ᐉ FAQ | Malta Citizenship

As your licenced Malta citizenship agent, we will guide you fully through every stage and with every requirement of the Maltese Citizenship by Direct Investment rules. But if you’re curious about what the process entails, below are our Frequently Asked Questions about the Granting of Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if your question is not covered by the the Maltese Citizenship FAQs below.

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FAQ: Who is eligible to apply for Maltese Citizenship by Direct Investment?

The Granting of Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations is open to individuals of good repute who are able to pass the strict due diligence.
To apply for the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment, the main applicant and qualifying family members shall be eligible if they:

Have completed the required residence period of either 36 months or by exception, 12 months against a higher investment
Have passed an eligibility assessment by a licenced citizenship agent.
Contribute to Malta through an Exceptional Direct Investment due at the end of the approval process.
Undertake to take an Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of Malta
Provide a clean Police Conduct Certificate from each country or countries of citizenship and from each country he/she has resided in for a minimal cumulative period of 6 months in the last 10 years. If not issued in English, police conduct certificates must be accompanied by a certified translation.
Provide a declaration by a medical doctor that the applicant and qualifying family members are in good health, not suffering from any contagious disease, and not likely to become a burden on the Maltese public health system
Do not have an entry visa denial to any country with which Malta has visa-free arrangements (without subsequently obtaining a visa from that same country)

FAQ: What are the Main Requirements under the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment?

Prior to submitting a citizenship application under the Maltese Citizenship by Direct Investment Regulations, the applicant shall provide a title to a residential property in Malta. If the Minister is satisfied that the applicant meets the necessary criteria, the applicant is to submit the relevant forms and supporting documents. The applicant shall not submit the citizenship application before he has completed the residence requirement.

To apply for the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment, he applicant is required to submit:

Proof of residence in Malta for at least thirty-six (36) months or by exception of (12) months against a higher investment, preceding the date of application
Undertaking to purchase a residential property worth at least €700,000 or rent a property for a minimum annual rent of €16,000, which shall be kept for a minimum of five (5) years from the oath of allegiance
Undertaking to donate prior to the issue of a certificate of naturalisation, a minimum of €10,000 to a registered and compliant philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific, animal welfare or artistic NGO or society
Undertake to make a non-refundable investment of €600,000 when the application is submitted after 36 months of residence or €750,000 when the application is submitted after 12 months of residence
Undertake to make a non-refundable investment of €50,000 for each dependant
Once this is submitted, the Agency shall evaluate the application and submit a report to the Minister responsible for citizenship. If the Malta Citizenship application is approved, the Community Malta Agency shall issue a Letter of Approval in Principle to the Applicant. The applicant shall be required to complete the process and take the Oath of Allegiance within six (6) months from the approval.

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Can family members of the Main Applicant be included as dependants under the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment Regulations

An applicant applying under the Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations can include in a citizenship application the following dependents:

The spouse in a monogamous marriage or partner having the same or similar status. The term spouse shall be construed as gender neutral
A child of the Main Applicant or the spouse under the age of eighteen (18)
An economically dependent and unmarried child of the Main Applicant or the spouse who has not yet attained the age of twenty-nine (29), at the time when the citizenship application is accepted by the Agency
A child of the Main Applicant or the spouse, including an adopted child who at the time of the application has attained the age of eighteen (18) and is qualified as a person with a disability
An economically dependent parent or grandparent of the Main Applicant or the spouse above the age of 55

FAQ: Are applicants required to pay a donation to voluntary organisation under the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment Regulations?

Yes, an applicant is required to make a philanthropic donation of €10,000 to a local and compliant registered philanthropic, cultural, sport, scientific, animal welfare or artistic NGO registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, or as otherwise approved by the Agency.

FAQ: Are Due Diligence Fees payable for all family members when submitting an application for Malta Citizenship ?

When submitting an application for Maltese citizenship under these regulations the following due diligence fees are to be paid:

€15,000 – Main Applicant
€10,000 – Each Dependant
€15,000 – Benefactor (if applicable)

Due diligence fees are applicable to persons who are over the age of 12 years.

FAQ: Which Nationalities are precluded from applying for Maltese Citizenship by Direct Investment?

Applicants who are nationals of or have close ties to the following listed countries shall not be eligible to apply under the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment.

List of nationalities ineligible for Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment:

Afghanistan
the Democratic Republic of Congo
Iran
North Korea
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Venezuela
Yemen.

FAQ: When does the 3- / 1-year Residence Period start for Maltese Citizenship by Direct Investment purposes?

The starting date for the residence period shall be the date when the residence card was issued. If more than one person is applying within the same application, the applicable start date will be of the person last issued with the residence permit.

All adult dependants who wish to apply for Maltese citizenship under the Regulations must hold a residence permit for the required periods.

FAQ: Do new Maltese citizens need to keep a qualifying property after 5 years holding Maltese Citizenship for Exceptional Services

New Maltese citizens are not required to continue renting a qualifying rented property. Those who have satisfied the Maltese citizenship rules by purchasing a qualifying property, can freely sell that property after five years of Maltese citizenship.

FAQ: At what stage does the Malta Citizenship applicant need to decide on the 1-year route or 3-year route?

The applicant should declare if they intend to go for the 3-year route or the 1-year route when applying for the residence permit.

FAQ: Can the Applicant for Maltese Citizenship add Dependants at a Later Stage?

The application is taken as final when the Maltese citizenship eligibility application is submitted, and Eligibility Payment Request Voucher (EPRV) is duly paid. Only new-borns after that date can be added before the Oath of Allegiance is taken.

FAQ: Is the Malta Citizenship by Direct Investment Applicant required to have Connecting Factors with Malta?

Prospective applicants are required to be physically in Malta and build connecting factors during the residence period. These requirements shall be satisfied by providing documented proof. It is required that the applicant presents to the Agency his proposal on how he intends to create these connecting factors when presenting the eligibility application.

FAQ: What is the Quota of Applications under the Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services Regulations?

The number of certificates granted under these Regulations (excluding dependants) shall not exceed four hundred (400) per annum, and a total of 1,500 for the duration of the regulations.

FAQ: How can we help?

At ACC Immigration, we go beyond providing traditional legal services and focus on creating a solution that is tailored to the individual needs of the client. Besides offering professional legal counsel on the different aspects of Maltese law and taxation, our lawyers are licenced agents, meaning that they are authorised by the Maltese Government to submit the Citizenship Application to Community Malta Agency for approval. Moreover, expert advice is also given when it comes to property rental & purchase agreements, estate management and investment plans. Ultimately, our aim is to provide professional assistance at every stage of the process and guidance, from the preparation of the application till the issuance of the Maltese Certificate of Naturalisation.

ACC Advisors Ltd holds licence number AKM-ACCA.