Malta citizenship by naturalisation on the basis of merit

• Applicants must demonstrate one or more of the following:
  • Exceptional Service – tangible achievements that have benefited Malta or humanity.
  • Exceptional Contribution – proven track record of creating measurable impact in business, science, culture, education, or philanthropy.
  • Exceptional Interest – skills, influence, or expertise considered of national interest to Malta.
• Main Applicant must be over 18.
• Dependants may include:
  • Spouse or partner in a recognised relationship.
  • Unmarried children under 29 who are financially dependent.
  • Adult children with disabilities who are wholly supported.

• Concrete, measurable philanthropic or commercial commitments aligned with Malta’s and the EU’s priorities (e.g. renewable energy, STEM education, cultural heritage).
• Clear demonstration of social, cultural, or economic ties — e.g. community involvement, philanthropy, business links.
• Ownership or lease of adequate residential property in Malta (typically 5-year lease).
• Working knowledge of Maltese or English.
• Minimum 8 months residence Malta (this does not require 8 months physical presence in Malta) before the citizenship application.
• Comprehensive multi-tier background and security checks are conducted on all applicants.

Stage 1 – Residence

• All applicants are first required to apply for Maltese residence.
• A Letter of intent is included with this pack, explaining to the authorities what the applicants intend to contribute to Malta.
• At this stage, the applicant and all family members who are applying for citizenship will need to be physically present in Malta for the biometric capture.
• Residence cards will then be issued.
• At this stage a lease agreement for 5 years will need to be in place, or a property purchased.

Stage 2 – Eligibility Confirmation

• Together with the background information on the applicant and family, a proposal letter is submitted with the proposed donation / contribution to Malta - This stage is the most comprehensive and ensures full compliance with Maltese regulations.
• The authorities will then conduct a full review of your source of wealth, source of funds, and various background checks.
• A letter of approval in principle is then issued.

Stage 3 – Passport Application

• Once eligibility is confirmed, the final stage is the citizenship and passport application.

Continuing Obligations

• Applicants must honour all commitments made in the proposal and approval letters.
• Ongoing compliance may include annual reporting or updates on philanthropic and economic initiatives.
• Citizenship may be revoked if obligations are not fulfilled, if the individual becomes a threat to national security, or if information was falsified.