Obtaining Maltese citizenship via the country's "Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment" regulations does not have any tax consequences! Even if an individual moves their primary residence to Malta, they may be able to retain the status of a "non-domiciled" person and therefore have an extremely advantageous tax exposure. Candidates that become a resident of Malta but are not domiciled in the country are only required to pay tax on any income they earn or receive in the country. Malta has no municipal taxes, no estate duty, no death or inheritance taxes, and no wealth or net worth taxes. Malta also has double taxation treaties with approximately 60 countries around the world. The corporate tax rate in Malta is 35%, but special tax concessions apply to non-resident or non-domiciled company owners.

Individuals that obtain a second citizenship by investment in Malta are not required by Maltese law to renounce their existing citizenship. Malta has no restrictions on holding dual nationality, in fact, the nation's Citizenship Act specifically provides that Malta dual citizenship is permitted. This being said, your current country of citizenship may have restrictions that prohibit you from possessing a Malta second passport.

Any child born to a parent who is a Maltese citizen will also be a citizen of Malta. This means children born to men or women who obtained Maltese nationality under the country's citizenship by investment regulations will be full Malta citizens even if their place of birth is not in Europe. Consequently, if your family obtains Malta investor citizenship then when your children grow up and have families of their own your grandchildren can also have a Malta passport. Participating in Maltese citizenship by investment can gift future generations of your family with increased political and economic freedom, as well as significantly increased educational opportunities in the West. Many investors cite "family legacy" and "providing a better life for children and grandchildren" as senior influences in their decision to sponsor their family for second citizenship in Malta.

Malta citizenship through investment is granted by a Certificate of Naturalization, and once you obtain Maltese citizenship by naturalization for exceptional services you will have it forever and can even pass it on to future generations.

If you have not already procured Maltese residency, the minimum amount of time needed to gain Malta citizenship by investment is 12 months. If you have already met the residency requirement of the country's nationality by investment regulations, however, you can secure citizenship in Malta in as little as six months.

Any person of integrity who is at least 18 years of age and has a clean police record is eligible to apply for second citizenship in Malta under their "Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment" regulations. The exception is citizens of Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuela, who are not allowed to apply. People with close ties to any of these countries are also disqualified from applying for Malta citizenship by investment. This list of banned countries can change at any time based on consultation with the Sanctions Monitoring Board, and nationals of any country on a United States travel ban are also automatically disqualified.

Since 2008, the Maltese Passport Office has issued biometric passports according to EU and international standards. To become a Malta national in accordance with the country's citizenship for exceptional services regulations, candidates must give their biometric information such as fingerprints. First time passports must be in Malta at the Marsa premises. Only renewal passports can be processed via Malta embassies

Malta citizenship by investment applicants must purchase or rent an immovable residential property. This leads to the question, is it better for an investor interested in citizenship to buy a home in Malta or rent one? If an investor purchases an apartment on the islands, they must spend at least €700,000 on the property. If an investor rents or leases an apartment on the islands, it must have a minimum annual rent of €16,000. There are pros and cons to both options.

Buying a Malta Property

By far the biggest benefit to buying a property in Malta is that the investment is not a sunk cost and can be recovered after the five-year commitment has been met. The Maltese economy is growing by more than 3% per year, and the tiny size of the islands means that land is in very limited supply. With an extremely healthy banking system and strong immigration numbers, it is very possible that applicants who buy real estate in order to qualify for Maltese citizenship will turn a profit on the home when they finally go to sell 5+ years later. The biggest downside to making a Malta real estate purchase is that it increases the total investment required to acquire citizenship in Malta. Depending on your current business situation, the opportunity cost of this money could negate any appreciation of the property's value. It can also be difficult to get a mortgage on a property in Malta as a foreign buyer, so the purchase may have to be made with cash or financed in your home country.

Renting a Malta Apartment

The top reason someone interested in qualifying for citizenship by investment in Malta should consider leasing a property on the islands instead of buying one is that it requires a lot less money. The minimum monthly rent required of an immovable residence under the Malta citizenship program is only €1334, and even if you paid for all five years upfront the total commitment would only be €80,000 which is a fraction of the amount required to purchase real estate. Renting an apartment in Malta is also quick and easy; there is much less paperwork involved compared to buying a residence, and you do not need to be as meticulous when selecting a home since you will not own it (many investors lease an apartment sight unseen). The biggest downside to renting a house instead of buying one is that all the money you spend on rent is a sunk cost, and you will not be able to recover any of these funds. Paying rent is an expense, but purchasing a property in a strong real estate market such as Malta is an investment. This being said, part of the reason an individual would be paying this rent is to obtain a powerful passport so in the end even though it is a sunk cost that cannot be recovered it can still be an excellent investment.

