Malta Immigration Citizenship
Malta Immigration Citizenship
Malta Immigration Citizenship
An amendment passed in 2013 to Chapter 188 of the Maltese Citizenship Act, as well as the
enactment of Legal Notice LN47 in 2014, legally grant eligible persons EU citizenship by
investment via the Malta Individual Investor Program. To be considered eligible for the Malta
citizenship scheme, the main applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must meet all the
Malta immigration requirements outlined below.
Fit and Proper Test
The Malta citizenship by investment program has some of the strictest due diligence standards of
any immigrant investor program in the world to ensure only deserving and reputable applicants
are granted Maltese citizenship. As part of the Malta Individual Investor Programme, there is a
four-tier due diligence process carried out directly by the government to assess candidates
comprehensively. Applicants must have a clean criminal record, and the Malta
government conducts extensive criminal checks with INTERPOL, the International Criminal
Court, and various other sources and authorities. As part of the due diligence process, applicants
must also provide a police certificate before they will be approved for European citizenship.
Good Health
To be admitted into the citizenship by investment program Malta, applicants must show that they
do not suffer from any contagious diseases. All applicants must also be covered by an
international health insurance policy.
Financial Contribution
All individuals and families applying to the Malta Individual Investor Program must make a
significant non-refundable contribution to the National Development and Social Fund set up by
the Government of Malta and run by a board of trustees. The fund, which is on the same level as
the central bank, finances projects in the country linked to public health, education, job creation,
social improvement, and innovation. The following contributions must be made within four
months of being issued a Malta IIP Letter of Approval in Principle:
Main applicant - €650,000
Spouse - €25,000
Minor children - €25,000 each
Children 18-26 (unmarried) - €50,000 each
Dependent parents & grandparents - €50,000 each
Adult children (physically or mentally challenged) - €50,000 each
Residence Requirement
Upon purchasing real estate or entering a property lease in Malta, investor citizenship candidates
are issued a Malta identity document called an eResidence card. This signifies the
commencement of their residency in Malta and also demonstrates the candidate's genuine
link with the country. 12 months after an applicant has established residency in Malta,
applicants who have maintained residence in the country will be granted citizenship. You do not
need to spend all 365 days in Malta before citizenship is granted, Maltese law defines residence
as "an intention to reside in Malta for any fiscal year, usually evidenced by a stay of a minimum of
183 days or by the purchase/rental of property together with a visit to Malta". Consequently,
upon purchasing or leasing an apartment or villa in the Mediterranean island nation and
procuring a Malta residence card, applicants are not required to spend any time in Europe.
Candidates who have been a resident of the country for at least one year prior to I.I.P. approval
already satisfy this residency requirement and can subsequently become a citizen of Malta much
faster.
Malta Residency: Potential candidates who are not already resident in the country are strongly
advised to begin the Malta residency process immediately since the Individual Investor
Programme has a 12-month residency requirement. To be granted citizenship in Malta as fast as
possible, it is very important that the clock is ticking on an applicant's residency requirement
while they progress through the Malta citizenship application process. Upon initiation of a
nominee's residency in Malta, a small deposit of €5,000 for the primary applicant and €1,000 for
each family member is due on account of the National Development and Social Fund
contribution.
Day 1: A Malta Individual Investor Program application is formally submitted to Identity Malta
by an Accredited Person. The application will contain imperative supporting documents, and
evidence of source of funds must also be presented at this stage. The following fees are now due:
Bank Charges
Per application - €200
A total deposit of €10,000 is now due towards the monetary contribution. Any deposit made
when applying for Maltese residency counts towards this amount.
Day 5: Identity Malta will notify the concessionaire or Accredited Person within five business
days of submission to confirm whether client's application has been accepted for review or
requires additional paperwork.
Day 90: Confirmation from Identity Malta that the application and supporting documentation
are formally in order. The candidate is subject to a further 30 days of additional verification by
the Government of Malta's regulatory body.
Day 120: Applicant is approved in principle. This signifies official Malta IIP approval conditional
only on the candidate fulfilling all their remaining obligations under the Maltese nationality
program for investors.
Day 125: Identity Malta sends the applicant a formal request for payment of remaining balance
of National Development and Social Fund contribution. The candidate has 20 days to pay the full
amount.
Day 145: Maltese IIP financial contribution deadline. The entire National Development and
Social Fund contribution must be made by this time.
Day 240: Final citizenship by investment Malta compliance. Applicant must provide evidence of
€150,000 bonds investment as well as a Malta real estate purchase or rental.
