Malta (MT)
Malta is a small EU island nation in the central Mediterranean — the smallest EU member state by area — celebrated for its extraordinary concentration of history (the Knights of St John, ancient megalithic temples older than Stonehenge), warm climate of 300+ sunshine days per year, English as a co-official language making it uniquely accessible for anglophone expats, a thriving iGaming and fintech sector, and a strategic location halfway between Europe and North Africa.
Capital: Valletta
Region: Europe
Language: Maltese
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 62)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Malta.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Long-Term Resident Status
Eligibility
Non-EU nationals who have legally resided in Malta for 5 continuous years immediately preceding the application. EU citizens acquire the right to permanent residence automatically after 5 years under the EU Free Movement Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC).
Duration
Indefinite (EU citizens); 5-year renewable card (non-EU Long-Term Resident status)
Requirements
- ✓Continuous lawful residence in Malta for 5 years (non-EU) or 5 years (EU citizens)
- ✓Stable and regular resources sufficient to maintain yourself and your family without recourse to social assistance
- ✓Health insurance covering Malta
- ✓No serious criminal convictions
- ✓For EU citizens: application for permanent residence card (P-card) at Identità — technically not required but provides proof of permanent residence
- ✓For non-EU nationals: pass the Basic Knowledge of Maltese or English test (A2 level)
EU citizens automatically acquire permanent residence rights after 5 years but should obtain the permanent residence card (pink P-card) from Identità as evidence. Non-EU nationals must apply formally for Long-Term Resident status and meet income/insurance requirements. Long-term residence is NOT the same as Maltese citizenship and does not confer EU citizenship. However, it provides strong residence security and access to most public services on equal terms with citizens. Note: the Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) is a separate investor route for non-EU nationals who do not want to wait 5 years.
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Citizenship
Name
Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Non-Maltese individuals who have legally resided in Malta for the required period and meet character and language requirements.
Duration
Permanent — full Maltese (and therefore EU) citizenship
Requirements
- ✓Residence period: minimum 5 years legal residence (if married to a Maltese citizen for at least 4 years: 5 years still applies); standard route for others: traditionally 5 years residence, but new 2024–2025 rules may vary — check at identita.gov.mt
- ✓Good character (clean criminal record)
- ✓Basic knowledge of Maltese language OR English language (both are official — English knowledge is accepted)
- ✓Intention to remain resident in Malta
- ✓Renunciation of current citizenship may be required depending on applicant's home country rules (Malta does permit dual citizenship)
- ✓Application to Identità (Commissioner of Police must certify good character)
Maltese citizenship is highly valued as it grants full EU citizenship. The standard naturalisation route requires approximately 4 of the previous 7 years of legal residence. Malta allows dual citizenship. The MEIN citizenship-by-investment programme was ordered terminated by the ECJ (April 2025 ruling) and formally closed July 26, 2025. Malta subsequently introduced a Citizenship by Merit framework: candidates must demonstrate exceptional contributions in science, technology, innovation, culture, arts, sports, entrepreneurship, philanthropy or projects of national strategic interest — this is discretionary and replaces the prior financial-investment citizenship path. The MPRP investor residency route remains open (see additionalPaths).
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP) — Investment Residency
Eligibility
Non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment in Malta can obtain permanent residence (not citizenship) through the MPRP (revised January 2025). Key thresholds (post-Jan 2025): qualifying assets EUR 500k (€150k liquid) or EUR 650k (€75k liquid); property purchase EUR 375,000 nationwide (South/Gozo discount eliminated); government contribution EUR 37,000 (unified); administration fee EUR 60,000.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent residence — does not confer Maltese or EU citizenship
Requirements
- ✓Qualifying assets: EUR 500,000 total (with EUR 150,000 liquid), OR EUR 650,000 total (with EUR 75,000 liquid)
- ✓Property: purchase EUR 375,000 (standardised nationwide from Jan 2025 — South/Gozo no longer discounted) OR annual rent EUR 14,000
- ✓Government contribution: EUR 37,000 (unified rate for both purchase and rental applicants from Jan 2025)
- ✓Administration fee: EUR 60,000 total (EUR 15,000 on submission + EUR 45,000 on approval in principle)
- ✓Clean criminal record from all countries of recent residence
- ✓Health insurance covering Malta
- ✓Application through a licensed MPRP Agent to Residency Malta Agency
Note on the terminated MEIN programme: The Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN) citizenship-by-investment programme was ordered terminated by the European Court of Justice in April 2025, which ruled the programme breached EU Treaty obligations (Article 4(3) TEU and Article 20 TFEU). Malta is no longer accepting MEIN applications. The MPRP investor PR route remains open and is unaffected by the ECJ ruling.
Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Eligibility
Persons born to a Maltese parent (jus sanguinis) or with Maltese ancestry through direct lineage — various rules apply by generation
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship
Requirements
- ✓Documented Maltese parentage (birth certificates, marriage certificates of Maltese ancestors)
- ✓Application to Identità
- ✓Processing may take several months
Malta permits citizenship through the paternal or maternal Maltese parent. Rules for grandparents and further generations are more complex — consult Identità or a Maltese lawyer. Many people of Maltese diaspora origin (in Australia, Canada, UK, USA) have successfully applied under jus sanguinis provisions.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Malta explicitly permits dual citizenship (Article 25 of the Maltese Citizenship Act). Maltese citizens acquiring foreign citizenship do not automatically lose their Maltese citizenship. Foreign nationals naturalising as Maltese citizens are not required by Malta to renounce their previous citizenship. However, their previous home country may require renunciation — this is governed by the other country's laws, not Malta's. Malta's acceptance of dual nationality is a significant advantage, particularly for non-EU nationals seeking EU citizenship via Malta.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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