There are no citizenship tests when a person applies for Malta citizenship by investment, and applicants are not required to know Maltese or even English to be accepted for financial citizenship. Dr. Anton Tabone has experience assisting non-English speaking clients with Maltese immigration matters.

Malta citizenship granted under the nation's "Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment" laws can be revoked if an applicant does not follow through with all the requirements laid out in the regulations. To be granted citizenship, applicants commit to retaining a residence in Malta for five years from the date they are issued an official certificate of citizenship. If a person does not comply with these requirements and stops renting an apartment or sells their home in Malta before the five years is up, they can have their citizenship as well as their EU passport taken away. Investors who successfully become Malta citizens must file a Compliance Form with the Agency on a year basis, for five years from the date they were granted nationality, stating that they are abiding by all the requirements stipulated in the citizenship by investment legislation.

As a distinguished citizenship for investment jurisdiction, the Government of Malta will only accept investor immigration candidates who are highly respectable and have no ties to criminal activity. As part of the immigration Malta due diligence procedure, detailed background verification checks are run to determine if candidates are of good repute and that all funds have been derived from legal means. The due diligence fees paid when formally submitting a Malta citizenship application cover the expenses incurred while verifying that an investor's money is clean and that they are a credible person. Malta investor citizenship has an immaculate reputation and the world's strictest due diligence standards and will reject any aspirant who is unable to identify and prove the legitimate source of their cash. Applications that contain false information or omissions will also be declined.

The Maltese Government has an impressive four-tier due diligence system that is considered the most advanced in the industry and any person deemed a potential reputational risk, national security risk, or currently subject to a criminal investigation will be denied citizenship. Also, applicants who have been denied a visa to any country with which Malta shares visa-free travel arrangements will not be eligible for citizenship unless they have since successfully obtained a visa from that nation. Malta's due diligence team is comprised of many former risk and compliance officers from major banks. The experienced team has developed a risk matrix that includes a seven-step verification process for each applicant. In addition to thorough background verification and anti-money laundering scrutiny, Malta immigration officers even have journalists from Thomson Reuters and Exige build a detailed assessment of each individual to be factored into their overall risk profile.

Community Malta Agency, which administers the Maltese economic citizenship regulations, does not recognize Bitcoin or other crypto as legal investment currency for financial transactions related to immigration to Malta. Consequently, you cannot use Bitcoins or any other cryptocurrency to make the compulsory investments pursuant with obtaining Malta citizenship by naturalization for exceptional services.

Maltese Citizenship for Investors with Financial Assets Denominated in U.S. Dollars

Now may be a great time to invest in Malta citizenship if you are holding a significant amount of U.S. dollar-denominated assets. When a previous Malta citizenship by investment program was first announced in early 2014, the euro was substantially stronger than the American dollar. At that time, 1 Euro was worth almost 1.40 U.S. dollars. Now that Malta has launched new citizenship by investment legislation, the American dollar is not nearly as weak compared to the Euro. In 2021, 1 EUR has been trading closer to 1.20 USD making the minimum cost of Malta citizenship (investment of EUR 600,000) equivalent to approximately USD 720,000 although exchange rates can change quickly. Consequently, investing in Malta second citizenship may be particularly affordable at the current time for investors holding much of their wealth in assets that are denominated in U.S. dollars.

Voting Rights

People who acquire Malta citizenship by investing can vote in political elections provided they have been resident in the country for 6 of the past 18 months.

A previous Malta citizenship program reached its cap of 1800 applications in August 2020 and consequently closed to new investors. At that time there were rumors that the Malta citizenship by investment program had been "canceled" or "suspended" which is not true, it simply reached capacity and closed down. The country has since introduced new regulations granting citizenship in exchange for exceptional services by direct investment and is currently accepting new applications from reputable investors worldwide. Please note: the island's current citizenship regulations are in no way associated with the old Malta citizenship program.

