{"id":246732,"date":"2025-11-12T12:04:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T12:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/?page_id=246732"},"modified":"2026-06-15T11:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T11:50:17","slug":"malta-citizenship-by-merit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/en\/programs\/malta-citizenship-by-merit\/","title":{"rendered":"MALTA CITIZENSHIP BY MERIT"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"parent":130860,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"antigua_barbuda_2.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-246732","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"program_menu_title":"Program Menu","program_menu_overview":"OVERVIEW ","program_menu_benifits":"BENEFITS","program_menu_visa":"VISA-FREE COUNTRIES ","program_menu_costs":"COSTS","program_menu_timeline":"TIMELINE","program_menu_faqs":"FAQS","program_menu_brochure":"BROCHURE","program_menu_title_copy":"Program Menu","program_menu_overview_copy":"OVERVIEW ","program_menu_benifits_copy":"BENEFITS","program_menu_visa_copy":"VISA-FREE COUNTRIES ","program_menu_costs_copy":"COSTS","program_menu_timeline_copy":"TIMELINE","program_menu_faqs_copy":"FAQs","program_menu_brochure_copy":"BROCHURE","section_1_image_hero":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Malta-Banner-CBI-1.webp","section_1_image_logo":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/maltaas-5-3.png","section_1_title":"MALTA","section_1_subtitle":"CITIZENSHIP BY MERIT","section_1_description":"Malta\u2019s Citizenship by Merit program provides a path to naturalization for individuals who demonstrates exceptional achievements have made a significant impact on a nation or humanity. This route grants entrepreneurs, technologists, and philanthropists Maltese citizenship and passport who are endorsed by recognised Maltese bodies and who demonstrate exceptional merit through significant contributions to Malta or through services of exceptional interest to Malta or humanity.","section_2_title":"CITIZENSHIP INVEST IS GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZED ","section_2_description":"Citizenship Invest is a trusted leader in securing Malta citizenship and passports. With an extensive track record of success, the firm has supported governments by processing a significant number of applications with precision and efficiency. Committed to clients for life, Citizenship Invest has guided families and individuals from more than 85 countries in obtaining citizenship by investment.","section_2_image":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Malta-9-3.webp","section_3_title":"PROGRAM OVERVIEW","section_3_list":[{"Icon":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ovricon-1-5-3.jpg","Name":"Processing Time","Description":"The average processing time for obtaining Malta citizenship is 12 to 18 months."},{"Icon":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ovricon-2-5-3.jpg","Name":"Visa-free Travel","Description":"Visa-free\/e-Visa to 180+ countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada\tand Europe"},{"Icon":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ovricon-3-5-3.jpg","Name":"Investment Type","Description":"Significant Contribution or Exceptional Services"},{"Icon":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ovricon-4-5-3.jpg","Name":"Investment Cost","Description":"Deemed significant by recognized Maltese bodies endorsing the applicant"},{"Icon":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ovricon-5-5-3.jpg","Name":"Family Dependents","Description":"Spouse and Dependent Children 29 years and below"},{"Icon":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ovricon-6-2-2-3.jpg","Name":"Passport Validity","Description":"Malta passport is valid for Ten (10) years for both Adults and minor children."}],"section_3_bottom_text":"MALTA CITIZENSHIP LAW","section_3_collapsed":"Malta\u2019s citizenship by merit route, introduced on 28 November 2017, provides a path to naturalisation for individuals who have rendered exceptional service to the Republic of Malta or to humanity in fields such as sports, culture, the arts, science, and research. This selective pathway, governed by Article 10(9) of the Maltese Citizenship Act, recognises and rewards extraordinary contributions from distinguished global talents.\r\n\r\nWith the publication of the Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services (Amendment) Regulations 2025 on 29 July 2025, eligibility has been further expanded. Citizenship by naturalisation may now also be granted to entrepreneurs, technologists, and philanthropists who are endorsed by recognised Maltese bodies and who demonstrate exceptional merit through significant contributions to Malta or through services of exceptional interest to Malta or humanity.\r\n","section_4_title":"PROGRAM BENEFITS","section_4_card":[{"Image":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/card-1-x62-GN5pO-transformed-128-3.webp","Title":"STREAMLINED PROCESS","title_2":"Fast and Simple","description":"Fast-Track European Citizenship without lengthy physical residence requirement.

Malta Citizenship by merit grants you Fast track residence card within the Schengen region for three weeks while waiting for the Citizenship issuance.

Dual Citizenship is allowed.","read_more_status":true,"button":"READ MORE","read_more":"Family Benefits<\/b>
The application for one person may also include dependents such as a spouse, unmarried and financially dependent children under 29 years of age.

\r\n\r\nLifestyle<\/b>
Access to world-class healthcare and education: Malta has a highly regarded healthcare system, as well as an excellent education system with internationally recognized qualifications.

