Malta Citizenship by Investment: What It Is and Why It Ended

Malta’s Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CES) program allowed wealthy foreign investors to gain Maltese, and therefore EU citizenship by making a significant investment and completing a 1- to 3-year residency period. The investment included a government contribution, a real estate purchase or rental commitment, and a charitable donation to a Maltese organization. Applicants had to also pass a strict due diligence process and show a genuine connection to Malta, with all funds supporting the country’s economy and development.

The Malta MEIN (Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalization) program was officially discontinued in 2025 after a major ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in April of that year. The court decided that granting citizenship mainly in exchange for financial contributions went against EU law because it did not require a real or “genuine” connection between the applicant and the country, which is an important principle of EU citizenship.

Yes, Malta permits dual citizenship. Since 2000, Maltese law has allowed citizens to hold another nationality alongside Maltese citizenship. This means you usually do not need to give up your original passport when becoming a Maltese citizen, as long as your home country also recognizes dual citizenship.

No, there was no language requirement for acquiring Malta citizenship by investment. If you are a British, Canadian, or US expat, you will be pleased to know that one of Malta’s two official languages is English, and 88 percent of the population speaks it.

Yes, applicants were required by law to use a licensed agent for the Malta Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program. The process was highly regulated, and all applications had to be submitted through an accredited agent authorized by the Community Malta Agency, such as Global Citizen Solutions.

Yes, Malta is a full member of the EU, and citizenship in Malta comes with European citizenship, entitling bearers to freedom of movement to live and work in member states of the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area.

Malta no longer offers citizenship by investment. In the past, the country had a program called Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment, which allowed applicants to obtain citizenship after meeting residency and investment requirements. The total cost was about €690,000 for a single applicant who chose the three-year residency route and rented property. The final cost varied depending on the residency period, the property option (rent or purchase), and the number of dependents included in the application.

No, you were not allowed to rent out or sublease the property used for the Malta Citizenship by Investment program. The property needed to remain your main residence for at least five years to meet the citizenship requirements. The Community Malta Agency conducted the checks to ensure this rule was respected.

Yes, Maltese citizenship can be passed on to your children through citizenship by descent, which is available to those with proven Maltese ancestry. Your children can also keep their other nationality while holding Maltese citizenship. To apply, you must present official documents proving a direct line of descent from a Maltese-born ancestor, such as birth, marriage, or death certificates.

Yes, your Maltese citizenship can be revoked if it was acquired through fraud, misrepresentation, or concealment of facts. It can also be revoked if you voluntarily renounce it or serve in a foreign military without government approval. Additionally, if you were under the Citizenship by Investment program, failing to fulfill the residency requirements would lead to revocation.

Yes, you can obtain permanent residency in Malta through the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP), a government-backed option for non-EU nationals. The program requires either a property purchase or long-term rental, together with a government contribution, a charitable donation, and other administrative steps. The required property value and contribution amount vary depending on whether the property is located in Gozo, the South of Malta, or elsewhere in the country.

Yes, Malta citizenship by investment 2025 ended. On April 29, 2025, the European Court of Justice ruled that Malta’s Exceptional Investor Naturalisation Program (MEIN) violates EU law, effectively terminating it. Current citizenships remain valid, but no new applications are being accepted under MEIN.

The Malta Citizenship by Merit pathwa was, introduced under Legal Notice 159 of 2025. It allows individuals to obtain Maltese and EU citizenship if they make  measurable contributions in areas like science, technology, innovation, the arts, culture, sports, research, or philanthropy to the country. This option focuses on meaningful involvement, along with demonstrating a genuine and long-term connection to Malta.