Malta Tourism

Malta is a tiny island country in the very middle of the Mediterranean Sea that is an immensely popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful architecture, many historical monuments, and fantastic weather. Despite only having a current population of 520,000 the islands have been inhabited for more than 7000 years and were home to one of the most sophisticated civilizations on Earth. Today there are 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites on the islands, and people travel from all across the world to visit the country making tourism one of the largest economic sectors in Malta accounting for 15% of the nation's GDP.

European Union

Malta became a full member of the European Union in 2004. EU freedom of movement treaties permit Maltese citizens to live, work, and study in any other European Union country including Switzerland. This means that people with Malta passports are allowed to move to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Schengen Area

Malta has been a member of the Schengen Area of Europe since 2007. This allows a Maltese citizen to travel to 26 European countries without going through any border control. Countries that make up the borderless area include EU members Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, as well as the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Individuals that hold a passport from any Schengen Area country can visit any other country in the borderless area without the inconvenience of a border check.

Biometric Data

All Malta citizenship applicants, with the exception of children under six years old, must at some point visit in person a Maltese embassy or the Malta Passport Office in Valletta to give their biometrics. Biometrics include facial features as well as the scanning of fingerprints for applicants aged 12 and above. Biometric data that is given as part of the Malta citizenship by investment application process can be stored for as long as six months.

Oath of Allegiance

All Malta immigration applicants that are at least 18 years old are required to take an Oath of Allegiance in order to officially receive citizenship of Malta, provided they have the capacity to do so. This oath must be taken in person, so all successful candidates of investment citizenship must visit the country to finalize the process of becoming a Malta citizen.

Many people interested in European investor immigration research the subject online, determine they are a good fit for Malta immigration by investment, but then are unsure how to begin the process. Applying for Maltese citizenship by investment on your own is not possible. Under Malta's "Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment" requirements, a prospective applicant is obliged to use a concessionaire or Accredited Agent in order to get the application process started. This means the ONLY way to apply for Malta citizenship by investment is through an Accredited Person, so contacting one of these exclusively certified individuals to learn more is the best way to initiate the procedure. The Community Malta Agency official website has a list of authorized agents.

Our Malta immigration lawyer has extensive experience helping people acquire Maltese citizenship through investment. Based in Valletta, our legal team has a close working relationship with the Government of Malta and has presented more than a dozen citizenship by investment applications in the past decade. If you are interested in a private consultation, please contact us today!

A "Golden Visa" is the name of a popular EU investor visa offered by a few Southern European countries, such as Spain and Portugal, to foreign nationals who invest in their country's property market. Many people refer to Malta residency by investment as a European Golden Visa. If you are interested in an EU Residence Permit as opposed to European citizenship, a Maltese investor visa may be right for you. Malta residency by investment can make doing business in Europe easy by eliminating the need for a Schengen Visa in order to travel within the European Union.

A law firm, audit firm, intermediary firm, financial advisory firm, or other person or body that has been officially authorized to help foreign nationals attain Maltese citizenship will advertise their Community Malta Agency Accredited Agent number which can be independently verified on the Government of Malta's website here. Dr. Anton Tabone holds Accredited Person license number AKM-TABO-21.

Malta is a republic with a parliamentary democracy system and is highly respected and considered neutral on the international stage. Malta's banks have total assets worth more than seven times the country's gross domestic product (GDP), making it a very economically secure nation with the second largest banking sector in the Eurozone. Unlike many neighboring EU countries, Malta has an excellent credit rating (A+ by Fitch Ratings and A- by S&P Global Ratings in 2021) and their government bonds are in high demand amongst both professional and retail bond investors.

Malta withstood the "great recession" remarkably well with the country's housing price index never dropping by more than 5% in a year including in 2008 and 2009 when other European real estate markets were crushed. The country has also never imposed a tax on deposits in Maltese banks, dissimilar to nearby Cyprus who imposed a one-time tax levy in 2013 which included offshore bank accounts. As part of the former British Empire, Malta's financial system was built from the ground up with a solid foundation and has proven to be both robust and stable even while other European nations have faced major economic challenges. Not only did the Maltese economy weather the European financial crisis exceptionally well, it is now one of the leading economies in the Eurozone.

