A Mediterranean climate, with a high quality of life, a thriving real estate market and optimal investment conditions— it seems like Malta has it all— including a prime spot in the world for its powerful passport status. Our unique Global Passport Index looks at the strength of all the world’s passports using a robust and nuanced ranking system. Our index ranks global passports of today not just by visa-free access, but by enhanced mobility, investment opportunity, and quality of life offered by each destination. And when it comes to Europe, Malta made the top 50 list, keeping its place in our Global Passport Index.
The Malta passport ranks 38th, with 170 visa-free places accessible with a Malta passport. Please keep in mind that the list of visa-free countries is computed to represent the number of countries Malta passport holders can access without a visa, via a visa on arrival, or via the eTA.
Read on to discover how our research team came up with the Malta Passport Ranking, with a detailed breakdown of Malta’s country profile.
Malta Passport Ranking
Trailing just behind Hong Kong, a Maltese passport is the 38th most powerful in the world. How did we conclude this? We looked at factors like ease of doing business, quality of life, and investment opportunities to determine how alluring a Maltese passport truly is. The truth is, individuals looking to uproot their lives and obtain a second passport don’t just look at a passport’s travel access opportunities. So, how then does a Maltese passport fare in terms of travel, relocation, and investment options? The answer is very well.
To get an idea of our scoring system, our index is split into three standalone indexes, with the Malta passport performing differently for each separate index.
1.The Enhanced Mobility Index
Holds the most weight (50%) and is based on the destination’s travel benefits for each passport holder, while taking into account the destination country’s level of ‘attractiveness’ based on its quality of life standards.
Malta passport ranking: 31st
2.The Investment Index
Holds 25% of the overall calculation and is based on the country’s economic strength, looking at how investor-friendly and business-friendly it is as a destination country for passport holders.
Malta passport ranking: 65th
3.The Quality of Life Index
Is worth 25% of the total calculation. Six components related to the quality of life are covered under this index including (but not limited to) healthcare, education, and personal safety.
Malta passport ranking: 37th
For more information, consult Malta’s country profile here.
Malta Passport Ranking- Mobility Highlights
How comfortably can you hop from country to country with a Maltese passport? Malta passport holders will be pleased to know that a Malta passport is incredibly travel-friendly, holding the 31st spot in the world for its visa free privileges. Indeed, Maltese citizens enjoy relatively few visa requirements across dozens of nations.
Having a Maltese passport has several advantages since Malta is an EU member state. If you hold a Maltese passport, you have strong mobility since you may live, work, and study in any of the EU’s 27 member states, for both yourself and your family. Maltese passport also provides visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, quality healthcare, and a very good education system. In addition, Malta has good international links to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Maltese passport holders have visa free or partially visa free access to 170 countries in total including EU member states in the European Union. Other countries include Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, and Qatar. Maltese citizens can also enter the United States and stay there up to 90 days via an entry permit called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
Maltese passport holders have further free visa on arrival access to 28 countries, and unlimited visa free access to 37 countries. Electronic Travel Authorization is only required in 19 countries.
For more information, check out our Enhanced Mobility Index.
Malta Passport Ranking- Investment Highlights
As a center for business excellence, Malta has a steady reputation of attracting high-net-worth individuals and foreign investors to its shores. Its favorable economic environment, compounded with friendly links to other countries in Europe, North Africa, and beyond make it an optimal country to do business in.
There are numerous advantages to investing in Malta, including (but not limited to) its European Union status, stable credit ratings, dedicated and educated workforce, hub status for knowledge-based industries, and thriving financial services sector.
The Maltese government also passed the Business Promotion Action, which essentially encourages foreigners to do business in Malta. In force since 2001, the Act is continually being updated, offering attractive incentives for industries demonstrating growth and employment potential. That’s not all. Tax incentives for companies involved in specific manufacturing and qualifying activities are high, making Malta an ideal place to do business.
The Gross National Income per capita currently stands at $43.970, with a personal tax rate of 35%.
For more information, check out our Investment Index.
Malta Passport Ranking- Quality Of Life Highlights
Malta might be a small Mediterranean island-nation but it certainly makes up for it in other ways. Not only do its Maltese citizens enjoy the warm, pleasant weather but the European country is also packed with wonderful restaurants, an exuberant cultural scene, rich historical sites, and various points of interest. Not to mention, the views around the island are mesmerizing. From the bustling and energetic capital of Valletta to the more relaxed pace of lifestyle on the island of Gozo, Malta has something for everyone.
Malta passport holders get unlimited access to a high quality of life. People holding citizenship here particularly enjoy a high level of safety, political freedoms and happiness. Malta also boasts a reputation for being a very eco-friendly country with a high level of sustainable development. On the downside, Malta does have high living costs, which is usually the price to pay for enjoying a high quality of life. Nevertheless, the wages are good, and the economy is high-performing, meaning Maltese citizens are likely to afford living here.
For more information, check out our Quality of Life Index.
World’s Most Powerful Passports
The top ten world’s powerful passports are, USA, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and New Zealand. The United States of America ranked 10th in the Enhanced Mobility Index, 4th in the Investment Index, and 23rd in the Quality of Life Index.
In Europe, the world’s most powerful passports are:
