Maltese citizenship: Requirements

 

Malta’s citizenship by investment program is one of the world’s most exclusive of its kind. As a result, the requirements are strict and include a rigorous due diligence procedure.

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Applicants must have a clean criminal record. The Maltese Government conducts extensive criminal checks with INTERPOL, the International Criminal Court, and various other sources and authorities. As part of the due diligence process, applicants must also provide a police certificate in order to be granted for the EU citizenship.
 
To qualify for citizenship, the main applicant must be at least 18 years of age, provide proof of having been a resident of Malta for a period of 12 months preceding the issuing of a certificate of naturalisation and meet the following investment requirements:
 

• Acquire real estate with a minimum value of €350,000 (property must be kept for a period of at least five years, within which it cannot be let)
  OR
  Lease a residential property in Malta for a period of five years, at an annual rent of at least €16,000 (property cannot be assigned or sublet)

AND

• Make a contribution to the National Development and Social fund of at least €650,000 (of which a non‐refundable part payment of €10,000 shall be remitted as deposit prior to the submission of the application) - additional charges between €25,000 and €50,000 are applicable for each dependent-

AND

• Invest in stocks, bonds or special-purpose vehicles to be identified from time to time by Identity Malta, for a minimum value of €150,000 (to be held for at least five years)

AND

• The applicant must have global health insurance cover (including the USA and Canada) of at least €50,000 for the main client and each of the dependants)

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Application Fees and Costs

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Below we outline the various fees and charges you will encounter along the path to gaining a Malta passport.

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National Development and Social Fund contribution

• Main applicant: €650,000

• Spouse: €25,000

• Each minor child aged up to 17: €25,000

• Each adult child aged 18 - 26: €50,000

• Each grandparent aged 55 and above: €50,000

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Due diligence fees

• Main applicant: €7,500

• Spouse: €5,000

• Each child aged 18 and above: €5,000

• Each grandparent aged 55 and above: €5,000

• Each child aged 13 and 17: €3,000

• No fees for children younger than 13.

 

Residence Card Fees

• Main applicant: Free

• Spouse and other dependants: €1,000/each

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Passport fees

• Main applicant and dependents = €500 each

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Investment in stocks, bonds and special purpose vehicles

• Main applicant and dependents = €150,000 - total for all applicants

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Other fees

• Bank Charge: €200 - total for all applicants

• Health Insurance: approximately between €300 and €1,100 per applicant, depending on age.

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Considering both your investments and applicable fees, you’ll need access to at least €1million overall to gain Maltese citizenship through the Individual Investor Program. If you have less than this, you might want to consider applying for the Portugal Golden Visa program instead.

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Please see: Step by step guidance for more details