According to the country's National Statistics Office, the Malta economy has typically expanded by more than 3% each year over the past decade. The European Commission is currently forecasting that the Maltese economy will expand by more than 3.5% in both 2021 and 2022, making it one of the top economies in the entire EU during this period. The economists and reporters of the "Global Wealth Migration Review" reported that Malta recently experienced the second largest wealth growth of any country, behind only India and tied with China. Every new high-net-worth individual (HNWI) and ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI) that becomes a citizen of Malta via the jurisdiction's citizenship by investment rules will help grow the local economy. As of 2021, economic citizenship initiates in Malta have brought in more than EUR 500 million and have become a key driver of fiscal growth in the country. The nation's safe and stable economy is just one of the many reasons why Malta citizenship is a secure and strategic investment.

Maltese Nationality vs. Residency

The new citizenship by naturalization for exceptional services by investment regulations are much more than just a Malta investor visa; they can help foreign investors obtain full citizenship in Malta as opposed to just EU residency. While attaining Malta residence is an excellent way for non-EU investors to get a European Residence Permit, obtaining a second passport in Malta is only possible through the new citizenship by investment regulations. If you want full Maltese citizenship, you should look into investor citizenship in Malta not just an investor visa. Often considered the most reputable second citizenship by investment country in the world, investing in citizenship in Malta through their nationality by investment regulations is both safe and transparent.

Applicants for citizenship by investment in Malta are not required to make the sizable contribution to the country's National Development and Social Fund until after they have passed the eligibility and due diligence stage and have been approved in principle. Once a person has been approved in principle, the only conditions that must be met before they can be made a Maltese citizen are for them to satisfy all the remaining Malta citizenship requirements laid out in the regulations such as making the major financial investment and buying or leasing a property on the islands. Until a candidate has gone through the extensive multi-tier due diligence screening and is found to be of excellent repute, Community Malta Agency will never send them an Investment Request Voucher (IRV) asking for full payment.

In additional to getting a second passport that makes traveling internationally very easy, people who obtain Malta nationality by investment can go to university in Europe without needing to qualify as a foreign student. Not only are the entrance requirements at most top universities in Europe significantly lower for students from other EU countries compared to students applying from abroad (especially Asia), often the tuition rates charged by universities and colleges will be much lower for Europeans.

The Maltese archipelago consists of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, and has a total land area of 316 sq. km. Malta is the largest and most populated island and is the cultural and commercial hub of the country. Gozo is the next largest of the islands and is more rural with a booming tourist, fishing, and agriculture industry. Comino is a very tiny island located directly between Malta and Gozo. Valletta, the capital city, is located on Malta island and is where all business related to the Maltese citizenship program takes place. When citizenship by investment Malta candidates visit the country to give biometrics, obtain a Residency Card, or take the Oath of Allegiance, they will need to visit Valletta, which is located conveniently close to the Malta International Airport.

To qualify for Malta citizenship by investment, applicants must maintain a valid health insurance policy that provides coverage in Malta only, with a maximum coverage of €30,000 per family member. This policy must remain active until citizenship is granted. Click here for more details on the health insurance requirement.

All funds for citizenship by investment in Malta must be transferred from the main applicant's personal bank account. This means you can not make the financial contribution to the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF) from a holding company or offshore trust. It also means you cannot have a friend or family member wire the money to the islands on your behalf; the name on the bank account sending the money must match the name of the primary applicant.

Also referred to as an investor citizenship or economic citizenship program, citizenship by investment programs can enable a foreign national to obtain citizenship in a country provided they make a substantial fiscal contribution to that jurisdiction. Immigrant investor programs typically only offer investors residency in a country in exchange for a hefty monetary contribution, not citizenship, which is why citizenship investment programs are much more coveted by investors. Investor citizenship in Malta requires an applicant to establish a genuine link with the country, not just make a financial donation, and consequently it is not classified as a formal investor citizenship program.

Due to the fact that a financial investment is a requisite of acquiring Maltese citizenship for exceptional services, some people incorrectly think the immigration regulations are essentially the same thing as Malta citizenship for sale. This is absolutely false, and any investor expecting to instantly buy Malta citizenship is going to be disappointed because that's not at all how it works. Malta citizenship by investment requires applicants to establish residency on the islands and build a genuine link with the country.

At the end of the day, investment citizenship is not actually very different from other forms of skilled or economic immigration as both types of immigration policy have the simple goal of improving a country's society and economy. The fact is, global citizenship and immigration facilitate innovation across borders, and educated business leaders who are the primary demographic participating in citizenship by investment can bring tremendous value to the communities they join.

