Maltese citizenship or residency: which option is better?

Malta offers Maltese citizenship and permanent residency programs for those who want a prosperous European lifestyle and safe investment haven.

Legally, permanent residency and citizenship status for individuals differ, as individuals will obtain permanent residency with the right to live and work in that country permanently, provided that certain requirements apply, such as the presence of job offers or the presence of family ties, which are renewed every few years.

As for citizenship, it is the state of belonging to the nation and state according to custom and laws. The conditions for acquiring citizenship are either through birth, or the presence of lineage ties with the state, or marriage to a citizen of these countries, or through naturalization, or through citizenship through investment.

Maltese citizenship and permanent residence in Malta

Malta grants Maltese Citizenship (MEIN) and Permanent Residency Program (MPRP) to investors and their family members who are able to invest directly in Malta and thus develop its social and economic systems. On the other hand, these two programs provide non-EU individuals with the right to live, work and study in Malta and any other EU member state.

In November 2020, the Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalization Program (MEIN) replaced the Malta Individual Investor Program (MIIP), due to the MIIP reaching the full quota of 1,800 applications. At the same time, the quota for the new citizenship program must not exceed 1,500 applications, at a rate of 400 applications annually.

In addition to being a beautiful European country located on the Mediterranean Sea with a rich history, Malta is known for its economic stability and political power, offering its citizens freedom of movement in the Schengen Area with a high standard of living.

It is worth noting that the Maltese citizenship program is the only remaining option among European citizenship programs after the cancellation of the Moldova and Cyprus citizenship program in 2020 and the Bulgarian citizenship program in 2022.

◈ Residency and citizenship programs in Malta require that applicants be open about disclosing their assets and be prepared to meet any additional requirements such as compiling supporting paperwork.

◈ In the case of citizenship, applicants are not required to reside after obtaining Maltese citizenship, but in the case of permanent residency, individuals will have to live for the minimum period required to retain permanent residency.

◈ The period required to obtain permanent residency ranges from 3 to 6 months, and the period required to obtain Maltese citizenship takes two months after residence for 3 years or one year.

◈ To obtain one of the two programs, investors must provide guarantees that they have a capital of no less than 500,000 euros, of which 150,000 are in the form of financial assets.

◈ When applying for citizenship, you must either reside for 3 years or 1 year and provide police attestation documents from Malta, from your country of original citizenship, and from any country in which you have resided for more than 6 months in the past 10 years.

Investments to obtain Maltese citizenship and residency

If you want to obtain citizenship within 3 years, you must:

✓ Either you buy a property for 700,000 euros or you rent a residence for 16,000 euros per year and keep it for 5 years.

✓ Contribution of €600,000 to Malta.

✓ Donate €10,000 to an NGO.

If you want to obtain citizenship within 1 years, you must:

✓ Either you buy a property for 700,000 euros or you rent a residence for 16,000 euros per year and keep it for 5 years.

✓ Contribution of €750,000 to Malta.

✓ Donate €10,000 to an NGO.

In the case of permanent residency, applicants must:

✓ Either buy a property for 300,000 euros or rent a residence for 10,000 euros annually, while maintaining one of these two conditions for 5 years.

✓ Contribution to the Government of Malta in the amount of €98,000 in the case of renting or €68,000 in the case of purchasing the property.

✓ Donate €2,000 to a non-governmental charitable, sports or social organization.

Inclusion of family in residency and Maltese citizenship

✓ The main investor and must be an adult.

✓ Spouse.

✓ Dependent children under the age of 29 who are not married.

✓ Parents over 55 years old.

✓ Grandparents over 55 years old.

Who prohibited from Maltese citizenship and residency?

✓ Anyone who provides false information when applying for one of these two programs.

✓ Imprisonment for a period of one year or more as a result of committing a previous crime.

✓ Subject to ongoing investigation.

✓ Having a criminal record.

✓ Doubt about the authenticity of the funds used to obtain one of the two programs.

✓ Who are considered a threat to the national security of Malta.

✓ Those who have been refused a visa to one of the countries that the holder of a Maltese passport can enter without a visa. If you later apply to the same country and obtain a visa, this requirement will be waived.

✓ Citizens of Afghanistan, North Korea, Russia and Belarus cannot apply for the Maltese citizenship programme.

✓ Citizens of the Afghan, North Korean, Russian, Belarusian and Iranian countries cannot apply for the Malta Permanent Residency Program.

What does Residency and Maltese Citizenship offer to holders

✓ Investors and their family members will be able to vote or applying for a government job if they hold Maltese citizenship. This is not allowed for Maltese permanent residency holders.

✓ It is impossible to lose Maltese citizenship, but permanent residence may be revoked if the minimum requirements are not met.

✓ Malta is suitable in terms of living expenses. You can distinguish this by comparing it to the United States of America, for example, where the cost of living is 20% lower and rental costs are 45% lower than America.

✓ Malta is a beautiful country with a wonderful climate (300 days of sunny weather). Also, Gozo, Malta’s sister island, with its stunning nature and rich history, gives this country an added advantage.

✓ There are no language requirements and access to high-quality health facilities and educational institutions.

✓ Safety, stability, and the possibility of including the rest of the family members, and citizenship will be granted to future generations.

✓ Malta accepts dual citizenship, which means that anyone applying for this program does not need to revoke their first citizenship.

✓ One of the unique citizenship programs in the world that accepts the option of renting instead of purchasing real estate.

✓ The Permanent Residency Program is an alternative and ideal option for Gulf citizens whose countries do not accept dual citizenship.

Maltese Citizenship and Residency Programs for Entrepreneurs

✓ Holders of Maltese citizenship will possess the sixth most powerful passport in the world, which enables you to enter 185 countries without a visa, most notably Britain, America, Canada, and all Schengen countries.

✓ Maltese permanent residency holders have the right to reside and settle for 90 days every 180 days in any country in the Schengen Area.

✓ These two investment programs in Malta are excellent options for business people because Malta is located in Europe and is only an hour or three flight away from any major financial capital in Europe.

✓ Malta has a growing economy, thriving financial technology, and is known for its interest in foreign investors.

✓ The possibility of enjoying political and economic stability because Malta has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and a member of the Schengen Area since 2007.

✓ Has one of the best tax systems in Europe. There are no taxes on foreign trade or capital gains outside Malta.

Through the benefits and requirements, you can find the program that you consider most suitable for your case. Still not sure? Talk to one of our experts on citizenship by investment. Global Citizen Consultants is a government agent for Malta’s investment programs and second citizenship programs in the Caribbean.