Malta Citizenship by Investment

Malta is one of the hidden gems of the Mediterranean. The sun kissed European hotspot offers plenty of charming seaside towns and historical cities to explore alongside its shimmering blue seas, including its UNESCO-listed capital city Valletta and the medieval stronghold Mdina. Having been a strategic naval base for centuries, history oozes from the country’s every pore. Archaeological wonders and historical sites are scattered across the island, dating back as far as 6,000 years. Having a fascinating past, Malta has become a popular scuba diving destination and boasts a flourishing nightlife scene. Malta enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Rainfall usually occurs within the winter months, while the summer months remain largely dry. Among all European capital cities, Valletta enjoys the warmest winters with average temperatures of around 16°C in the daytime.

Malta has a population of just over 500,000 and has been a member of the European Union since 2004, with English being one of the official languages. Malta’s currency is the Euro (€).

Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CDI), enables citizenship by naturalisation to foreign individuals and their families who contribute to the economic development of Malta. It is a straightforward application process, following the requirement of the applicant to reside in Malta for a period of three years, or by exception, one year.

APPLICATION FOR MALTESE CITIZENSHIP FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES BY DIRECT INVESTMENT GUIDELINES :

The main applicant must be at least 18 years old, be in good health and prove a clean criminal record. The spouse and children below the age of 18 may be included in the application. Furthermore, financially dependant, unmarried children between the ages of 18 and 28, and parents/grandparents over 55 years of either the main applicant or spouse may be included. Applications need to be submitted by a duly Licensed Agent of the Community Malta Agency (CMA).

There are three main investment requirements for Malta’s Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment (CDI). The main financial contribution required depends on the residency timeframe applied for. Applicants can apply for Citizenship after a 36 month residency period, or by exception a 12 month residency period. The investment requirements include:

• Transfer of Capital: Applicants who have resided for a 3 year period, must make a financial contribution of €600,000, or €750,000 for applicants who have resided for 1 year. This contribution is referred to as the Exceptional Direct Investment. In addition, the contribution for each dependant is €50,000.
• Real Estate Investment: Applicants have two options: - Purchase residential property for a minimum value of €700,000 or rent a residential property for a minimum of 16,000 euros per year. The property investment needs to be maintained for a minimum period of five (5) years from the date of issue of the certificate of citizenship.
• Donation: Applicants must make a €10,000 charitable donation to an approved Local Voluntary Organisation In addition to the investment requirements, investors will need to pay due diligence and government administration fees and the first €10,000 deposit of the capital transfer is non-refundable.