Malta Global Residence Program

In addition to Malta economic citizenship, immigration to Malta is possible via the country's Global Residence Program (GRP). The Global Residence Program Malta enables economically self-sufficient individuals who rent or own a permanent address on the islands to be formally recognized as a resident for tax purposes. If you are not interested in getting a Maltese passport and simply wish to live in a warm Mediterranean residence while retired and collecting a pension, the Malta Global Residence Program may be the ideal Malta immigration channel for you.

Maltese Citizenship by Descent

Wondering how to get European citizenship if you have Maltese ancestors? Amendments to the country's Citizenship Act in August 2007 can make it easy for direct descendants of Malta citizens to obtain an EU passport. Maltese citizenship by ancestry enables anyone with documentation showing direct descent from an ancestor born in the country of a parent who was also born on the islands to fill out a Malta citizenship application and request a European passport. Even if you have no plans to ever invest in Malta, if you have Maltese parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents, our Malta immigration team may be able to assist you in attaining dual citizenship in Malta.

Finding a Property in Malta

Citizenship by investment Malta candidates are required to buy or lease a property on the islands and to have a registered functional address in the country. Since it is impossible to become a citizen of Malta by investing without first meeting all requirements listed in the regulations, applicants must present authorities with a copy of sale agreement or lease agreement as part of the process. There are no specific immigration Malta requisites for the property other than satisfying the minimum annual rent (16,000 euros) or purchase price (700,000 euros), although we recommend our clients choose sensibly and not lease a tiny bachelor apartment for a large family. A valuation report by an architect declaring the current market value of the property must be included in a citizenship application to confirm the purchase or rental price is fair.

Our Malta immigration team can assist clients with locating the ideal property on the islands that will thoroughly meet their needs while also fulfilling all the investor citizenship regulatory requirements. Once power of attorney documents have been completed, we will also be able to sign a lease on our client's behalf making the process of securing a sanctioned apartment even easier and less time-consuming. Clients can also complete the property transaction application from abroad, allowing us to email them properties that match their requirements and upon selection secure the apartment, sign the lease agreement, and pay the landlord's deposit and first three months of rent on their behalf without the client needing to return to the country. At MaltaImmigration.com we treat every client like a VIP!

Citizenship by Investment Malta Application Process

The first stage of applying for Malta citizenship through investment is requesting residency. This is when initial due diligence is performed by Agency Malta, who conducts a preliminary background verification on the main applicant and their family. As part of this Tier 1 due diligence process, the applicant must provide their personal details such as private address as well as profession and name of employer. The main applicant must also provide information about the number of residence cards he or she holds. All applicants need to provide a copy of their passport, and the main applicant must additionally hand over some basic bank account details such as the name of their bank, its address, and the SWIFT code.

Before entering the preliminary due diligence stage, a client service agreement and power of attorney document must be signed by the applicant as part of the preparation of their Malta Resident Permit application. There are also several government forms that must be completed including Form K and Form ID 1A for non-EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens. In addition to requiring a passport copy, the Maltese Resident Permit application requires the main applicant to provide a bank reference as well as bank statements from the last three months, a suitable certificate of global health insurance coverage, and a cover letter detailing their reasons for applying for Malta citizenship.

Spouses are required to present a copy of their passport, a marriage certificate, and a certificate of their health insurance policy with global coverage of at least 30,000 euros. Documents required for dependents include a passport copy, birth certificate, proof of sufficient international health insurance coverage, as well as evidence of financial dependency on the main applicant for dependents older than age 18. We work alongside clients throughout the entire Malta citizenship by investment application process.

All documentation pursuant to Malta economic citizenship must either be in English or accompanied by an authenticated translation. For example, documents required by Community Malta Agency that are in languages such as Russian, Arabic, or Chinese must be submitted alongside an accurate English translation. Translated documents must also contain details about the professional translator who was responsible for the language translation.

When a "certified copy" of a document is mandatory, a photocopy of the original document will suffice provided it is certified to be a true copy of the original by a duly licensed lawyer in Malta. If the document is not certified by a Malta-registered lawyer, notary public, or commissioner for oaths, or by a Maltese Consular or Diplomatic Representative, an apostille or foreign governmental authentification may be required. In some cases, an original apostilled document will be required by the Public Registry Unit, while a certified and authenticated copy will suffice for the Agency.