Malta offers a laid-back, sunny, and Mediterranean lifestyle. English is widely spoken, making communication easy for many expats and simplifying daily life and official matters. \r\n"},{"Image":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Cards_-_Website_15-transformed-1-3.png","Title":"GLOBAL MOBILITY","title_2":"STRONG PASSPORT","description":"Malta passport holders can enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 180+ destinations, including the US, UK, Canada and the EU.

The right to live, work, or study in any of the EU countries, as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Malta is an attractive place to live or own a second home, strategically located with excellent air links, and an English-speaking country and workforce.","read_more_status":true,"button":"READ MORE","read_more":""},{"Image":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Third-Card-Malta-Family-3.webp","Title":"BUSINESS BENEFITS","title_2":"Elite Program","description":"Malta's Citizenship by Investment program has the world's strictest due diligence standards, ensuring only reputable applicants.

\tMoreover, Malta is an attractive place to live or own a second home, strategically located with excellent air links and an English-speaking country and workforce.","read_more_status":true,"button":"READ MORE","read_more":"Malta Passport holders can easily establish businesses, open bank accounts, and expand investments globally.

Malta's non-domicile residence taxation system implies foreigners are taxed only on income and capital gains in Malta, not worldwide income.

Malta also has double taxation treaties with about 60 countries and is one of the leading financial service centres globally."}],"show_or_hide_countries":true,"section_5_title":"MALTA PASSPORT VISA-FREE TRAVEL","section_5_description":"The Maltese Passport Allows Visa-Free Travel Or Visa-On-Arrival To 185 Countries Including Schengen, UK, USA, And Canada.","section_5_bottom_text":"VIEW LIST","section_5_countries_number":"185","section_5_all_countries":[{"continent":"AMERICAS","countries":"Antigua & Barbuda
\r\nArgentina
\r\nBahamas
\r\nBarbados
\r\nBelize
\r\nBolivia*
\r\nBrazil
\r\nCanada
\r\nChile
\r\nColombia
\r\nCosta Rica
\r\nDominica
\r\nDominican Republic
\r\nEcuador
\r\nEl Salvador
\r\nGrenada
\r\nGuatemala
\r\nHaiti
\r\nHonduras
\r\nJamaica
\r\nMexico
\r\nNicaragua
\r\nPanama
\r\nParaguay
\r\nPeru
\r\nSt. Kitts & Nevis
\r\nSt. Lucia
\r\nSt. Vincent & The Grenadines
\r\nSuriname*
\r\nTrinidad and Tobago
\r\nUruguay
\r\nUSA
\r\nVenezuela
","brochure_position_":"N-A"},{"continent":"AFRICA","countries":"Botswana
\r\nBurkina Faso*
\r\nCape Verde*
\r\nComoros*
\r\nDjibouti*
\r\nEgypt*
\r\nGambia
\r\nGuinea-Bissau*
\r\nLesotho*
\r\nMadagascar*
\r\nMalawi*
\r\nMauritania*
\r\nMauritius
\r\nMorocco
\r\nMozambique*
\r\nS\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe
\r\nSenegal
\r\nSeychelles
\r\nSouth Africa
\r\nSwaziland
\r\nTanzania
\r\nTogo*
\r\nTunisia
\r\nUganda
\r\nZambia
\r\nZimbabwe
","brochure_position_":"N-A"},{"continent":"EUROPE","countries":"Albania
\r\nAndorra
\r\nAustria
\r\nBelgium
\r\nBosnia & Herzegovina
\r\nBulgaria
\r\nCroatia
\r\nCyprus
\r\nCzech Republic
\r\nDenmark
\r\nEstonia
\r\nFinland
\r\nFrance
\r\nGeorgia
\r\nGermany
\r\nGreece
\r\nHungary
\r\nIceland
\r\nIreland (Rep.)
\r\nItaly
\r\nLatvia
\r\nLiechtenstein
\r\nLithuania
\r\nLuxembourg
\r\nMacedonia (FYROM)
\r\nMoldova
\r\nMonaco
\r\nMontenegro
\r\nNetherlands
\r\nNorway
\r\nPoland
\r\nPortugal
\r\nRomania
\r\nSan Marino
\r\nSerbia
\r\nSlovakia
\r\nSlovenia
\r\nSpain
\r\nSweden
\r\nSwitzerland
\r\nUkraine
\r\nUnited Kingdom
\r\nVatican City
","brochure_position_":"N-A"},{"continent":"ASIA","countries":"Armenia
\r\nBahrain*
\r\nBangladesh*
\r\nBrunei
\r\nCambodia*
\r\nHong Kong*
\r\nIndonesia
\r\nIran*
\r\nIsrael
\r\nJapan
\r\nJordan*
\r\nKazakhstan
\r\nKyrgyzstan
\r\nLaos*
\r\nLebanon*
\r\nMacau*
\r\nMalaysia
\r\nMaldives*
\r\nNepal*
\r\nOman*
\r\nPalestinian Territories
\r\nPhilippines
\r\nSingapore
\r\nSouth Korea
\r\nTajikistan*
\r\nThailand*
\r\nUAE
","brochure_position_":"N-A"},{"continent":"OCEANIA","countries":"Fiji
\r\nKiribati
\r\nMarshall Islands
\r\nMicronesia
\r\nNew Zealand
\r\nPalau
\r\nPapua New Guinea*
\r\nSamoa
\r\nSolomon Isl.*
\r\nTimor-Leste
\r\nTonga
\r\nTuvalu
\r\nVanuatu
","brochure_position_":"left"},{"continent":"E-VISA","countries":"Australia
\r\nAzerbaijan
\r\nGabon
\r\nIndia
\r\nKenya
\r\nKuwait
\r\nMyanmar
\r\nSri Lanka
\r\nTurkey
","brochure_position_":"N-A"}],"section_5_countries_note":"The list of countries is subject to variations depending on each government's policy and so is access to these countries.
\r\nNote: According to UK policy, you can stay in the UK for up to 6 months per year.","section_6_hide":false,"section_6_image_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/A-stunning-view-of-Maltas-Landmark-showing-the-beauty-of-Citizenship-by-Investment-of-the-magical-country.-1-3.webp","section_6_title":"","section_6_description":"","section_7_title":"INVESTMENT TYPE & COST","section_7_description":"Malta citizenship can be granted to individuals who demonstrate exceptional achievements and make significant contributions to Malta or to humanity.","section_7_options":false,"section_7_bottom_title":"Other Costs","section_7_bottom_description":"In addition to the required contribution, there are other costs for the Maltese citizenship program which are Citizenship Invest professional fees, documents certifications when applicable, courier fees, and other small disbursements. If you wish to receive a detailed quotation outlining all costs, please contact us.","section_8_hide":false,"section_8_title":"DUE DILIGENCE AND BACKGROUND CHECKS","section_8_subtitle":"","section_8_description":"Background checks are required and paid for by the government to ensure the integrity of the Malta citizenship by merit program. The government appoints a preferred due diligence agency, which conducts checks using different international and local sources, such as Interpol, World-Check, and other governmental entities. ","section_8_list_title":"Due Diligence Fees

