Maltese European Residency Through Investment Alternatives

On April 30, 2025, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the European Residency through Investment Program in Malta is incompatible with European regulations on Golden Visa programs.

In its ruling, the Court noted that the European Residency through Investment Program in Malta, which grants residency to wealthy investors, contradicts the fundamental principles of the European Passport Program laws, as it is transformed into a commercial transaction.

The program requires individuals to invest up to €750,000, including real estate investments and donations, and requires these investors to reside for 12 months.

However, it later emerged that some investors stayed for only a few weeks instead of the required 12 months and were able to maintain their European residency through their investments.

This is the primary reason why Caribbean countries impose residency requirements on investors. They do not want to suffer the same fate as the Maltese program, as through this residency, investors will establish genuine ties with the countries granting them residency or citizenship.

European Residency through Investment Suspension Responses

For its part, Malta responded that its European residency through investment program does not violate any regulations and that it has raised approximately €1.5 billion during the program’s operation, specifically since 2015.

Maltese officials added that the funds raised were used for purposes that benefit Maltese citizens, including paying for public housing, supporting sports facilities, and modernizing the health system.

The former Maltese Prime Minister commented on the need to reform the program, not stop it. Despite the European Court’s ruling, Malta announced that it would legally challenge it and possibly overturn the suspension.

Meanwhile, some European parties, including Matthew Caruana Galizia (son of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia), welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for the Maltese people and for the European people in general.

Rest of the European residency through investment programs

Reports indicate that the remaining programs offering European residency through investment are also on queue. However, these reports rule out the possibility of eliminating other Golden Visa programs, suggesting that they may need to be modified.

Countries such as Portugal and Greece offer European residency through investment in investment funds or real estate purchases. However, their drawback is that they do not grant European citizenship directly; rather, they require several years of residency to qualify.

For those seeking a direct citizenship program, there is good news: the Caribbean offers a direct citizenship program that allows applicants to obtain citizenship after investing in one of the available methods.

There are several Caribbean countries that offer second citizenship, most notably Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and Grenada. The countries offering Caribbean citizenship vary in their benefits, and each has its own unique advantages.

To obtain Caribbean citizenship, investors are required to invest a minimum of $200,000 and are then issued a passport that allows visa-free travel to approximately 150 countries. The European Union itself is one of the countries you can travel to without a prior visa application.

Advice for European residency through investment seekers:

Whether you are interested in European residency through investment or one of the Caribbean citizenship programs, it’s best to make the right decision quickly. As long as these programs are effective, no one can revoke your citizenship or residency.

Investment immigration laws around the world stipulate that anyone who applies and is approved will be treated according to the latest requirements immediately upon approval, regardless of any future amendments, even if a new law is issued just hours later.

After abolishing the real estate investment option, Portugal is seriously considering extending the waiting period for Portuguese citizenship from five to ten years, and Greece is considering raising investment requirements for residency.

As for the Caribbean, major developments are inevitable. Previously, these countries did not require residency before or after obtaining citizenship. Now, a law is in place requiring investors to reside for one month to maintain their citizenship.

For more information about these programs, contact Global Citizen Consultants, the official agent for the Citizenship through Investment and European Residency through Investment programs.