Malta citizenship: can you buy it, what paths lead to an EU passport

The main points about Malta citizenship in one paragraph

If you came here with the question "how to buy Malta citizenship" – here is a answer: as of 2025, you cannot buy it. For many years, Malta was the only EU country openly selling a passport for a substantial investment, but on April 29, 2025, the European Union Court delivered a ruling in case C-181/23 and recognized this scheme as illegal. EU citizenship, the court ruled, cannot be the result of a commercial transaction.

At the same time, Malta itself remains one of the most attractive jurisdictions in the European Union: EU and Schengen zone member, euro currency, English as an official language, mild climate, and developed tax system. It is still possible to become its citizen – but through legitimate grounds, not for money. Here are those paths:

• Naturalization – through years of actual residence on the island.
• By descent – if among your ancestors there were Maltese citizens.
• By marriage – for spouses of Maltese citizens.
• By registration – for certain categories with special connection to the country.

And for a foreign investor who needs EU status quickly, there is a separate legal instrument – Malta permanent residence by the MPRP program. This is a residence permit, not a passport, and we will discuss this important distinction below.

Why Malta citizenship can no longer be bought: EU Court ruling

To avoid any illusions, we will analyze the substance of the ban in detail – this is the key fact of the entire topic. Until 2025, Malta had a program under the official name "naturalization for exceptional merit through direct investment." In practice, this was passport purchasing: a person made a substantial contribution to a state fund (around several hundred thousand euros plus real estate and donations), formally spent a minimum period on the island – and received full EU citizenship.

The European Commission considered this a violation of the very nature of union citizenship for many years and filed a lawsuit against Malta in the EU Court. On April 29, 2025, the court ruled in case C-181/23 and sided with the Commission. The court's key conclusions:

• EU citizenship cannot be acquired as a result of a commercial transaction, essentially cannot be sold;
• providing a passport without real, genuine connection of a person to the country devalues the very concept of EU citizenship;
• Malta violated its obligation of good faith cooperation with other EU members.

Practical outcome: the "citizenship for investment" program is closed, new passports under it are not issued. This means that any advertisement "we will arrange Malta citizenship for investment as a turnkey solution" today is misleading. We state this directly because plans should only be built on what truly works.

What a Malta passport provides and why it was so sought after

It is understandable why the Maltese passport was so in demand: it is one of the strongest documents in the world, and most of its advantages remain relevant for those who obtain citizenship through legitimate means.

• Full EU citizenship. The right to live, work, study, and conduct business in any European Union country without visas and permits.
• Schengen. Malta is part of the Schengen Area, unlike Cyprus, for example. Free movement throughout the entire zone.
• Broad visa-free access. Dozens of countries worldwide are open to Maltese passport holders without a visa or with simplified entry procedures.
• English language. One of the two official languages of the country – comfort in daily life, education, and business.
• Dual citizenship. Malta permits holding a second passport; renouncing previous citizenship is not required.
• Transfer to children. Citizenship is inherited by descent – your children will receive the same status.

It is precisely because of this set of rights that the Maltese passport was valued so highly. And that is why it is important to understand: the value of the status remains, only the way to obtain it has changed – now only through a genuine connection to the country.

Pathways to Maltese citizenship: table "pathway – is it realistic – condition."

We will compile all routes into one table so it is immediately clear what works and what does not. This is the framework from which the details of each pathway are built.

The main conclusion from the table: a Maltese passport cannot be obtained for money, but a quick legal resident status can be. We will review each pathway separately.

By descent: if there were Maltese people among ancestors.

This is the most underestimated path, and for many people from large families it can prove surprisingly achievable. Maltese citizenship is passed by descent, and with Maltese roots, a passport can be obtained without any residence requirement on the island.

How it works:

• Direct line from an ancestor born in Malta. If you are a direct descendant of a person born in Malta, you may have the right to register as a citizen.
• Connection through two generations. For a "grandparent" line, you typically need to prove that the ancestor was born in Malta and that your parent (their child) also has the corresponding connection to the country. Exact conditions depend on the generation and birth dates.
• Without residence. This path does not require living on the island - it is based on genealogical line alone.

The main work here is documentary: you need to collect birth and marriage certificates of ancestors, establish a continuous genealogical line from a Maltese ancestor to you. Archives, apostilles, translations - a painstaking but real process. If you know about Maltese roots in the family, this route should be checked first - more details in the article on Maltese citizenship by descent.

By marriage: citizenship for spouses of Maltese citizens

Marriage to a Maltese citizen provides a right to citizenship, but not automatically and not immediately - the law protects the country from sham unions, so a serious time period and checks are established.