","section_8_list":false,"section_8_image":"https:\/\/www.citizenshipinvest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/appl-4-112-3.jpg","section_8_list_2_title":"Due diligence typically takes four to six weeks to complete and includes the following checks:","section_8_list_2_bold_title":"DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS","section_8_list_2":[{"list_content":"Identity verification."},{"list_content":"Criminal background checks in all countries where the applicant has spent more than six months in the previous 10 years."},{"list_content":"Checks on financial history, including the source of cash for the investment."},{"list_content":"Reputation checks with relevant international authorities and databases."}],"section_8_hide_bottom":false,"section_8_bottom_title":"APPLICATION SECURITY","section_8_bottom_description":"Malta's Citizenship program is an exceptional choice due to the security protocols it provides. The program has a proven track record of attracting famous investors, and Citizenship Invest has an excellent record of success to demonstrate.","section_9_title":"APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE","section_9_description":"The estimated processing time for Malta citizenship by investment program depends on the due diligence processing time and the specific case.","section_9_list":[{"month":"1","month_text":"WEEK","title":"Client Onboarding and Document Collection","description":"

Signing of Citizenship Invest (CI) Retainer Agreement and making the first Professional Fees payment.<\/p>\n

Signing of POA and applying for insurance.<\/p>\n"},{"month":"1","month_text":"MONTH ","title":"Starting the Process","description":"

Travel to Malta:<\/strong> The main applicant and all adult dependents must travel to Malta to initiate the process of obtaining a Malta passport through citizenship by merit.<\/p>\n

Residency Application:<\/strong> To continue the Malta naturalization process, submit the residency application and pay the government application fees.<\/p>\n

Residency Cards Issuance:<\/strong> The immigration office will issue residency cards within 15 days of submitting the application.<\/p>\n

Valid E-Residency Card:<\/strong> The e-residency card obtained through Malta Individual Investor Program (MIIP) is valid for 18 months.<\/p>\n

Complete Application Submission:<\/strong> Citizenship Invest will compile the complete file required for the submission of the full application for Malta citizenship by merit.<\/p>\n"},{"month":"4","month_text":"MONTH ","title":"Process Completion","description":"

The Community Malta Agency examines the application, the source of money, and the background checks, then issues a letter of eligibility approval.<\/p>\n

Citizenship Application:<\/strong> Submit the citizenship application and ensure that the due diligence process is updated.<\/p>\n

Approval in Principle:<\/strong> Once the due diligence is cleared, obtain approval in principle.<\/p>\n"},{"month":"1","month_text":"YEAR","title":"","description":"

Oath of Allegiance:<\/strong> After the approval, take the oath of allegiance.<\/p>\n

Certificate of Naturalization:<\/strong> Upon taking the oath, receive the certificate of naturalization, which is the final step in obtaining a Malta Passport.<\/p>\n

Malta Passport is issued.<\/p>\n"}],"section_10_hide":false,"section_10_title":"Download
Malta Citizenship Brochure","section_10_list_title":"","section_10_list_1":"