Issuance of Naturalisation Certificate: Once an applicant has fulfilled all their obligations
under the Malta Individual Investor Program and taken an Oath of Allegiance, they will be issued
a Certificate of Naturalisation and given a Malta Passport.
If you are interested in learning more about the Malta citizenship by investment
program, please contact our team for a confidential consultation.
Obtaining European citizenship by investment through the Malta investor program does not
have any tax consequences! Even if an individual moves their primary residence to Malta,
they can retain the status of a "non-domiciled" person and therefore have an extremely
advantageous tax exposure. Candidates that become a resident of Malta but are not domiciled in
the country are only required to pay tax on any income they earn or receive in the country. Malta
has no municipal taxes, no estate duty, no death or inheritance taxes, and no wealth or net worth
taxes. Malta also has double taxation treaties with approximately 60 countries around the world.
The corporate tax rate in Malta is 35%, but special tax concessions apply to non-resident or non-
domiciled company owners.
Individuals that obtain a second citizenship by investment are not required by Maltese law
to renounce their existing citizenship. Malta has no restrictions on holding dual nationality, in
fact, the nation's Citizenship Act specifically provides that Malta dual citizenship is permitted,
but your current country of citizenship may have restrictions that prohibit you from possessing a
Malta second passport.
Any child born to a parent who is a Maltese citizen will also be a citizen of Malta. This means
children born to men or women who obtained Maltese nationality via the Individual Investor
Program will be full European citizens even if their place of birth is not in Europe. Consequently,
if your family participates in the Malta investor program then when your children grow up and
have families of their own your grandchildren will also have EU passports. Participating
in the Maltese citizenship program will gift future generations of your family with increased
political and economic freedom, as well as significantly increased educational opportunities in
the West. Many investors cite “family legacy” and “providing a better life for children and
grandchildren” as senior influences in their decision to sponsor their family for second
citizenship in Malta.
Malta citizenship through investment is granted by a Certificate of Naturalisation, and once you
obtain EU citizenship via the Malta Individual Investor Program you will have it forever and can
even pass it on to future generations.
If you have not already procured Maltese residency, the minimum amount of time needed to gain
Europe citizenship by investment is 12 months. If you have already met the Malta residency
requirement of the Individual Investor Program, you can secure citizenship in Malta in as little
as six months.
Since 2008, the Maltese Passport Office has issued biometric passports according to EU and
international standards. To obtain citizenship and a European passport through the Individual
Investor Program Malta, candidates must give the country their biometric information such as
fingerprints. This involves visiting one of the country's international embassies in person, or
traveling to the country and going to the Maltese Passport Office located in the Evans Building on
Merchant Street in downtown Valletta.
No. The Maltese Individual Investor Program has not been canceled and is still accepting new
applications from reputable investors across the world. If Maltese economic citizenship interests
you, we encourage you to act quickly since the opportunity will not be around forever.
Malta citizenship by investment program applicants have two options on how to meet the
program's residency requirement. The first option is to purchase an apartment on the islands for
a minimum price of €350,000. The second option is to rent or lease an apartment on the island
for a minimum annual rent of €16,000. There are pros and cons to both choices.
There are no citizenship tests included in the Malta investment program, and applicants are not
required to know Maltese or even English to be accepted into the financial citizenship
program. Dr. Anton Tabone has experience assisting non-English speaking clients
with Maltese immigration matters.
Voting Rights
People who acquire Maltese citizenship via the Individual Investor Programme can vote in
political elections provided they have been resident in the country for 6 of the past 18 months.
European citizenship granted under the Malta Individual Investor Program can be revoked if an
applicant does not follow through with all the requirements of the citizenship by investment
programme. To be granted citizenship, applicants commit to retaining a residence in Malta for
five years and also keeping their Maltese bonds investment for a minimum of five years. If a
person does not comply with these requirements and stops renting an apartment or sells their
home in Malta before the five years is up, they can have their citizenship as well as their EU
passport taken away.
Malta Tourism
Malta is a tiny island country in the very middle of the Mediterranean Sea that is an immensely
popular tourist destination thanks to its beautiful architecture, many historical monuments, and
fantastic weather. Despite only having a current population of 423,500 the islands have been
inhabited for more than 7000 years and were home to one of the most sophisticated civilizations
on Earth. Today there are 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites on the islands, and people travel from
all across the world to visit the country making tourism one of the largest economic sectors in
Malta accounting for 15% of the nation's GDP.
European Union
Malta became a full member of the European Union in 2004. EU freedom of movement treaties
permit Maltese citizens to live, work, and study in any other European Union country
including Switzerland. This means that people with Malta passports are allowed to move to
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
(UK).
Schengen Area
Malta has been a member of the Schengen Area of Europe since 2007. This allows a Maltese
citizen to travel to 26 European countries without going through any border control.
Countries that make up the borderless area include EU members Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, England (Great Britain), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden, as well as the four European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
member states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Individuals that hold a
passport from any Schengen Area country can visit any other country in the borderless area
without the inconvenience of a border check.
The Maltese citizenship by investment program does not recognize Bitcoin as legal investment
currency for financial transactions related to their immigration program, and consequently, you
cannot use Bitcoins to make the Individual Investor Programme's compulsory investments.
Many people interested in European citizenship by investment research the subject online,
determine they are a good fit for the Malta Individual Investor Program, but then are unsure of
the next step they should take to begin the process. Applying for Maltese citizenship on your own
is not possible. Under the requirements of the Malta IIP or MIIP, a prospective applicant is
obliged to use a concessionaire or Accredited Agent in order to get the application process
started. This means the ONLY way to apply for the Malta citizenship program is through an
Accredited Person, so contacting one of these exclusively certified individuals to learn more about
the program is the best way to initiate the Maltese citizenship application procedure.
Biometric Data
All Malta citizenship scheme applicants, with the exception of children under six years old, must
at some point visit in person a Maltese embassy or the Malta Passport Office in Valletta to give
their biometrics. Biometrics include facial features as well as the scanning of fingerprints for
applicants aged 12 and above. Biometric data that is given as part of the Malta citizenship by
investment application process can be stored for as long as six months.
Oath of Allegiance
All Malta immigration applicants that are at least 18 years old are required to take an Oath of
Allegiance in order to receive Malta citizenship, provided they have the capacity to do so. This
oath must be taken in person, so all successful candidates of the Malta citizenship scheme must
visit the country to finalize the process of becoming an EU citizen.
A law firm, audit firm, intermediary firm, financial advisory firm, or other person or body that
has been officially authorized to help foreign nationals attain Maltese citizenship will advertise
their Identity Malta Accredited Agent number which can be independently verified on the
Government of Malta's website here. Dr. Anton Tabone holds Malta Individual Investor Program
Accredited Person license number IIP086.
Malta is a republic with a parliamentary democracy system and is highly respected and
considered neutral on the international stage. Malta's banks have total assets worth more than
seven times the country's gross domestic product (GDP), making it a very economically
secure nation with the second largest banking sector in the eurozone. Unlike many neighboring
EU countries, Malta has an excellent credit rating (BBB+) and their government bonds are in
high demand amongst both professional and retail bond investors.
Malta withstood the "great recession" remarkably well with the country's housing price index
never dropping by more than 5% in a year including in 2008 and 2009 when other European real
estate markets were crushed. The country has also never imposed a tax on deposits in Maltese
banks, dissimilar to nearby Cyprus who imposed a one-time tax levy in 2013 which included
offshore bank accounts. As part of the former British Empire, Malta's financial system was built
from the ground up with a solid foundation and has proven to be both robust and stable even
while other European nations have faced major economic challenges. Not only did the Maltese
economy weather the European financial crisis exceptionally well, it is now one of the leading
economies in the euro zone. According to the country's National Statistics Office, the Malta
economy expanded by 4% in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to Q4 2013, making it one of
the top economies in the entire EU during this period. Economists are currently predicting 2016
GDP growth of 3.6%, and every new high-net-worth individual (HNWI) that becomes a citizen of
Malta via the I.I.P. will help increase this number. The nation's safe and stable economy is just
one of the many reasons why the Malta Individual Investor Program is a secure and strategic
investment.
A "Golden Visa" is the name of a popular EU investor visa offered by a few Southern European
countries, such as Spain and Portugal, to foreign nationals who invest in their country's property
market. Many people refer to the new Malta Residence and Visa Program (MRVP) as a European
Golden Visa. If you are interested in an EU Residence Permit as opposed to European citizenship,
a Maltese investor visa may be right for you. Malta residency by investment can make doing
business in Europe easy by eliminating the need for a Schengen Visa in order to travel within the
European Union.
