Surrounded by the clean blue Mediterranean waters just a few miles from Sicily and the North African coast, the archipelago of Malta boasts a Mediterranean climate, 232km of coastline and a unique cultural heritage.
The Republic of Malta enjoys a stable political climate and a robust economy which maintained growth even during the financial crisis. The country ranks highly for quality of life including high standards of education and healthcare. It is a member of the EU, Schengen Area and the Eurozone.
Blending tradition with modernity, and quality living with perhaps the most favourable onshore personal tax regime in the world, this archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean is considered the most attractive destination for investment immigration.
Why Choose Malta:
1. Attractive Tax System
- Malta is an attractive financial centre due to its highly favourable tax system and strategic location at the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia. The Maltese taxation system is consistently voted by EU tax professionals as being one of the most attractive in Europe.
- Non-domiciled individuals are allowed to taxation on remittance basis.
2. High Standard of Living
- Malta offers political stability, one of the lowest crime rates within the EU, and a high standard of living with access to reputable state and private schools, and medical facilities.
3. Visa Free Travel
- No visa required for travel within the EU or the Schengen area.
- No visa required for travel to over 184 countries worldwide including USA and Canada.
4. Dual Citizenship
- Malta allows its citizens to hold dual citizenship.
Legal framework:
The Maltese Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment may be granted under an amendment passed in 2020 to the Maltese Citizenship Act Chapter 188 of the Laws of Malta (S.L. 188.05) and the Legal Notice 437 of 2020. The Citizenship for Exceptional Services regulations allow for citizenship by a certificate of naturalisation, granted to foreign individuals (and their families) contributing to the economic growth of Malta. Community Malta Agency is the competent Maltese government agency responsible to administer these regulations.
The Maltese government has formulated an investment programme aimed at high-net-worth individuals, investors and entrepreneurs. This allows the successful applicant and his/her family to hold a Maltese passport and enjoy all the benefits of being a Maltese national, subject to making the necessary investment and complying with the specific conditions.
Eligibility Criteria - The following persons are eligible to apply under the Maltese Citizenship by Investment Programme:
- Main applicant and spouse i.e. husband and wife.
- Children up to and including the age of 17.
- Unmarried, financially dependent, adult children between the ages of 18 to 28, largely supported by the main applicant.
- Parents and grandparents of the main applicant and of the main applicant’s spouse aged 55 and over, and largely supported by the main applicant.
All applicants (with the exception of minor children under 16 years of age) will need to be in possession of a clean police (criminal record) certificate from the country or countries of citizenship and from each country he/she has resided in for a minimal cumulative period of 6 months in the last 10 years. It must have been issued within the 6 months preceding the application and must be original.
According to applicable law, rules, regulations and practice that apply in relation to the filing of an application to obtain Maltese Citizenship via Investment, an applicant would not be eligible to apply and/or obtain citizenship if he/she or a dependant:
- Is or was indicted of an offence before an International Criminal Court or has been arraigned at any time before an International Criminal Court, whether found guilty, or not;
- Is listed with Interpol or Europol;
- Is a threat (or potential threat) to the national security, public policy or public health of Malta;
- Has been charged with or found guilty of crimes, related to terrorism, money laundering, funding of terrorism, crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes that infringe upon such Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as established by the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Has been charged with or found guilty of a criminal offence disturbing the good order of the family such as paedophilia, defilement of minors, rape, violent indecent assault, inducing persons under age to prostitution, abduction;
- Has, at any time, been found guilty of, or at any time during the processing of the application, has been interrogated or is suspected of, or has criminal charges brought against them for any criminal offence punishable with more than one year’s imprisonment other than an involuntary offence;
- Is, or is likely to be, involved in any activity which may cause disrepute to the Republic of Malta;
- Has been denied a visa to a country with whom Malta has visa-free travel arrangements and has not subsequently obtained a visa from that same country;
- Is named or listed in international sanctions applying restrictive measures on them; that the Community Malta Agency is bound by law, or has opted, to follow.
