Malta is a stable, neutral, and highly respected country that gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 (it remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations) and became a republic in 1974. Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004; in 2008 it became part of the Eurozone. Malta is also a member of the Schengen Agreement (since 2007).
Citizenship by Investment
The Malta citizenship by investment program (which had two versions with different financial requirements) was active from 2014 until April 29, 2025, when it was closed by order of the European Court. At the end of this page, you will find other fast passport programs that Elma Capital can assist you with.
Key Benefits of Maltese Citizenship
- Free travel, residence, and work within the European Union (27 countries);
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access (including eTAs) to 184 countries and territories, ranking the Maltese passport 8th in the world;
- All family members (spouse, children up to 29 years old, and parents above 55 years old) can obtain Maltese citizenship together with the investor;
- Citizenship obtained under the program is full citizenship for life and can be passed on to future generations by descent;
- No requirement to physically reside in Malta before or after citizenship. No language test. The 12-month residency requirement before naturalization is fulfilled by purchasing or renting property;
- Favorable tax regime. No taxation if the investor does not relocate to Malta and does not reside in Malta for more than 183 days per year;
- Dual citizenship is recognized. There is no need to renounce your previous citizenship before acquiring Maltese citizenship.
Eligibility
To qualify for Maltese citizenship, the main applicant must be at least 18 years old and in good health. The main applicant and all family members must confirm they do not suffer from contagious diseases and must demonstrate a clean criminal record. Background due diligence is thorough.
Financial Conditions
- Non-refundable contribution of at least EUR 600,000 (or EUR 750,000 by exception), depending on the residence status length (36 months or 12 months, respectively). Spouses, children, and parents must contribute an additional EUR 50,000 for each dependent family member above the main applicant. This contribution is payable only after approval of the citizenship application.
- Property requirement. Applicants must maintain property and a valid address in Malta. They must either purchase property worth at least EUR 700,000 or sign a rental agreement of at least EUR 16,000 annually.
- Non-refundable donation of at least EUR 10,000 to a registered sport, cultural, scientific, philanthropic, animal welfare, or artistic NGO or organization, as approved by the Community Malta Agency.
Due Diligence Fees
Due diligence fees are as follows: EUR 15,000 for the main applicant and EUR 10,000 for each additional family member. These fees are non-refundable even if the application is rejected.
Physical Residence Requirement
The law does not specify an exact number of days that applicants must spend in Malta before citizenship is granted. However, applicants must demonstrate evidence of a genuine link with Malta, which can be shown through property ownership or rental, opening a bank account, visiting Malta, etc. Approved agents obtain advance written approval from Identity Malta for the proposed links. If insufficient, the applicant will be asked to strengthen their case. Depending on the chosen contribution level, citizenship is granted after 12 or 36 months from the effective date of establishing the genuine link.
Grounds for Refusal of Citizenship Application
- Providing false information in the forms
- Having a criminal record or ongoing investigations
- Being denied a visa to a country with which Malta has visa-free entry
- Posing a potential national security threat
- Likely to cause disrepute to Malta
Taxation of New Citizens
Maltese citizenship does not automatically lead to taxation. Taxation in Malta is based on domicile and actual residence. Tax residency is established by demonstrating an intention to reside in Malta for more than 183 days per year.
Comparison with Other EU Countries
Malta was the last country in the European Union to operate a citizenship by investment program, which ran until April 2025. Two other EU countries (Cyprus and Bulgaria) had similar schemes in the past but closed them earlier.
Other EU countries (such as Slovakia and Austria), where citizenship is theoretically possible based on significant investment, do not provide clear financial thresholds or eligibility criteria. Decisions on granting citizenship in such cases are made individually, which introduces uncertainty due to subjective evaluation. By contrast, Malta’s process was structured and transparent, with defined requirements. Application outcomes depended primarily on due diligence results (background and source of funds).
To summarize, there is currently no active citizenship by investment program in Europe, and none are likely to reappear in the foreseeable future.
Professional Services
The citizenship program in Malta is now closed. Elma Capital assists international clients with other relatively fast direct passport programs (Antigua & Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis, Vanuatu, Türkiye, Sierra Leone, and others). If you need legal assistance, please contact us today.
When sending us an email, please indicate your citizenship, country of residence, and the age of each family member to be included in the application. This information is required to provide an accurate quote of the fees and expenses applicable to your case.