A free PDF guide — the grounds under Cap. 188
A guide to citizenship of Malta: the groundsin force and the procedure
A Maltese passport is no longer issued for investment — the scheme closed on 24 July 2025 following the judgment of the Court of Justice. We set out the five grounds the law still provides, what each of them requires and how they are proved.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 11.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
This material is for information and is not a legal opinion. Whether a ground exists is proved with documents.
01 / The essentials first
Where citizenship of Malta stands now
Four facts that decide whether you have a lawful path to an EU passport through Malta.
- There is no citizenship by investment in Malta any more
By its judgment of 29 April 2025 in case C-181/23 the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice held the scheme contrary to Union law. The programme closed on 24 July 2025: offers of «a Maltese passport for a contribution» are selling something the law no longer contains.
- Five grounds in force under Cap. 188
Descent from ancestors, birth to a citizen, marriage, naturalisation on the residence qualification, and naturalisation for exceptional services. Each ground has its provision in the Act and requirements of its own.
- Two of the grounds require no residence
Descent from ancestors and birth to a Maltese citizen are evidenced with documents, not by moving. The work is with archives and with proving the line of descent.
- Citizenship of Malta is citizenship of the EU
The right to live, work and study in every country of the Union, and visa-free access on an EU passport. That is precisely why the requirements on the ground are strict and there are no ways round them.
02 / Checking the ground
Do you have a ground under Cap. 188
Three questions about descent, marriage and residence. At the end — a ground with its provision in the Act, or a straight answer that no ground in force can be seen.
03 / Two paths
With residence and without
The grounds fall into two groups: some are evidenced with documents, others require actual residence or marriage.
The values were checked against the official material on 11.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | No residenceDescent and birth | With residenceMarriage and naturalisation |
|---|---|---|
| The provision of the Act | Cap. 188, arts. 5(2)-(7), 10(2), 11 | Cap. 188, arts. 6 and 10(1) |
| The residence requirement | None | Five years of marriage, or four years out of six plus 12 months |
| What is proved | The line of descent and the ancestor’s status | Living together, or the residence qualification |
| The principal document | Archive records of a birth in Malta | A marriage certificate or residence permits |
| Who decides | Registration as of right once the ground is proved | The Minister’s discretion where the conditions are met |
| How long it takesA BRIDGES estimate | It depends on how deep the archive search goes | From several months after filing |
| Who it suitsA BRIDGES estimate | You have Maltese roots or a parent who is a citizen | You live in Malta or are married to a citizen |
- The provision of the Act
- Cap. 188, arts. 5(2)-(7), 10(2), 11
- Cap. 188, arts. 6 and 10(1)
- The residence requirement
- None
- Five years of marriage, or four years out of six plus 12 months
- What is proved
- The line of descent and the ancestor’s status
- Living together, or the residence qualification
- The principal document
- Archive records of a birth in Malta
- A marriage certificate or residence permits
- Who decides
- Registration as of right once the ground is proved
- The Minister’s discretion where the conditions are met
- How long it takesA BRIDGES estimate
- It depends on how deep the archive search goes
- From several months after filing
- Who it suitsA BRIDGES estimate
- You have Maltese roots or a parent who is a citizen
- You live in Malta or are married to a citizen
Registration by descent and by marriage is the applicant’s right once the ground is proved; naturalisation on the residence qualification is the Minister’s decision.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the programme.
- MaltaThe cover of the guide: the country and the key terms of the programme.
- The essentials firstWhat to know before the calculation: the key facts of the programme.
- The terms of the optionsThe parameters of the programme in one table, on the official terms.
- The road mapThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The check on the applicantWhat is examined before the status is granted, and where people stumble.
- The limitsThe limits that bear on the timings and the sum.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of things
How a ground is proved
The work is with documents and archives. The order is strict: without a proved ground the other steps make no sense.
- The ground is checked
We go through the family history, the documents and the facts: whether you have a ground under Cap. 188 and which one. Without a ground the later steps make no sense.
- The archive search
For a line of descent the records of the ancestors’ births, marriages and deaths are raised in Maltese and foreign archives. This is the longest part of the work.
- Gathering and legalising the documents
Apostilles, sworn translations, the recovery of missing records. The requirements as to form are strict, so the pack is prepared in advance.
