Citizenship - Malta - FAQs

Citizens of EU countries can apply for Maltese citizenship under the Individual Investor Programme.

Currently, the policy of the Maltese Government excludes from applying individuals who are nationals of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), or are non-nationals but reside, do business, have significant ties with, or connections to these countries. Citizens from countries included in the US Travel Ban also cannot apply. The full list is presented below:

• Afghanistan
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Iran
• North Korea
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen
• Venezuela

MIIPA reserves the right to update the list of banned countries from time to time. Such list will be communicated with all Agents accordingly.

The Maltese language is not a requirement for naturalization and no citizenship tests will be carried out at this time.

MIIP applications can only be filed through the services of the Concessionaire or Accredited Agents duly appointed by Malta Individual Investor Program Agency. These are listed on the Malta Individual Investor Program Agency website.

Yes, you can hold more than one citizenship after having been naturalized as a Maltese citizen. Malta recognizes dual citizenship, however, your current country of citizenship may have restrictions.

The acquisition of citizenship occurs on the date of the issue of the naturalization certificate. Children born before this date will not automatically become Maltese citizens. Children born after this date can become Maltese citizens.

The names of all persons who will have acquired Maltese citizenship in any particular year are published in the Government Gazette only once in that year.

The Maltese citizenship granted under the MIIP can be deprived should an applicant fail to comply with the requirements as highlighted in the Maltese Citizenship Act and Article 10 of the Legal Notice 47 of 2014.

Where the applicant has resided for a cumulative period of 6 (even in intermitted periods) over the last 10 years in another jurisdiction, police conduct from that jurisdiction would need to be provided. Police conduct certificates must be originals and not older than 6 months.

The Legal Notice specifies a minimum period of six months and a maximum period of 24 months. However, it is expected that in the majority of cases the process will take 12 months.

The Main Applicant is obliged to obtain an effective residence status in Malta for a minimum period of 12 months before becoming a Maltese citizen.

A Letter of Approval in Principle is issued once rigorous due diligence checks are completed. These take between four and five months.

Yes, upon obtaining the certificate of naturalization, the Applicant and his dependants become holders of Maltese citizenship for life.

The law defines dependant as the following:

• The spouse  of the main  applicant in a  marriage or in another relationship having the same or a  similar status to marriage;
• A child,  including an  adopted child,  of the main applicant or of his spouse who is less than 18 years old;
• A child of the main applicant or of his spouse who is between the age of 18 and 26 and who is not married and who proves that he is wholly maintained by the main applicant;
• A parent or grandparent of the main applicant or of his spouse above the age of 55 who proves that they are wholly maintained or supported  by the main applicant and form part of the household of the main applicant; or
• A child of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is at least 18 years old, is physically or mentally challenged, and who is living with and is fully supported by the main applicant.