The Individual Investor Programme is much more than just a Malta investor visa; it offers
foreign investors full citizenship in Europe as opposed to just EU residency. While the Malta
residence scheme is an excellent way for non-EU investors to get a European Residence Permit,
obtaining a second passport in Malta is only possible through the IIP. In you want full European
citizenship and a Malta passport, the Individual Investor Program is for you.
Applicants for citizenship by investment in Malta are not required to make the sizable
contribution to the country's National Development and Social Fund until after they have passed
the due diligence stage of the program and have been approved in principle. Once a person has
been approved in principle, the only conditions that must be met before they will be made a
European citizen and given a Maltese passport are for them to satisfy all the remaining
Malta citizenship requirements laid out in the program such as the bonds investment and
residency stipulation. This means that you never have to worry about failing the due diligence
process after you have already invested the full amount of money required by the program.
The Maltese archipelago consists of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, and has a total
land area of 316 sq. km. Malta is the largest and most populated island and is the cultural and
commercial hub of the country. Gozo is the next largest of the islands and is more rural with a
booming tourist, fishing, and agriculture industry. Comino is a very tiny island located directly
between Malta and Gozo. Valletta, the capital city, is located on Malta island and is where all
business related to the Maltese citizenship program takes place. When IIP Malta candidates visit
the country to give biometrics, obtain a residency card, or take the Oath of Allegiance, they will
need to visit Valletta, which is located conveniently close to the Malta International Airport.
What Is the Difference Between a Citizenship by Investment
Program and an Immigrant Investor Program?
In addition to Malta economic citizenship, immigration to Malta is possible via the country's
Global Residence Programme. The Global Residence Program Malta enables economically self-
sufficient individuals who rent or own a permanent address on the islands to be formally
recognized as a resident for tax purposes. If you are not interested in getting a Maltese passport
and simply wish to live in a warm Mediterranean residence while retired and collecting a
pension, the Malta Global Residence Program may be the ideal Malta immigration channel for
you.
Wondering how to get a European passport if you have Maltese ancestors? Amendments to the
country's Citizenship Act in August 2007 make it easy for direct descendants of Malta citizens to
obtain an EU second passport. Maltese citizenship by ancestry enables anyone with
documentation showing direct descent from an ancestor born in the country of a parent who was
also born on the islands to fill out a Malta citizenship application and obtain a European
passport. Even if you have no plans to ever invest in Malta, if you have Maltese parents,
grandparents, or great-grandparents, our Malta immigration team can assist you in attaining
dual citizenship in Europe as well as a second EU passport.
The Malta citizenship investment program requires all entrants to hold a valid comprehensive
health insurance policy that covers all worldwide medical expenses up to at least 50,000 euros
per family member.
The Individual Investor Programme Malta is strictly capped at 1800 applicants, making it the
most exclusive citizenship scheme available. While the country has secured a deal with the
European Commission to allow the member state to choose for themselves how many people to
accept into the program, there is no indication that the lifetime program cap of 1,800
applications will ever change.
Citizenship by investment Malta candidates are required to have a registered functional address
in the country in order to apply for a residence permit under the program. Since it is impossible
to become a citizen of Malta by investing without first meeting the Individual Investor
Programme's residency requirement, applicants must present authorities with a copy of sale
agreement or lease agreement at least 12 months before they will officially be given a Malta
passport. There are no specific IIP requisites for the property other than satisfying the minimum
annual rent (16,000 euros) or purchase price (350,000 euros), although we recommend our
clients choose sensibly and not lease a tiny bachelor apartment for a large family.
Our Malta immigration team can assist clients with locating the ideal property on the islands that
will thoroughly meet their needs while also fulfilling all the investor program regulatory
requirements. Once power of attorney documents have been completed, we will also be able to
sign a lease on our client's behalf making the process of securing a sanctioned apartment even
easier and less time consuming. Clients can also complete the property transaction application in
advance, allowing us to email them properties that match their requirements and upon selection
secure the apartment, sign the lease agreement, and pay the landlord's deposit and first three
months of rent on their behalf without the client needing to return to the country. At
MaltaImmigration.com we treat every single one of our clients like a VIP!
All funds for the Individual Investor Programme Malta must be transferred from the main
applicant's personal bank account. This means you can not make the financial contribution to the
National Development and Social Fund (NDSF) from a holding company or offshore trust. It also
means you cannot have a friend or family member wire the money to the islands on your behalf;
the name on the bank account sending the money must match the name of the primary applicant.