Main conditions:

• 5 years of marriage and joint residence. A foreign spouse of a Maltese citizen may apply for citizenship after five years of marriage. Both spouses submit a joint declaration that they have lived together for at least five years from the date of marriage and continue to live together.
• Reality of marriage. Authorities verify that the union is genuine and not entered into for the sake of a passport.
• Good reputation. Same requirements for absence of convictions and good character as in naturalization.

Important detail: citizenship by marriage is processed under a separate procedure and is not mixed with naturalization based on years of residence. If the marriage ends before the time period expires or joint residence is interrupted, the right to this path may be lost. Therefore, documented joint living is the central element of the entire process.

By registration: for specific categories with connection to the country

Registration is a collective basis for cases where a person has a special connection to Malta that does not fit squarely into naturalization, descent, or marriage. This path is not for the general public, but for specific categories it works.

Such categories may include:

• Former Maltese citizens and their descendants - those who once held Maltese citizenship or whose ancestors lost it.
• Persons born in Malta under certain conditions related to the history of the country's migration legislation.
• Specific family situations - in particular, related to children and descent, where registration is the appropriate procedure instead of naturalization.

The subtlety of registration is that it depends heavily on specific dates, generations, and versions of the law that changed over time. The same person may qualify for registration under one rule but not under another. Therefore, this path almost always requires individual legal assessment: first, it is checked whether there is a basis at all, and only then is the correct form of application selected.

Alternative for investors: Malta permanent residence under the MPRP programme

The most common question after the ban announcement: "If investor citizenship is closed, what is left for investors?" The answer is the MPRP programme (Malta Permanent Residence Programme), a legal path to lifetime EU resident status. Let us emphasize immediately and : this is not citizenship and not a passport, but a residence permit. But it is a real, operating instrument.

Approximate MPRP parameters for 2026:

• Real estate: purchase from €375,000 (from €300,000 for Gozo and southern Malta) or rent from €14,000/year (from €10,000 for Gozo and south), with property held for approximately 5 years.
• Government contribution: Approximately 30,000 € when purchasing real estate or 60,000 € when renting.
• Administrative fee. And mandatory donation to a non-profit organization (approximately 2,000 €).
• Family. The program includes spouse, children, as well as parents and grandparents of the applicant.
• Status. Permanent residence permit, pathway to EU long-term resident status.

Specific figures should be verified before submission, as program conditions are periodically updated. What is important to understand: permanent residence permits the right to live in Malta and become the actual base from which, after years of residence, naturalization can be pursued. Detailed breakdown is in the Malta Permanent Residence Permit (MPRP) guide. Malta Permanent Residence Permit (MPRP)..

Permanent residence is not citizenship: where the boundary lies.

This distinction is most often confused, and the confusion is costly. Let us break down point by point how a residence permit differs from a passport—so as not to build false expectations.

Permanent residence permit (residence permit, for example MPRP):

• Grants the right to live in Malta and enter the country, but it is a resident status, not citizenship.
• Is maintained by fulfilling program conditions (property retention, no violations).
• Does not in itself grant an EU passport or voting rights.
• May become the basis for future naturalization—but only after years of actual residence.

Citizenship (Malta passport):

• Full EU citizenship with all political and economic rights.
• Is transferred to children by descent.
• Is permanent and does not depend on investment retention.
• Is obtained only through naturalization, descent, marriage, or registration.

Simple formula: permanent residence can be obtained through investment relatively quickly; citizenship cannot—it is earned through a real connection to the country. For most foreigners, the optimal strategy is to start with resident status and, if citizenship is the goal, build through it years of actual residence.

Malta citizenship for Russians: what is important to know .

We will separately address the situation of Russian citizens and other CIS countries, because there are many nuances worth knowing in advance.

• Basic pathways are available. Naturalization, descent, marriage, and registration are in principle open to citizens of any country—the law makes no national exceptions on the grounds themselves.
• Schengen visa for entry. Russians need a Schengen visa to travel to Malta—this is the starting point for any long-term plan.
• Restrictions on investment programs. After 2022, the EU and Malta tightened application acceptance from Russian and Belarusian citizens through investment routes as part of sanctions policy. This must be understood : the process is possible only strictly within legal channels, with enhanced verification of fund sources (compliance), without any sanctions evasion schemes.
• Enhanced compliance. Capital sources, documents, and biography are examined with particular care. Transparency is a mandatory requirement.

We work only within the law and do not offer workarounds. For Russian citizens, the realistic picture looks like this: we verify Maltese roots (if present—this is the cleanest pathway), assess the prospect of residence and naturalization, and in any case speak about where restrictions currently exist. This is more reliable than promises that will hit sanctions barriers.

Dual citizenship, children, and taxes.

