On Wednesday, 16 July 2025, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri officially announced that the Government of Malta will be implementing a reformed citizenship framework. This draft bill updates the country’s citizenship laws following a European court ruling against its previous investor citizenship scheme.
Under this new framework, citizenship will be granted solely on merit to individuals who provide exceptional services or contributions to Malta or to humanity. These contributions may cover diverse sectors, including science, innovation, culture, arts, entrepreneurship, and more. The bill also removes language like “investors” from the list of eligible applicants and adds “philanthropists” and “technologists.”
Individuals whose achievements align with Malta’s national priorities, such as the long-term objectives outlined in Malta’s Vision 2050 strategy, will be eligible for consideration.
What changed and is citizenship still possible in Malta?
Now, the new system that is meant to align better with EU laws is called citizenship by merit. This new route no longer involves a fixed payment. Instead, it allows individuals to apply for citizenship if they can prove they have made an exceptional contribution to Malta. People whose achievements support Malta’s Vision 2050 goals may qualify. Examples of accepted contributions include:
- Creating jobs in Malta
- Advancing science or technology
- Supporting cultural or humanitarian projects
- Excelling in entrepreneurship or philanthropy
Applicants must submit a proposal explaining how their work benefits Malta and fits with national goals. This means citizenship is no longer tied to financial pay but to the real value you bring to the country. Currently, these legislative amendments are still progressing through the parliamentary process. Once the law has been formally adopted, the Agency will provide further details on the operational aspects of the new framework.
What has not changed for Maltese Citizenship?
Citizenship by descent is still available for individuals with a Maltese parent. The government has updated rules and extended deadlines to allow future generations to qualify under the same terms.
Important cutoff dates such as 1 August 2007, 1 August 2010, and 31 July 2010 have now been extended to 1 August 2028, to give more time for future generations to claim citizenship by descent.
Additionally, a formal review system has been added. This means anyone denied citizenship under the new merit-based regime can now file a complaint and request an official investigation.
What does this mean for the global citizenship industry?
The initial ruling of ECJ in April 2025, was a turning point in the global citizenship industry. The Global Intelligence Lead at Global Citizen Solutions, Laura Madrid, wrote a comprehensive analysis of this ruling raising important questions that challenged the idea that citizenship is solely a national matter rather than one the EU can influence. However, the Maltese government was clear on its commitment to respecting the EU law and the importance of this.
Even in the phasing out of the CBI program, there is a clear consensus among experts, including Madrid, that both the EU and Malta “must uphold legal certainty and protect the fundamental rights of all current applicants.” This includes:
- People who applied before the court ruling may still complete the process if their application followed the old rules. This protects their right to expect fairness because they followed the law at the time.
- A clear transition period should be in place so that all pending MEIN applications are handled under fair and publicly communicated rules
Is the Malta Permanent Residence Program still available?
Yes, the Malta Permanent Residence Program, also known as the Malta Golden Visa is still available and active. This route provides permanent residency through a three-part investment and successful applicants will receive a 5-year residence permit that is renewable.
The investment options include:
- Full Contribution with rental: Rent a property worth at least €14,000 per year for 5 years, contribute €37,000 to the government, and donate €2,000 to a Maltese NGO.
- Full contribution with property purchase: Buy a property worth at least €375,000 and keep it for 5 years, contribute €37,000 to the government, and donate €2,000. The property cannot be rented out during this time.
There are also other residency by investment programs that can possibly lead to citizenship, like the Portugal Golden Visa, the Greece Golden Visa, Cyprus Golden Visa and more. All these programs have a variety of investment options to choose from that will benefit any investors’ interests.
To wrap up, the Global Citizen Solutions team will stay up to date with all legal changes, and will continue providing expert guidance on strategic, compliant ways to secure mobility and second citizenship.
As part of our commitment to providing transparent and reliable services, we are proud to be a licensed agent in Malta, holding the official license number AKM-AGEN. This certification demonstrates our dedication to the highest standards in the investment migration industry and further enhances our ability to offer expert guidance and support to our clients.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.