there have been more than 3 million tourists in Malta in 2023, investors can buy a property.

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5. Business opportunities

Getting Maltese citizenship gives you an opportunity to establish and expand your business in EU countries. Malta provides 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.

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6. Multiple Citizenship

There’s good news for people who wonder whether Malta allows dual citizenship. The country allows multiple citizenship, so if you want to have a new EU passport and hold your previous citizenship, it’s an excellent choice for you and your next generation.

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Citizenship by Investment: How Can You Become an Investor in Malta?

There are 3 main steps you should follow to obtain Maltese citizenship:

1. Direct Investment

With the first step, the applicant must make a non-refundable investment in the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF). It funds projects like public health, education, job formulation, social improvement, etc.

To be eligible for this type of investment, the applicant should have completed at least 1 year of residency. 

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.

The investment must be made within 4 months after receiving a letter of approval for your Malta citizenship. 

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2. Real estate investment

Within 4 months of receiving a letter of approval for your Malta citizenship he/she must:

• Buy a property in Malta for €700,000 or more and maintain its ownership for 5+ years

• Lease a property in Malta that has a minimum annual rent of €16,000 for 5+ years. Subleasing the property is not allowed.

The purchased or rented property must be held for at least five years.

3. Charity Donation

During the next 4 months after receiving a letter of approval for Malta’s citizenship by investment, 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.

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Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for Maltese citizenship by investment, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. As an applicant, you should

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have established a Maltese residence
• Be in good health
• Have a clean criminal record
• If you include dependents, they can be your spouse, parents, or grandparents above the age of 55, children under the age of 18, or from 18 to 29 who are financially dependent.
• Be able to make the minimum amount of investment

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How to Get Malta Citizenship Through an Investment Program?

If you’re wondering how to get Malta citizenship by an investment program, here are the steps you should follow:

• Contact a Professional: Work with an agency specializing in citizenship by investment, like Mirabello Consultancy, to guide you through the process.
• Ensure Eligibility: Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
• Choose the type of investment:  Select from options like direct investment, real estate investment, and charity donation.
• Submit the application to the Government: After preparing all the necessary documents, submit the application.
• Receive a letter of approval for Malta citizenship
• Make the investment: Within the next 4 months after receiving the letter of approval for your citizenship, make the investment.

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Conclusion

In this article, we’ve talked about how to get Malta citizenship, focusing on citizenship through the investment program. We’ve highlighted all the benefits of this program, including family reunification, an investor-friendly tax system, and business opportunities. After listing the 3 main steps required for citizenship, we’ve also talked about the eligibility criteria and overall submission process. If you’re interested in obtaining Maltese citizenship, our professionals are always happy to guide you.

FAQ

How long does it take to get Malta citizenship?

First of all, you’ll need to understand how to become a citizen of Malta. Depending on the naturalization path you choose, the time required to obtain the citizenship and passport may vary. For example, with the Malta citizenship by investment program, you can apply for citizenship after only 12 months. If you choose naturalization through a different path, obtaining citizenship can take at least 5-7 years.

Is Malta cheap to live in?

Compared to many EU countries, like Germany, Spain, or France, Malta is considered more affordable. The cost of living for a single person (without the rent) is about €807 per month.

How easy is it to get Maltese citizenship?

Getting citizenship in Malta can be a complex and time-consuming process. Depending on the option you choose to obtain citizenship, the number of documents, money, and the minimum amount of stay may vary. That’s why it’s recommended to consult with a trustworthy agency from the start.