Several practical questions that invariably come up during planning—we will address them immediately.

• Dual citizenship. Malta permits it. Upon obtaining a Maltese passport, you are not required to renounce your former citizenship. However, check the rules of your home country—not all states allow dual citizenship for their citizens.
• Citizenship for children. Maltese citizenship is transferred by descent. Children of a Maltese citizen obtain the same status—this is important for families planning their future in the EU.
• Taxes. Malta is known for its flexible tax system: for foreign shareholders of corporations, the effective rate can be significantly lower than the nominal rate through the refund system; special regimes apply to residents. Important: citizenship and tax residency are different things. The passport itself does not automatically make you a tax resident, and vice versa.

These details may seem secondary at the start, but they are precisely what determines how comfortable life with the status will be. Therefore, strategy should be built taking into account both family and taxes, not just the fact of obtaining a passport.

How not to fall into outdated schemes: an expert's view.

Malta is currently a minefield of misinformation, and this is where clients lose money and time. Let us break down typical traps so you can avoid them.

• Advertising "citizenship for investment." If you are offered to buy a Malta passport—this is either outdated information or bad faith. As of 2025, this pathway is closed by an EU Court decision.
• Substitution of residence permit and citizenship concepts. MPRP is a residence permit, not a passport. Under the guise of "citizenship," sometimes a residency program is sold. Always clarify which exact status is being discussed.
• Ignoring sanctions restrictions. For Russian and Belarusian citizens on investment routes, there are real barriers. Promises to "resolve the matter around sanctions"—this is a risk, not a service.
• Underestimating the ancestry pathway. Many do not even verify Maltese roots, yet this is the purest and often the fastest route.

A sound approach is simple: assessment of your foundation first, then a realistic plan. It is better to hear the truth at the start than to waste a year on a scheme that no longer exists. Current conditions and procedures should always be verified on the official portal. of the Government of Malta (gov.mt)..

We will help you find a realistic pathway to status in Malta.

The Malta topic today is full of outdated information: half of the articles online still promise "citizenship through investment," which no longer exists. To avoid wasting time on dead-end schemes, it is important to assess your specific situation from the start: whether you have Maltese roots, if naturalization is suitable, or whether starting with permanent residence is more optimal.

We handle Maltese citizenship and residence permit issues turnkey: we verify the grounds, prepare documents, and conduct the case to completion. Discuss your situation with a BRIDGES GLOBAL lawyer. – we will tell you which pathway works in your case and how long it will realistically take.

Naturalization: citizenship through years of real life on the island.

Naturalization is the basic and most "" pathway to a passport: the state observes a person for several years, becomes convinced that he or she actually lives in Malta, and may then grant citizenship. There is no purchase here – there is genuine integration into the country's life.

Key conditions for naturalization in 2026:

• Residence requirement – approximately 5 years. In practice, this is formulated as follows: 12 months of continuous residence immediately prior to application plus a total of 4 years of residence within the preceding 6 years. That is, the final year must be continuous, while the remaining record is accumulated over the prior period.
• Language. Reasonable proficiency in one of the official languages - Maltese or English - is expected. English removes the main barrier for most foreigners.
• Good reputation. Absence of criminal convictions and serious violations, clean migration history.
• Integration and self-sufficiency. Real economic ties to the island: employment, business, taxes, center of life interests in Malta.
• Oath. A successful applicant takes an oath of allegiance and receives a certificate of naturalization.

Naturalization is a discretionary right of the state: even if conditions are met, the decision remains with the authorities. Therefore, it is treated not as a transaction, but as a long-term project. A logical starting point for this path is a residence permit, from which the count of actual residence begins.

Outcome: which pathway to Malta is realistic for you.

Let us be clear and straightforward. You cannot buy Maltese citizenship in 2026 – the investment programme has been declared illegal by the EU Court and this is final. However, an EU passport remains an achievable goal through lawful grounds, and residency status is available to an investor right now.

Guidance by situation:

• You have Maltese roots. – verify the ancestry pathway first: it has no residency requirement and is often the fastest.
• You are ready to genuinely relocate and live on the island. – your route is naturalization (approximately 5 years of residence, language, integration).
• Your spouse is a Maltese citizen. – the marriage pathway after 5 years of joint life.
• You need EU status quickly, without permanent relocation. – start with Permanent Residence through the MPRP programme,which can be converted into a foundation for future naturalization if desired.

The earlier a strategy is established, the shorter the actual pathway. If you want to clarify which ground applies in your case and not waste time on outdated promises – contact us.We will assess your situation and propose a realistic plan.

Full programme implementation, personalized budget calculation, and support are available on the page BRIDGES GLOBAL services..