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Malta
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the guide № AKM-IMIN-22
Malta
Citizenship
living in the European Union and traveling around the world
Download the guide Calculate the cost€690,000+
minimum
investment
investment
1 or 3 years
registration
5 years
real estate investment
return horizon
return horizon
the guide № AKM-IMIN-22
Law
As of November 20, 2020, an investor can become a Malta citizen 1 or 3 years after obtaining a residence permit.
Investors can obtain Maltese citizenship by naturalization for exceptional services through direct investment. This is provided for by the Maltese Citizenship Act. The minimum investment is €690,000.
Foreigners who pass a strict Due Diligence check and fulfill the other conditions stipulated in the law will be able to become Maltese citizens.
Possibilities
Maltese citizenship gives the holder freedom to a life of their choice
1
Visa-free travel to the United States, Britain and Canada
Maltese citizens can travel visa-free to 185 countries around the world, including Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
2
Residency in Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein
The possibility to live in Schengen countries, including those that are not part of the European Union. There are no restrictions on the entry and length of stay for Malta citizens in these countries.
3
Move to the EU at any time
Maltese passport holders have the same rights and freedoms as any other European citizen.
4
Children’s education
The cost of education in schools and universities in the European Union is cheaper for Maltese citizens. In addition, a student residence permit is not required for any EU country.
5
High quality of medical services
The medical insurance policies issued to Maltese citizens ensure that they are examined and treated for free in good medical clinics and that they also receive free medication.
6
International business
Maltese citizens can form a company in any country in the European Union. This can help them expand their business to the international market and operate effectively.
Get maximum information about the process
- Step-by-step procedure
- Requirements for applicants
- Required documents
- Answers to frequently asked questions
PDF, 36 pages, 12 MB
Immigrant Invest - licensedMalta program agent
(№ AKM-IMIN-22)
Participants
Who can obtain Maltese citizenship
Investor
over 18 years old
no criminal record or prosecution
not under sanctions
no visa denial in countries that have a visa-free regime with Malta
capable of confirming the legality of income
Children under 18
including children from previous marriages, both on the part of the investor and the spouse of the investor.
Spouse or spouse
or registered partner, including monogamous marriage.
Children under 29
who are financially dependent on the investor and are not married, including children from previous marriages. You can confirm the dependence on the investor by studying at the university on a full-time basis.
Parents or grandparents of an investor over 55 years old
who are wholly or substantially financially dependent on the investor.
Budget
Costs for an investor
Investors fulfill three investment conditions: make a contribution to the National Development and Social Fund (the NDSF), donate money to a non-governmental organization, buy or rent real estate. All the three conditions are mandatory.
A sum of the contribution defines when the investor can apply for citizenship. If the contribution amounts €600,000, the residence permit must be kept for 3 years. If an investor contributes €750,000, the residence period cuts to 1 year.
1
Option
investment
investment
Renting of real estate
€690,000+At first, an investor applies for a residence permit. To get it, the investor rents housing for €12,000. The rent should last for a year or three years.
The investor applies for citizenship in a year or in three years. To do that, the investor concludes a new leasing agreement for €16,000 per year. It is mandatory to rent housing for at least 5 years.
| Investor | Married couple | Family of 3 or more | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renting of real estate for 3 years to get a residence permit | €36,000 | €36,000 | €36,000 |
| Renting of real estate for 5 years after applying for citizenship | €80,000 | €80,000 | €80,000 |
| Contribution to the NDSF | €600,000 | €650,000 | €700,000 + €50,000 for each family member starting with the 4th |
| Donation | €10,000 | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| Eligibility Test | €15,000 | €25,000 | €15,000 for the main applicant + €10,000 for each family member over 12 |
| State fee for issuance of a residence card | €10,000 | €15,000 | €20,000 + €5,000 for each family member starting with the 4th |
| Medical insurance | €500+ | €1,000+ | €1,500+ |
| Administrative fee | €1,000 | €2,000 | €3,000 +€1,000 for each family member starting with the 4th |
All costs
Show less
2
Option
investment
investment
Purchase of real estate
€1,310,000+Investors buy real estate worth €700,000 or more. The ownership period is 5 years starting with obtaining citizenship. After that, real estate can be sold and the money — returned.
| Investor | Married couple | Family of 3 or more | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase of real estate | €700,000 | €700,000 | €700,000 |
| Contribution to the NDSF | €600,000 | €650,000 | €700,000 + €50,000 for each family member starting with the 4th |
| Donation | €10,000 | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| Eligibility Test | €15,000 | €25,000 | €15,000 for the main applicant + €10,000 for each family member over 12 |
| State fee for issuance of a residence card | €10,000 | €15,000 | €20,000 + €5,000 for each family member starting with the 4th |
| Medical insurance | €500+ | €1,000+ | €1,500+ |
| Administrative fee | €1,000 | €2,000 | €3,000 + €1,000 for each family member starting with the 4th |
All costs
Show less
Expenses for a family of 4
Spouses and children of 8 and 14 years old
| Rent of housing, citizenship in 3 years | Rent of housing, citizenship in 1 year | Purchase of housing, citizenship in 3 years | Purchase of housing, citizenship in 1 year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renting or purchase of real estate | €116,000 | €92,000 | €700,000 | €700,000 |
| Contribution to the NDSF | €750,000 | €900,000 | €750,000 | €900,000 |
| Donation | €10,000 | €10,000 | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| Eligibility Test | €35,000 | €35,000 | €35,000 | €35,000 |
| State fee for issuance of a residence card | €25,000 | €25,000 | €25,000 | €25,000 |
| Medical insurance | €2,000 | €2,000 | €2,000 | €2,000 |
| Administrative fee | €4,000 | €4,000 | €4,000 | €4,000 |
| Total | €942,000 | €1,068,000 | €1,526,000 | €1,676,000 |
Individual calculation of the Maltese citizenship cost
Get an individual calculation for your family with all associated costs and government fees
Make an individual calculation
Immigrant Invest - licensedMalta program agent
(№ AKM-IMIN-22)
License
Why is the agent’s license important?
The Maltese Citizenship Act does not allow foreigners to apply directly for citizenship for exceptional services. Only official representatives licensed by the Government of Malta are allowed to apply on behalf of their clients.
Any application submitted by an unlicensed agent is rejected, resulting in the applicant losing time and money.
Stages and terms
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining Malta citizenship
Depending on the amount of investment, citizenship can be obtained through a 1- or 3-year route. In both cases, the procedure is similar, only some of the documents required are different if the investor chooses to apply after 3 years.
1 day
Internal Due Diligence
Internal Due Diligence
1 day
Due Diligence is a key step in the process of applying for Maltese citizenship. It determines whether the Maltese state authorities will approve the investor’s application as a candidate for citizenship. Immigrant Invest’s certified Anti Money Laundering Officer examines the investor’s documents and identifies possible risks that could result in their citizenship application being rejected.
Immigrant Invest is the only licensed program agent with its own compliance department. We confidentially check the applicant through international legal and business information databases.
If issues arise during the screening process that may cause the investor’s application to be rejected, we offer other citizenship by investment programs.
Up to 2 weeks
Police Clearance Certificate
Police Clearance Certificate
Up to 2 weeks
The Maltese police check the candidacy of the investor and their family members older than 12 years in the databases held by Interpol and Europol.
3 weeks
Residence permit in Malta
Residence permit in Malta
3 weeks
A Malta residence permit is issued to the investor and all family members over the age of 18. As a licensed agent, we prepare a Level 1 Due Diligence report. We translate and apostille the relevant documents of the applicant and their family members included in the application. We draw up a Maltese real estate rental contract. We prepare the forms required for the medical insurance policy. We fill out and submit the investor’s application for a residence permit.
2 weeks
Collection of documents for Eligibility Test
Collection of documents for Eligibility Test
2 weeks
We apply for the Eligibility Test on behalf of the investor. This must be done within 12 months from the date of receipt of the residence permit card. All applicants over the age of 12 are subject to the test.
4–5 months
Check and approval
Check and approval
4–5 months
The Minister dealing with the citizenship program approves or rejects applications. After passing the test, applicants are eligible to apply for citizenship one to three years after obtaining a Maltese residence permit.
1 or 3 years after residence permit
Applying for citizenship
Applying for citizenship
1 or 3 years after residence permit
If the application is submitted after 1 year, the applicant has to confirm whether there have been any significant changes in their personal circumstances. For example, in case of a serious illness, the MRQ-form has to be amended.
If the application is submitted after 3 years, the applicant’s permanent residence address has to be confirmed and no criminal record certificate has to be updated. If any other documents have been updated, they must also be resubmitted.
