MEIN
Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation
The current name of the Malta citizenship by investment program (formerly MIIP/MRVP). Administered by CMA. The only EU citizenship by investment program.
- What it is
- Malta’s citizenship by investment programme — the only EU passport for an investment
- Where it applies
- Malta, a European Union country
- Cost
- From €600,000 contribution + real estate + a donation
- Duration
- A residence period of 12-36 months + an in-depth check
- Can you prepare
- Yes, and it is critical: the check is one of the strictest in the world
In plain words
MEIN (Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalisation) is Malta’s current citizenship by investment programme, which replaced the earlier MIIP and MRVP. What makes it unique is that it is the only way to obtain a European Union passport through investment — with all the rights of an EU citizen: to live, work and study in any country of the Union.
The programme is administered by the government agency Community Malta Agency (CMA), and the contribution goes to the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF). The conditions are stricter and more expensive than in the Caribbean: a substantial non-refundable contribution, the purchase or lease of property in Malta, a charitable donation and, importantly, a period of prior residence before the passport is issued. The due diligence check here is one of the most thorough in the world.
In return — an EU passport, visa-free access to some 180+ countries and European citizenship status for the whole family. It is the choice of those who need full European rights specifically and are prepared to go through a long and demanding process.
Why people choose MEIN
What MEIN requires
- A non-refundable contribution to the NDSF
- A charitable donation
- Government fees
- Buying a home in Malta
- Or a long-term lease
- Held for the whole term
- A period of 12-36 months
- Depends on the size of the contribution
- A genuine link with the country
- In-depth CMA due diligence
- Source of wealth (SoW)
- One of the strictest in the world
How MEIN works
- 01Obtaining residence
- 02In-depth check (CMA due diligence)
- 03Residence period and investment
- 04Applying for naturalisation
- 05EU passport
What you need to know
- Malta is an EU country, so its passport = full EU citizenship
- It is the only active EU citizenship by investment programme
- A period of prior residence is required (12-36 months)
- The due diligence check is one of the most thorough in the industry
- More expensive and slower than the Caribbean — because the result is an EU passport
What MEIN costs: the components
- Non-refundable contributionfrom €600,000With 36 months of residence; from €750,000 on the accelerated timeline. Paid into the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF).
- Real estatepurchase/leaseBuying a home in Malta or a long-term lease — for the whole term of the programme.
- Donationfixed amountA mandatory charitable donation.
- Check and feesseparatelyIn-depth CMA due diligence for each applicant plus government fees.
This is the only EU passport by investment, so both the cost and the requirements are higher than in the Caribbean programmes. We calculate the exact budget for your family composition and the chosen residence period.
Timelines
- Residence
- A period of 12-36 months depending on the size of the contribution
- Who carries it out
- Community Malta Agency (CMA)
- Check
- In-depth due diligence for each applicant — one of the strictest in the world
- Residence
- A genuine link with the country during the residence period
Common mistakes
- Underestimating the strictness of the CMA check and applying “as if for the Caribbean”
- Not preparing an impeccable file on the source of wealth
- Not building the residence period into your plans
- Counting only the contribution and forgetting the property and the donation
- Concealing an episode in your background — with a check like this, it is almost a guaranteed refusal
What this means for a BRIDGES client
MEIN is the programme with the strictest check, and impeccable preparation matters especially here. We build your file to CMA requirements in advance, help you through the residence period and guide you through every stage so that you obtain the only EU passport by investment without a hitch.
View programs →Frequently asked questions
01 /Is it true that MEIN gives EU citizenship?
Yes. Malta is a European Union country, so its passport is full EU citizenship with the right to live, work and study in any country of the Union. There are no other EU citizenship by investment programmes at present.
02 /Do you need to live in Malta before receiving the passport?
Yes. MEIN involves a period of prior residence — usually 12 to 36 months depending on the size of the contribution. That is a notable difference from the fast Caribbean programmes.
03 /Why is MEIN more expensive than the Caribbean programmes?
Because the result is an EU passport. Hence the large contribution, the property requirement, the donation, the residence period and the most thorough check in the industry.
04 /How much does MEIN cost in total?
The main non-refundable contribution is from €600,000 (with 36 months of residence) or from €750,000 on the accelerated timeline, plus real estate, the donation and fees. We calculate the exact budget for your family composition.
05 /Who can be included in the application?
The spouse, children and, as a rule, dependent parents. Each adult applicant undergoes a separate in-depth check.
06 /How does MEIN differ from MPRP?
MEIN gives citizenship (an EU passport). MPRP is only Maltese permanent residence (PR), with the right to live in Malta and travel in the Schengen area, but without a passport and without the right to work in the EU.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
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