The most current revision to the Naturalization for Exceptional Services through the Direct Investment program for Malta took place in November 2020. In this blog, Malta, a lovely Mediterranean island, is discussed as allowing people to explore the world and conduct business in an environment with lenient financial regulations.

With a total population of 443,355 and a land area of just 316 square kilometers, Malta is one of the world’s smallest countries in a fantastic location. It also has a vibrant and diversified culture.

The Maltese program has quickly risen to the top of CBI programs worldwide.

By getting citizenship through investment, you can take advantage of its favorable economic policies.

It offers citizenship in a world region with a good standard of living and convenient access to the rest of Europe. That is undoubtedly a desirable solution for those seeking a top-notch passport.

Let’s examine the Maltese passport’s strength and whether you should pursue it before discussing how the Maltese CBI program functions.

What is Citizenship by Investment?

Let’s level the playing field if you learn about citizenship by investment. Here, we’ll quickly introduce the idea.

(Extremely) wealthy individuals are looking for citizenship insurance. This indicates that they desire a “Plan B” that would allow them access to locations other than their original places of birth for themselves, their families, and their enterprises.

Some people flee political persecution, while others seek warm weather or strategies to pay fewer taxes.

Whatever the motivation, a select few nations worldwide offer citizenship through investment programs to entice these people and raise money to strengthen their respective local economies.

Citizenship by investment (CBI) is typically only available in jurisdictions that find it difficult to diversify their sources of income, such as island nations that rely heavily on tourism.

The truth, however, is much more straightforward: the vast majority of those seeking a second passport want to travel to places where they will be treated well.

Why Malta Citizenship by Investment?

Some believe Malta is the nation where they would receive the best treatment.

The quality of life in the countries that our clients are contemplating comes up frequently when we discuss CBI with them.

You see, most nations that grant citizenship in exchange for investment are little islands in the South Pacific or the Caribbean. Most people find it challenging to imagine living in these nations, even though they are by no means horrible (and their passports are pretty decent by most standards).

Second, passports are fantastic for a variety of reasons. Still, consider whether you would genuinely want to reside in your new nation of citizenship if necessary.

Another concern we frequently hear from US citizens seeking to renounce their citizenship is that they wish to maintain similar passport benefits without paying taxes based on their citizenship.

The freedom to travel with a US passport far outweighs the attractive visa-free access that passports like Grenada might provide to countries like China and Russia.

Malta comes to mind; it provides a developed European country’s standard of living, citizenship in the EU, and access to several exciting locations. Additionally, its passport is among the strongest in the world, so you wouldn’t have to give up any passport rights. 

Benefits of Getting Malta Citizenship by Investment

With the Malta citizenship by investment scheme, candidates get more benefits than just a passport to Europe.

Access To The European Union Without Limits

Since Malta is a member of the European Union, investors who gain Maltese citizenship are eligible to live and work anywhere in the EU.

There are no visa requirements or passport checks when traveling throughout the European Schengen Zone because Malta is a member of the Schengen Area.

Visa-free Travel

One of the world’s most durable passports is the Maltese one. In addition to freedom of movement and visa-free travel within Europe, it permits travel to 183 countries worldwide.

The Malta Citizenship By Investment Saves Time

The speed with which the Malta citizenship by investment program is implemented is another significant advantage. Citizenship can be attained in 12 to 36 months. To acquire Maltese citizenship, you must live in Malta.

Family-Friendly Passport

If you are granted Maltese citizenship through the new Maltese Citizenship by Naturalization for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment program, you and your family will be given an EU passport. Notably, there is an extra donation cost for each dependent who receives citizenship and the primary petitioner.

However, the cost is prorated for each dependent. Therefore, if you’re going to do something for yourself, you could do it for your entire family.

Be aware that Maltese citizenship is automatically conferred upon children born to Maltese parents. So, for the rest of their lives, your children and grandchildren will be citizens of Malta.

Maltese Is Tax-Friendly

Malta has a residency-based tax system rather than a citizenship-based one. Therefore, even if you obtain citizenship, you might not be required to pay taxes in Malta. Malta has incredibly favorable tax exposure and provides special tax arrangements for new residents that may enable them to reduce their tax burden.

How to Get Malta Citizenship by Investment?

You must submit your citizenship eligibility application to the Community Malta Agency within a year of receiving your Malta Golden Visa residence permit card. Otherwise, your residency permit card will be revoked by the Agency.

The CMA follows protocol to verify that the citizenship application is appropriately filled out. It is possible to ask for additional papers and information. The Minister reviews the CMA’s application and decides whether or not the applicants can apply for Maltese citizenship.

The processing time for a citizenship application is typically 120 to 150 calendar days. If you are eligible, you will then start the Malta citizenship process.

After receiving a Letter of Approval in Principle, you will be required to pay the additional costs.

Eligibility for the Malta Citizenship by Investment

The Community Malta Agency is in charge of overseeing the citizenship by investment in the Malta program. According to this federal government organization, the leading candidate must fulfill the following requirements.

• At least 18 years of age is required.
• You must put down €600,000 if you’ve been in Malta for 36 months; if you’ve been here for 12 months, you must put down €750,000.
• Purchase a residential property in Malta for €700,000 and keep it for at least five years. An alternative is to rent a home with a €16,000 annual rent value.
• Donate €10,000 to any organization recognized by the Community Malta Agency. You can also donate to a reputable non-governmental organization or group that supports animal welfare, culture, sports, the arts, or science.
• You need a current Malta Golden Visa to apply for citizenship. You receive an e-ID card and a Malta identification certificate when you purchase real estate in Malta.

Malta Citizenship by Investment – FAQs

The most typical queries concerning obtaining a passport from Malta are listed here.

Can my children eventually obtain Maltese citizenship?

Yes. Your brand-new offspring can inherit your citizenship.

How quickly can I obtain Maltese citizenship?

The minimum is 12 months, although you’ll probably wait closer to 14 months to get your Maltese passport.

Does becoming a citizen of Malta require traveling there?

You must visit Malta or one of its foreign embassies to apply for the Maltese CBI program because Malta requires you to provide biometric data (such as your fingerprints).

When do I make the actual investment?

Fortunately, you will only have to make the entire investment once you’ve completed the application’s due diligence phase.

Is linguistic proficiency required?

No. No language exams are required to be eligible for Maltese citizenship.

Does Malta accept Bitcoin in exchange for passport purchases?

No.