Having Malta dual citizenship offers a unique getaway to the EU. It provides many advantages such as the extension of citizenship to your family, visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 190 countries, business opportunities, and an investor-friendly tax system.
In this article, we’ll cover the main methods to get citizenship in Malta, the requirements for each of the methods, and the whole application process for citizenship by investment program.
Key Takeaways
- Malta allows multiple citizenship, meaning that you can hold even 3 or more passports if the other countries involved have no limits.
- The benefits of Malta's dual citizenship for investors include acquiring a strong passport, an investor-friendly tax system, business opportunities, and high investment returns.
- There are 5 main methods to get citizenship in Malta: citizenship by birth, descent, marriage, investment, and naturalization.
Does Malta allow dual citizenship?
Not only does Malta have the 5th strongest-ranking passport in the world, but it also offers its citizens many other benefits. Citizens enjoy an investor-friendly tax system, visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 190 countries, business opportunities, and dual citizenship. The latter is especially appreciated by those who want to make the most of Malta citizenship and hold the citizenship of their hometown. It’s not only allowed to have Malta dual citizenship but also Malta multiple citizenship, meaning that there are no restrictions on holding three or more passports in Malta as long as the other countries involved have no restrictions.
5 Benefits of Malta dual citizenship for investors
Malta dual citizenship comes with many benefits for the investors. Some of them are:
Visa-free travel
Malta has the 5th strongest passport in the world, having visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 190 countries, including Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Investor-friendly tax system
For individuals, Malta has a progressive tax system, which means that the higher the income is, the higher the tax must be paid. The tax rate varies from 0% to 35%.
As for companies, after making a profit, they pay a corporate tax of 35% and distribute after-tax profit as dividends to shareholders, including a tax credit for the corporate tax that the company has already paid. Afterward, shareholders include the dividend and the tax credit in their taxable income and use the tax credit to reduce the personal income tax they must pay.
Business Opportunities
One of the Malta dual citizenship benefits is the eligibility to establish and expand a business in Malta and other EU countries. Its favorable business environment, well-regulated financial sector, strong legal framework, and supportive governance policies make this country ideal for business goals.
High investment returns
Malta, a country hosting over 3 million tourists last year, gives high returns off of real estate property and business. Investing in business, finance, technology, and entertainment sectors can also ensure high investment returns.
Family extension
Malta dual citizenship allows the applicant to include his/her relatives in the application and makes it easier for them to obtain citizenship. 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
How do you get citizenship in Malta: 5 Methods
There are several methods to obtain citizenship in Malta. The most popular ones are citizenship by birth, descent, marriage, naturalization, and investment. Let’s explore each of these methods.
Citizenship by Birth
Before the 1st of August 1989, if a person was born on Maltese soil, he or she would have automatically become a citizen of the country. After the mentioned date, they can only acquire Maltese citizenship if at least one of their parents has a Maltese passport.
Citizenship by Descent
If you are born outside Malta, but at least one of your ancestors had Maltese citizenship and you can prove it, you can obtain Malta dual citizenship.
Citizenship by Marriage
Foreign spouses can acquire a Malta dual citizenship if they have been married to a Maltese citizen for at least 5 years.
Citizenship by Investment
The citizenship by investment program helps Malta get 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.
Direct Investment
First, you’ll need to 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, you should have completed at least 1 year of residency.
The minimum amount of investment is:
- Single applicant: If you have already completed 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 each.
The investment must be made within 4 months after receiving a letter of approval for your Malta citizenship.
Real estate investment
Within 4 months of receiving a letter of approval for your Malta citizenship, you must:
- Buy a property in Malta for €700,000 or more and keep ownership for 5+ years
or
- Lease a property in Malta with a minimum annual rent of €16,000 for 5+ years.
Charity Donation
Lastly, you must donate a minimum of €10,000 to a local non-profit organization. As an applicant, you can select from various eligible philanthropic, artistic, sports, scientific, or cultural non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and societies registered in Malta.
Citizenship by Naturalization
Obtaining Malta dual citizenship by naturalization is the longest method to obtain citizenship. The method is created for foreigners without Maltese roots who are ready to fulfill certain legal requirements to reside in Malta.
Applicants must have lived in Malta continuously for 12 months before applying and resided in the country for at least four of the past six years before the mentioned 12 months.
Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
We’ve already discussed the 5 most popular methods to get Malta dual citizenship. Each of these methods has its own requirements. Let’s have a look at them.
Citizenship by Birth
For people born in Malta, the required documents to obtain Maltese citizenship are:
- A birth certificate,
- Parents’ birth certificates,
- Parent’s marriage certificate,
- Proof of Parents’ Citizenship (passports / National ID cards / Naturalisation certificates).
Citizenship by Descent
To apply for Malta citizenship by descent, you’ll need to submit the following documents:
- A passport-sized photo,
- A birth certificate,
- Birth certificate of the Maltese descent,
- Passport / ID
- Oath of Allegiance,
Citizenship by Marriage
To obtain Malta dual citizenship by marriage, you must provide:
- A passport-sized photo,
- A birth certificate,
- A filled-in application form,
- A marriage certificate registered in Malta,
- Passports / IDs of both spouses,
- Document proving that the spouses are married 5+ years.
Citizenship by Investment
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.
Citizenship by Naturalization
To apply for Maltese citizenship by naturalization, make sure you meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old,
- Have lived in Malta continuously for 12 months before applying,
- I have lived in Malta for 4 years in the past 6 years before the 12 months mentioned in the previous point,
- Be a good character,
- Has good knowledge of Maltese or English language,
Application process for citizenship by investment program
Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to obtain citizenship by investment:
- Contact a Professional: Working with an agency specialized in citizenship by investment, like Mirabello Consultancy, can make the process smoother.
- Ensure Eligibility: Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Choose the direct investment: You can invest in public health, education, job formulation, social improvement, etc.
- Choose the property and make the investment,
- Choose where to make a 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.
FAQ
Does Malta allow dual citizenship with the US?
Yes, Malta allows dual citizenship with the US, and that’s one of the reasons why Malta's citizenship by investment program is so popular for Mirabello Consultancy’s US clients.
Who is eligible for a Maltese passport?
Eligibility for a Maltese passport includes individuals born in Malta to Maltese parents, those with Maltese ancestry, foreign spouses of Maltese citizens after five years of marriage, investors meeting financial and residency criteria, and long-term residents through naturalization after five years of residence.
Is Malta a strong passport?
According to the Times of Malta, Malta has the 5th strongest passport globally. It has visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 190 countries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, obtaining Malta's dual citizenship in 2024 offers numerous advantages, including a powerful passport, a favorable tax system, extensive business opportunities, high investment returns, and the ability to extend citizenship to family members. Whether through birth, descent, marriage, investment, or naturalization, Malta provides various pathways to citizenship, each with its own set of requirements and benefits. By meeting the eligibility criteria and following the application process, the process of acquiring a Maltese passport becomes smoother.