The first stage of the Maltese Individual Investor Program is initial due diligence, during which
IIP Malta Ltd. conducts a preliminary background verification on the main applicant and their
family. As part of this process, the applicant must provide their personal details such as private
address as well as profession and name of employer. The main applicant must also provide
information about the number of residence cards he or she holds. All applicants need to provide a
copy of their passport, and the main applicant must additionally hand over some basic bank
account details such as the name of their bank, its address, and the SWIFT code.
After the preliminary due diligence stage, a client service agreement and power of attorney
document must be signed by the applicant as part of the preparation of a Malta resident permit
application. There are also several government forms that must be completed including Form K
and Form ID 1A for non-EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens. In addition to requiring a passport copy, the
Maltese resident permit application requires the main applicant to provide a bank reference as
well as bank statements from the last three months, a suitable certificate of global health
insurance coverage, and a cover letter detailing their reasons for applying for a Malta passport.
Spouses are required to present a copy of their passport, a marriage certificate, and a certificate
of their health insurance policy with global coverage of at least 50,000 euros. Documents
required for dependents include a passport copy, birth certificate, proof of sufficient international
health insurance coverage, as well as evidence of financial dependency on the main applicant for
dependents older than age 18. We work alongside clients throughout the entire Maltese passport
application process.
IIP Malta
International Versions
Русский:
гражданство Мальты за инвестиции
中文:
投资移民马耳他
عربي:
الحصول على جنسية مالطا
Tiếng Việt:
quố c tịch Malta
Français:
nationalité Malte
Location
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Mailing Address:
60A Melita Street (Britannia House)
Valletta
Malta
Private Client Enquiry
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INDIA
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Engagement
2
The former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, who is on the run, has taken
citizenship of Malta, a small country in the central Mediterranean Sea.
According to sources in the Enforcement Directorate (ED), this information
was passed on to the agency by Interpol. However, there is no clarity yet on
whether Modi has already surrendered his Indian passport. In May 2010,
Lalit Modi fled from India after the ED registered a money-laundering case
due to financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Recently, a Mumbai court passed an order to begin the process of
extraditing Modi. According to the agency, the process of extradition
doesn’t get affected even if Modi is not a citizen of India.
If the government of Malta turns down the request to
extradite Modi to India, then certainly it would be
difficult for us to bring him back.
Senior Official, Enforcement Directorate
Why Citizenship of Malta?
World Map representing distance between India and Malta (Photo: The
Quint)
Introduction
This visa category is for people wishing to come to the UK to start a business. You may start any
type of business, but you must work full time in the management of the business.
If you intend to be a passive investor investing at least GBP750,000 (about US $1.35 Million) then
please go to the UK investor’s Page.
If you intend to send someone else to the UK to run your business for you, then please go to the
UK Sole Representative’s Page.
Unless you are a national of Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania Slovakia,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or Slovenia, entry to the UK as an investor will require you to invest
£200,000 in the UK. If the investment is considerably greater than the minimum £200,000 the
Home Office is likely to be less stringent with the other requirements of the rules and the
application may be processed more quickly.
The money to be invested in the UK should be your own and not from any other source (e.g. bank
loans). It can be held in the form of cash and share capital and the investment should give you an
equal or controlling interest in the business.
Education
Your children entering the UK as your dependants are entitled to the same free education as
British children. You may choose to send your children to a private school if you wish.
Health care
You and your family are eligible to free health care provided by the National Health Service. You
are not required to take out private health insurance, although you may choose so to do.
Work
How do I apply?
The visa application should be made to a British Consulate in the country of your usual residence
or the country of your nationality. If it is clear that you have a very strong case (for example,
where the sum to be invested is significantly more than £200,000), it may be approved quite
quickly by the consular officials. However, if your case requires more careful assessment, it will be
referred to the Home Office in the UK. Irrespective of the strength of the application, it will be
referred to the Home Office for security clearance if you are a citizen of Russia, North Korea,
Liberia, or Iraq. When applications are referred to the Home Office, processing will normally take 9
months.
Passports
Visa fee of £50
2 passport photos for each applicant
Business plan which should include:
Evidence of the funds to be invested
The object of the business
A detailed description of employment created.
A projected balance sheet, including:
The financial outlay
Any loan to the company
Assets
Stock
Profit and loss projection
Overheads including:
Establishment expenses
Admin expenses
Depreciation
You may be asked to justify the assumptions made in the business plan for example with market
research.
workpermit.com is able to help you with all areas of the application – including, if necessary, the
business plan.
If you would like to apply for entrepreneur visa , please fill out our on-line from.