2–4 weeks
Final approval by the Minister
Final approval by the Minister
2–4 weeks
The decision is made in writing and gives the applicant the possibility of obtaining citizenship.
Up to 4 months
Fulfillment of the investment condition
Fulfillment of the investment condition
Up to 4 months
Within 4 months of the Minister’s written approval. In addition, the principal applicant needs to prove their residence in Malta. The residency requirement is stipulated in the new law.
After 12 months of receipt of residence permit: investment of €750,000.
After 36 months of receipt of residence permit: investment of €600,000.
2 months
Receiving a passport in Malta
Receiving a passport in Malta
2 months
Applicants over the age of 6 must collect their passport in person at the Malta Passport Department.
Additional services
Citizenship and Immigrant Invest remain with you
The long-awaited moment has arrived: you are now a Maltese citizen. After receiving their second passport, most of our clients turn to us for additional services. We will now describe how we continue to help our clients.
Passport extension
In 1 working day, in Malta, in your presence
We receive and replace the ID card
We get an ID card for you at your request if you plan to live in Malta.
We have the card updated if you change address, and we arrange for a new card on expiry.
We receive the residence permit for family reunification
For example, if you would like to have a residence permit issued for your parents who had not been included in the original application.
We register our clients as tax residents
On condition that they spend the required number of days in Malta.
We register yachts
We help in the transaction from the moment of purchase until its registration under the Maltese flag.
We help our clients obtain a driver's license
The applicant will have to pass the written and driving exams, while we take care of the administration of the process.
We apply for a replacement in the event that a passport is lost
We prepare the application and accompany our client in the passport office. The process takes 4 hours.
We open a bank account on behalf of the client
We prepare the required documents and fill out the forms.
We obtain a tax number for our clients
We submit an electronic application to obtain a tax number for our clients.
We select real estate for them
We help our client choose an apartment or townhouse online first, and then we check the property physically ourselves and send the client a video of it. We also select properties for investment while they are still under construction.
We register cars at the offices of Transport Malta
We also arrange for them to be insured.
Schedule a meeting
Let's discuss the details
Schedule a meeting in one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.
Head of Legal Department, Lawyer
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Which investments can be recouped?
Only investments related to buying real estate can be recouped. Property bought for €750,000 can be sold for a profit after 5 years, as real estate in Malta is constantly increasing in value.
Do minor children also have to pass a Due Diligence check?
All family members included in the application aged 12 years or older must pass the Due Diligence or Eligibility Test. This is analogous to the Due Diligence test used all over the world.
What guarantees can your company give?
No one can guarantee that your application for Maltese citizenship by investment will be accepted. Only fraudulent companies make such claims.
The decision to issue Maltese citizenship is made by the state authorities of Malta. It is preceded by an in-depth check of the background of applicants and the legality of the source of their income and investment.
In order to determine the chances of their client obtaining citizenship, Immigrant Invest conducts internal background checks. This is done at the first stage of our collaboration with our clients, even before signing a contract with our candidate client. Our lawyers also prepare the package of documents in such a way as to minimize the probability of rejection.
Can I get Maltese citizenship for exceptional services without the help of an agent?
Without a licensed agent, it is not possible to submit an application for Maltese citizenship for exceptional services to the country. Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent authorized to assist applicants in preparing and submitting the relevant documents on behalf of their clients. Maltese government license No. AKM-IMIN-22.
What is the minimum investment amount needed?
In order to become a Malta citizen by direct investment, the minimum required is €690,000. This includes non-refundable contributions to the National Development Fund and a non-governmental organization, as well as the cost of renting real estate.
We discuss this in greater detail in our article «How to get Maltese citizenship.»
Additional costs of renting real estate in Malta?
Utility costs in Malta are among the lowest in the European Union. Utility bills in Malta were half the size of the average costs in the EU in 2019, according to Eurostat.
Electricity and water costs for an apartment were €100—120 per month and at least €200 for a house or villa. We have collected all the relevant available information on property maintenance costs in Malta.
What are the responsibilities for a Maltese passport holder by investment?
Immediately after the approval of the investor’s citizenship, they must take the following steps:
- Rent or buy the property in Malta
- Obtain an architect’s report stating the market value of the rented or purchased property
- Obtain and renew health insurance before obtaining a passport
- Sign an Annual Compliance Form every year for a period of 5 years from the date that they received their passport. This confirms compliance with the conditions attached to their certificate of naturalization.
Articles and news about citizenship of Malta
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