- Filing the application
The application goes to the Community Malta Agency on the form laid down for the particular ground. Completeness is checked before filing.
- Consideration and the oath
On registration as of right the decision is taken on the ground as proved. The final step is the oath of allegiance.
07 / Documents
What has to be proved
Each ground has its own set of proofs. A missing link in the chain stops the case.
- The documents of the line of descent
Birth, marriage and death certificates along the whole chain to the ancestor born in Malta. A missing link stops the case.
- Proof of the parent’s status
On the ground of birth it is proved that the parent was a Maltese citizen on the very date of your birth.
- Living together in the marriage
Registration after marriage requires five years of marriage and proof of living together, not the certificate alone.
- The residence qualification
For naturalisation — four years out of six plus twelve months immediately before the application, evidenced by permits and stamps.
Recovering lost records in foreign archives takes months, so the search starts as soon as the ground has been checked.
08 / The limits
What to take into account
Five limits that decide whether the case can really be done.
The investment scheme is closedCitizenship of Malta cannot be bought at any price
Act XXI of 2025 ended the programme on 24 July 2025 following the judgment of the Court of Justice. Any offer of «a contribution in exchange for a passport» made after that date has no lawful basis.
Transitional rules on descentCertain articles run until 1 August 2028
Articles 5(4)-(7) of Cap. 188 contain transitional provisions with a fixed date. For some families the window is limited in time, and that is checked before the archive search begins.
The line of descent has to be unbrokenA lost document is the same as no ground at all
Every link is evidenced by an official record. Recovering records in foreign archives takes months and is not always possible.
Naturalisation is the Minister’s to grant, not the applicant’s to claimMeeting the qualification does not guarantee a decision
Under article 10(1) the decision lies in the Minister’s discretion. Registration by descent and by marriage, by contrast, is a right once the ground is proved.
The rules on the maternal line before 1989A separate procedure applies to those born earlier
The passing of citizenship down the maternal line for people born before 1 August 1989 is governed by special provisions and has to be examined on its own.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists in the European grounds and in archive research.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 11 August 2026
- Last updated
- 11 August 2026
The official sources
- The Maltese Citizenship Act, Cap. 188 — the text in forceLegislation Malta, the Government of Malta · checked 11.08.2026The primary source for every ground in force: articles 5, 6, 10 and 11.
- The judgment in case C-181/23, Commission v MaltaCourt of Justice of the European Union · checked 11.08.2026The Grand Chamber judgment of 29 April 2025 on the strength of which the investment scheme was ended.
- The Community Malta Agency — citizenship applicationsCommunity Malta Agency, the Government of Malta · checked 11.08.2026The authority that receives applications on the grounds in force, and the forms for filing.
10 / Common questions
Questions about citizenship of Malta
Can citizenship of Malta be bought now?
No. The scheme for direct investment closed on 24 July 2025 under Act XXI of 2025, following the judgment of the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of 29 April 2025 in case C-181/23. Only the grounds provided for in Cap. 188 are in force.
Which grounds remain in force?
Five: descent from ancestors, birth to a Maltese citizen, registration after five years of marriage, naturalisation on the residence qualification, and naturalisation for exceptional services.
Do I have to live in Malta?
On the grounds of descent and of birth to a citizen, no — they are evidenced with documents. For marriage and naturalisation residence is required and has to be officially evidenced.
How far back is descent traced?
The right to registration arises in a descendant in the direct line where the ancestor was born in Malta to a parent who was also born in Malta. Separate transitional rules run until 1 August 2028.
How long does it take?
Most of the time goes on the archive search and the legalisation of documents — from several months to a year and more. Considering the application itself takes less time than preparing it.
What does citizenship of Malta give?
It is citizenship of the EU: the right to live, work and study in any country of the Union, access to its health and education systems, and visa-free travel on an EU passport.
Does citizenship pass to children?
Yes, by descent. For the minor children of a citizen there is a separate procedure under article 11, on an application by the legal representative.
Where do I start if my ancestors were Maltese?
With a check on the line of descent in the documents: which records survive, where and in what form. The archive search begins once the ground is confirmed in principle.
Free of charge
Take the guide and an analysis of your ground
We will send the PDF with the grounds in force and go through your family history.
- The five grounds of Cap. 188 with their provisions
- What has to be proved on each ground
- How to file and where to go
- An analysis of your own situation for a ground