Malta's citizenship by investment program is a great opportunity for those who want to obtain a European citizenship and access many benefits such as an investor-friendly tax system, visa-free travel, high-class health care, top educational system, and a high-quality life.
In this article, we’ll talk about the citizenship by investment program in Malta, officially known as the Malta Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment, explain how it works, how much Malta citizenship costs, the requirements to apply for the program, and how the overall process goes.
Key Takeaways
- There are a handful of costs associated with Malta citizenship by investment. You must secure a leased property, make donations, and pay for governmental administration fees.
- The process of getting Maltese citizenship includes the following steps: contacting an experienced agent to assist you during the process, researching and choosing the investment option, meeting the eligibility criteria, calculating the Malta citizenship costs, making a direct investment, lease or purchase a property, and making a charity donation.
- Applicants need to meet the eligibility criteria which mainly relate to age, clear criminal record, health, and financial requirements.
What is a Citizenship-by-Investment Program in Malta and How Does it Work?
Like some other European countries, Malta has a citizenship-by-investment program that aims to attract investments and offer Maltese citizenship instead. The previous citizenship by-investment program was closed in August 2020 after giving citizenship to 1800 applicants. Then, Malta created new regulations and launched the new program by the end of 2020, called, Malta Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment. According to the program, the applicant must fulfill all of the following minimum requirements:
- Maltese Resident for a minimum of 12 months,
- Make a direct investment,
- Maintain a residential property,
- Make a charity donation.
Malta's citizenship by investment program comes with many benefits, such as:
1. Visa-free travel: Holding a Maltese passport, which is the 5th strongest passport in the world, you can travel to 190 countries including Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2. EU citizenship: Having EU citizenship, you can live, work and study in EU/EEA countries.
3. Family reunification: One of the program’s benefits is the option to include your relatives in the application. As an applicant, you’re allowed to include:
- Parents over the age of 55
- Spouse
- Children under the age of 18
- Financially dependent children under the age of 29
4. Business opportunities: With a growing economy and favorable tax system, you can establish and expand your business in Malta or other European countries.
You can read more about the benefits of holding a Maltese passport in this article.
How Much Does Malta Citizenship Cost?
To calculate the Malta passport price, you should consider the length of the residency period and additional expenses related to family members and property. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:
Direct Contribution to the National Development and Social Fund
To apply for citizenship by investment program, you must complete at least 1 year of residency in Malta. Afterward, you need to make a non-refundable investment in the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF), which 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 minimum amount of investment varies depending on the number of dependents included in the application.:
- Main applicant: If you have already completed 1 or 3 years of residency in Malta, the minimum amount of investment is €600,000, if you have completed only one year of residency, €750,000,
- Spouse: €50,000,
- Other dependents (children/parents): €50,000 (for each of the dependent).
Charity Donation
After receiving the official Approval in Principle, you’ll have 4 months to donate at least €10,000 to local non-profit organizations. You can select artistic, sports, scientific, or cultural non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and societies registered in Malta.
Malta Real Estate Investment
While calculating Malta's passport cost, you should remember that you need to maintain a residential property as an applicant, you must keep it for the first 5 years. These two options are permitted:
- 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.
You need to provide evidence of owning or leasing the property within 4 months after receiving a letter of approval for his/her Malta citizenship.
Additional Government Fees
Besides making investments and donating, Malta citizenship costs include government fees.
- Residence permit fee:
- Main applicant: €5,000,
- Other dependents: €1,000 (each),
- Residence card: €27,50 per card,
- Citizenship eligibility due diligence fee:
- Main applicant: €15,000,
- Other dependents (above the age of 12): €10,000 (for each of the dependents),
- Citizenship eligibility administrative fee: €1,000 (for each of the dependent),
- Citizenship administrative fee: €500 (for each of the dependents),
- Other costs:
- Health insurance coverage,
- Legal fees (may vary based on the number of dependents)
Malta Citizenship Requirements for the Investment Program
Before applying for citizenship by investment program in Malta, ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. As an applicant, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old,
- Be a legal Maltese Resident for 12 months
- 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,
- Make an investment of at least €600,000 if you completed 36 months of residency in Malta, or €750,000 if you completed 12 months of residency,
- Buy a property in Malta that costs at least €700,000, or lease a property that has a minimum annual rent of €16,000.
- Hold the property that you bought or rented for at least 5 years.
How to Get Citizenship by Investment in Malta?
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to obtain citizenship in Malta:
1. Contact a professional: Consider finding and contacting an experience Agency for assistance through the entire application process. Mirabello Consultany Agency is a reputable agency specializing in citizenship by investment programs and can provide expert advice aligned with your needs.
2. Research and Choose an Investment Option: You need to choose the real estate investment option that aligns with your financial capabilities. To obtain a Malta passport by investment, you need to
- Make a direct investment in the National Development and Social Fund. Depending on how many months of residency you’ve completed in Malta, the amount of the minimum required investment may vary.
- Purchase a property, or lease it. You’ll need to hold it for at least 5 years.
- Make a donation. You can choose artistic, sports, scientific, or cultural non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and societies registered in Malta.
3. Understand the Eligibility Criteria: Make sure that you meet all the requirements.
4. Calculate the Malta Citizenship by Investment Cost: Besides making the direct investment, purchasing a property, and making a donation in Malta, you’ll need to consider additional government fees such as residence permit fees, due diligence fees, and administrative fees.
5. Gather required documents: Collect all necessary documentation required for the citizenship application process. It typically includes a passport or travel document, birth certificate, police clearance certificate, medical certificate, bank statements, investment confirmation documents, passport-size photographs, and completed application forms.
6. Submit the application to the Government: Prepare all the required documents, ensure all the application forms are completed and all the fees are paid before submitting the Citizenship application to the government.
7. Receive approval and make investments: After receiving the official Approval in Principle, make all the necessary investments and donations within 4 months.
FAQ
Is it easy to get citizenship in Malta?
Malta has one of the most accessible citizenship investment programs in the EU. However, documentation and overall the process may be time-consuming and complex. That’s why it’s advisable to consult with a trustworthy agency first.
What is the easiest citizenship in Europe?
There are several countries in Europe that are easy to get citizenship in. The list of these countries includes Malta, Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Cyprus.
How long does it take to get Malta citizenship?
There are several methods to acquire Malta’s passport, such as naturalization, marrying a citizen, and citizenship by investment program. Depending on the method you choose, the time required to obtain citizenship may vary. For example, with the citizenship by investment program, you can apply for citizenship after holding your investment for 5 years. If you choose naturalization, obtaining citizenship can take at least 7 years.
Is Malta in Schengen?
Yes, there are 29 countries in the Schengen area and Malta is one of them.
Conclusion
Malta, a European country known for its benefits like holding a strong passport, allowing you to extend your family, having great business opportunities, and a growing economy, offers an accessible citizenship-by-investment program. In this article, we’ve broken down the costs associated with Malta's citizenship, covered the requirements for the program, and the steps that need to be taken to obtain citizenship. If you want to have EU citizenship, live and work in an EU country, start your business in a growing economy, hold a strong passport, or just have a high rental income, consider applying for Malta’s citizenship by investment program.
