A Brief Overview

According to Article 10 of the Malta Citizenship Act, the Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation as a citizen of Malta by merit to any person who renders exceptional services or who makes an exceptional contribution, including through job creation, to the Republic of Malta or to humanity, or whose naturalisation is of exceptional interest to the Republic of Malta.

Maltese Citizenship by Merit

Overview - Citizenship by Merit

In July 2025, the Maltese Parliament abolished its Citizenship by Investment regulations and amended the Maltese Citizenship Act to align with European Union law. This reform represents a deliberate move away from the concept of citizenship by investment, effectively removing the transactional element that was a key point in the European Court of Justice's decision against Malta

These recent changes have strengthened the Citizenship by Merit framework, a discretionary route for naturalization originally introduced in 2017. This pathway grants citizenship to individuals who have rendered or are expected to render exceptional services to the country. Under the new provisions, citizenship may be awarded to individuals whose exceptional achievements, contributions, or service are considered to be in the national interest of Malta. The Minister now holds the discretionary power to grant citizenship by merit following a rigorous application process administered by the Community Malta Agency.

Eligibility requirements

The Citizenship by Merit pathway is not a checklist-based process. It is guided by these four key principles:

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  • Exceptional Contributions: All services or contributions must have a recognized value and be in Malta's public interest.
  • Case-by-Case Discretion: The Minister awards citizenship on a case-by-case basis, with approval from an Evaluation Board.
  • Merit-Based Assessment: There is no set financial requirement; the decision is based solely on merit.
  • Strict Due Diligence: Applicants must pass rigorous integrity checks and may be asked to explain their future contributions to Malta.

Anyone applying for naturalisation based on merit must first send a detailed proposal to the Evaluation Board through the Community Malta Agency in the form of a proposal letter.

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We will be happy to discuss whether you are eligible to citizenship by merit.

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The main applicant may include the following dependents in his application

  • Spouse or long-term partner.
  • Minor child of main applicant of minor child of spouse or partner.
  • A child of the main applicant and/or partner who is over 18 years of age but has not yet attained the age of 29, who is not married and who is wholly maintained or largely supported by the main applicant, spouse of partner

Main Benefits

  • Visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to up to 185 destinations.
  • Access to a reputed and open financial centre and a leading international business jurisdiction.
  • The world's strictest due diligence criteria and candidate verification processes guarantee that only exceptionally respectable applicants submit applications.
  • Strategically positioned with excellent air connections, Malta is a desirable spot to reside in or purchase a second home. It also offers an excellent healthcare system, great quality of life for you and your family, and the possibility to work and/or study in EU countries.