The Step-by-Step Guide to Acquiring Maltese Nationality

The Step-by-Step Guide to Acquiring Maltese Nationality

Malta is an island country with a stable economy and a high standard of living. Residents can feel all the benefits of EU citizenship. They can freely visit more than 185 countries worldwide and easily find well-paying work in Malta and elsewhere in Europe.

Read the guide to Maltese citizenship to learn the fastest and most efficient way to move to this wonderful country whenever you want.

Eligibility Criteria for Acquiring Maltese Nationality

It is possible to obtain Malta citizenship by naturalization only if the applicant has lived in the state’s territory for at least five years, with the last 12 months of continuous stay in Malta. Moreover, if you want to stay in this country for five years, you must have a reason: origin, marriage with a citizen of this country, birth of a child, and so on. Additionally, it is obligatory to meet the following conditions to obtain Maltese nationality:

• Prove your reliability;
• Be of legal age;
• Know English and Maltese.

As practice shows, naturalization takes the applicant much longer than five years. So, more often, citizenship in Malta is granted for direct investment. This investment costs applicants more than 600,000 euros and includes registration in the form in which they are permitted to stay and pass security checks, said Zlata Erlach, a specialist of the agency Immigrant Invest. Investors receive their passports in just over a year, approximately 14 months from the very start.

Step-by-Step Application Process for Maltese Citizenship

Acquiring Maltese nationality is not the easiest, but it is realistic. You should be prepared that it may affect your budget.

Collecting documents to obtain Maltese nationality

Every applicant must prepare the following list:

• Birth Certificate;
• Foreign passport;
• Internal passport;
• Police certificate;
• Three standardized photographs;
• Marriage certificate (for married foreigners);
• A letter with the reasons why you need to acquire Maltese nationality.

Potential applicants screening

Only some people in the world are eligible for a Maltese passport, so authorities carry out extensive screening of applicants. If the initial assessment of the applicant and their family is successful, you will receive permission from the police.

Temporary Residence Permit

The next stage to acquire Maltese nationality is to apply for and obtain a Temporary Residence Permit. This is a trial period during which you have to prove that you meet all the criteria and parameters. According to Immigrant Invest specialists, the residence permit is valid for 12 months.

Maltese Citizenship Application

When your temporary residence card expires, it will be canceled, and a new residence card will be issued before its expiration date. You will then be examined a second time by the police, and the police will take into account many facts: your income level, where you live, how well you speak, etc.

If you pass the next screening, you will need to submit a special application. The application includes all important information about the applicant and his family. You have to wait for the Minister’s decision regarding the granting of Maltese citizenship.

Executing the investment

Now, it is time to meet all the financial obligations that have been agreed upon earlier. You must invest a certain amount of money in real estate, economy, or Maltese assets.

You should also take into account the fact that obtaining a Maltese passport is a very exciting process. In honor of this, the applicant must take an oath of allegiance to the Maltese people.

Benefits of Holding Maltese Nationality

Since Malta became a part of the European Union, a lot has changed there. Starting from 2004, the country began its transformation, and already today, thousands of people from all over the world are trying to move here. Why is it so, and what are the benefits of Maltese citizenship?

• Free access to more than 180 countries around the world. Surprisingly, Malta is among the top 10 countries in the world passport ranking.
• High standard of living. The European Union has always been characterized by a high standard of living, so it has always attracted many foreigners.
• Ideal climate. People move here to enjoy the constant sunshine and the ideal coastline of the sea.
• High wages. Happy holders of Maltese citizenship get full access to the labor market. Having said that, Malta has always been characterized by its high salaries.