Malta CBI - Investment Options:
For an individual to apply for a Maltese citizenship, a period of Maltese residency has to precede. Based on the period of time one wishes to hold the Maltese residency before applying for citizenship, the 2 following options exist:
Option 1 - Standard Procedure:
36 months residency + Contribution of €600,000 + €50,000 for each additional dependant
Under standard procedure, a prospective applicant has to be a Maltese resident for 36 months before applying for citizenship. Contribution amounts to €600,000 for the Main Applicant and €50,000 for each additional dependant.
Option 2 - Expedited Procedure:
12 months residency + Contribution of €750,000 + €50,000 for each additional dependant
Under expedited procedure, a prospective applicant has to be a Maltese resident for 12 months before applying for citizenship. Contribution amounts to €750,000 for the Main Applicant and €50,000 for each additional dependant.
Property Investment: Regardless of selecting the standard or expedited procedure, applicants have to either buy a property in Malta valued at minimum €700,000 or lease a property for an annual rent of minimum €16,000. The property investment should be retained/property must be rented for at least five years from the date of the certificate of Citizenship.
Donation: A donation of €10,000 to a registered non-governmental organisation or society is also required.
Due Diligence and Administrative Fees:
- Residence Application Fees:
- €5,000 for the Main Applicant;
- €1,000 for each dependant;
- €27.50 fee per Residence card.
- Eligibility Process Fees:
- Due Diligence Fees:
- €15,000 for the Main Applicant;
- €10,000 per adult dependant of over 18 years old;
- If the applicant is sponsored, a Due Diligence fee of €15,000.
- Administrative Fees:
- €1,000 per applicant
- Due Diligence Fees:
- Citizenship Application Fees:
- Administrative Fees:
- €5,000 for the Main Applicant
- €1,000 per applicant
- Administrative Fees:
In case of residence cards renewals, there will be a charge of €227.50, and if the applicant has changed address, the fee will be of €27.50.
Below is a brief summary of the application process for acquiring Maltese citizenship by investment.
The Application Process: A Step-By-Step Guide
- The Maltese residency application for the main applicant and his/her spouse is filed (and if elected, also for parents of the main applicant and parents of the main applicant’s spouse and financially dependent adult children).
- Community Malta Agency conducts Tier 1 due diligence and obtains 1st police clearance.
- Residency card is issued within 15 days of residency application submission.
- Citizenship eligibility application is submitted to the Community Malta Agency.
- Community Malta Agency conducts Tier 2-4 due diligence, to ensure all the necessary documentation is in order and presents the application to the Minister.
- Community Malta Agency informs whether the applicant is eligible to apply for Maltese Citizenship.
- 12 or 36 months following the issuance of the Residence permit, the Citizenship application is filed with the Community Malta Agency.
- The Agency updates its due diligence and forwards the application to the Minister.
- The Agency informs whether the applicant can be granted Maltese Citizenship.
- The applicant fulfils the Investment, Donation and Property requirements.
- The applicant comes to Malta and takes the Oath of Allegiance.
- The applicant is granted Maltese Citizenship and is issued with a Certificate of Naturalisation.
- Community Malta Agency conducts continuous monitoring for five years.
How Savva & Associates can assist:
Savva & Associates offers the following professional services to third-country nationals interested in obtaining Maltese Citizenship through real estate investment:
Malta Residency and Citizenship Applications
- Preparation of the application and all supporting documents.
Real Estate Transactions
- Assistance at all stages of the real estate transaction, including real estate sourcing, title search, and property due diligence;
- Drafting of the sale and purchase contract and any other required documents;
- Registration with the Land Registry;
- Obtaining certificates from the cadastral authorities and notaries.
Tax, Finance, and Accounting
- Opening a bank account in Malta for the purposes of the real estate transaction;
- Tax registration, including applying for a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
Our team of highly experienced professionals can advise you further on the Maltese Citizenship by Investment Programme application, on the basis of your particular circumstances. Please feel free to contact Charles Savva at c.savva@savvacyprus.com to discuss how we can be of assistance to you.
