Maltese citizenship · 2026
Malta (EU) Citizenship by Merit
Maltese citizenship is EU citizenship — the right to live, work, study and retire across the Union, on one of the world’s strongest passports. Since the investor-citizenship route closed in 2025, it is acquired by descent, by merit, by naturalisation after residence, or by marriage. Here is what each requires, and why none of them is a purchase.
Last updated 2026-09-04. Reviewed for accuracy by a licensed Malta immigration agent (Zenturo Ltd., licence AKM-DALI). Framework verified against Cap. 188 and Komunità Malta — see sources.
You cannot buy a Maltese passport — the investor-citizenship route closed in 2025. Citizenship is acquired by descent or ancestry, through the discretionary Citizenship by Merit framework, by naturalisation after residence, or by marriage. Malta allows dual citizenship and has no language test for the descent routes.
Ways to acquire Maltese citizenship (2026)
| Basis | What it requires | Investment? | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descent / ancestry | An unbroken direct line to a Maltese parent or a Malta-born ancestor (Cap. 188, Art. 5 & 7) | No | People with documented Maltese lineage |
| Merit (discretionary) | Exceptional contribution, services or national interest; residence stage first; discretionary | No fixed tariff; a contribution to an approved project may support the case | Applicants of genuine exceptional merit to Malta |
| Naturalisation (residence) | 12 months’ residence immediately before applying + 4 of the preceding 6 years; discretionary | No | Long-term lawful residents of Malta |
| Marriage | Five years of marriage to a Maltese citizen, living together | No | Spouses of Maltese citizens |
| Investment (closed) | Ended in 2025 following the CJEU judgment in Commission v Malta (C-181/23) | — | No longer available |
Legal basis: Maltese Citizenship Act, Cap. 188; Komunità Malta. Verified September 2026. Eligibility is fact-specific and, for the descent and merit bases especially, must be assessed individually.
The bases in detail
By descent & ancestry
If you have a Maltese parent, or an ancestor born in Malta, you may be entitled to citizenship by descent or registration — a right you prove, not a status you buy. The rules turn on dates, an unbroken line and documents.
By Merit (CBM)
A discretionary legal framework — not a programme or route — for exceptional contribution to Malta. There is no fixed price; an investment into a government-approved project may support a case, but never buys the outcome, and a residence stage comes first.
By naturalisation
Long-term lawful residents can, in time, apply to naturalise: broadly 12 months’ residence immediately before applying plus four of the preceding six years. It is discretionary and subject to good conduct.
By marriage
The spouse of a Maltese citizen may register as a citizen after five years of marriage, living together — a distinct basis from residence or merit.
Why you can’t simply buy a Maltese passport
Malta’s investor-citizenship route was discontinued in 2025 following the Court of Justice of the European Union’s judgment in Commission v Malta (Case C-181/23, 29 April 2025). It has not been replaced by another pay-for-passport scheme. Citizenship by Merit is sometimes misread as a replacement: it is not. It is a discretionary framework in which genuine, government-approved contributions to Malta may form part of an application judged on its overall merits — there is no fixed tariff and no automatic route by investment alone. If your goal is an EU base you can secure with capital, that is what residence routes such as the MPRP are for; citizenship is a separate, later and discretionary question.
What Maltese citizenship gives you
Maltese citizenship is full EU citizenship: the right to live, work, study, retire and do business across all EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The passport ranks around 5th in the world in 2026, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 180 destinations. Malta permits dual citizenship, so in most cases you keep your existing nationality, subject to your other country’s rules.
Key terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Citizenship by Merit | A discretionary legal framework (not a programme, scheme or route) for naturalisation on grounds of exceptional contribution, services or national interest. No fixed price; residence first. |
| Citizenship by descent | Citizenship through a Maltese parent, or by registration for certain descendants of a Malta-born ancestor, under Cap. 188 — no investment. |
| Naturalisation by residence | Discretionary citizenship after 12 months’ residence immediately before applying plus four of the preceding six years. |
| Citizenship by marriage | Registration by the spouse of a Maltese citizen after five years of marriage, living together. |
| Dual citizenship | Holding Maltese citizenship alongside another nationality — permitted since 2000. |
| Commission v Malta (C-181/23) | The 29 April 2025 CJEU judgment that led to the closure of Malta’s citizenship-by-investment route. |
Not sure which basis applies to you?
Tell us about your Maltese ancestry, your time in Malta, or your situation, and a licensed adviser will tell you which basis (if any) is realistic — free, and within the hour.
Get a free assessment Check the descent routeSources & last updated
Verified September 2026. Sources: Maltese Citizenship Act, Cap. 188; Agenzija Komunità Malta; the CJEU judgment in Commission v Malta (C-181/23, 29 April 2025).
Reviewed by Zenturo Ltd. Licence: AKM-DALI. Corrections welcome — contact us and we will verify and update.
This page is a sourced informational guide, not legal advice. Eligibility for any basis of citizenship must be confirmed by a qualified assessment of your specific circumstances.
Common questions
Can I buy Maltese citizenship?
No. The investor-citizenship route closed in 2025, and there is no route that grants a passport for a fixed payment. Citizenship comes by descent, naturalisation, marriage, or the discretionary Citizenship by Merit framework — none of which is a purchase.
What is Citizenship by Merit?
A legal framework giving a discretionary basis for naturalisation in cases of exceptional contribution, services or national interest. Per Komunità Malta it is not a programme, scheme or route; there is no fixed price, and a residence stage comes first.
Does Citizenship by Merit require an investment?
No fixed tariff. An investment or contribution may form part of a merit application, but there is no automatic route by investment alone; it must support a government-approved project benefiting Malta, and the decision stays discretionary.
How can I become a Maltese citizen?
By descent or ancestry, by the discretionary Merit framework, by naturalisation after residence, or by marriage — all under Cap. 188. The investment route closed in 2025.
Can I get citizenship through a grandparent?
Possibly, via descent and the 2007 registration route, with an unbroken documented line to a Malta-born ancestor. See our citizenship by descent & ancestry page for the detailed rules.
How long must I live in Malta to naturalise?
Under Malta's ordinary naturalisation rules, applicants generally require around five years of residence before applying. This route is discretionary and should not be confused with Citizenship by Merit (CBM), which operates under a separate legal framework and eligibility process. Under the CBM framework, applicants may submit their citizenship eligibility application after maintaining Maltese residence status for approximately eight months, without any requirement to reside in Malta full-time or continuously throughout that period.
Can I get citizenship by marriage?
Yes — the spouse of a Maltese citizen may register after five years of marriage, living together.
Does Malta allow dual citizenship?
Yes, since 2000. Acquiring Maltese citizenship does not by itself require renouncing another nationality, though your other country’s rules may.
Is there a language test?
No language exam for the descent, registration or marriage routes; English is an official language. Naturalisation and merit focus on residence, conduct, contribution and due diligence.
How strong is the Maltese passport?
Around 5th in the world in 2026, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180+ destinations, plus full EU rights to live, work, study and retire across the Union.
Did Malta’s citizenship-by-investment programme close?
Yes — it ended in 2025 after the CJEU judgment in Commission v Malta (C-181/23, 29 April 2025), and has not been replaced by another pay-for-passport route.
Does the MPRP or a residence permit give citizenship?
No — residence and citizenship are distinct. The MPRP grants permanent residence; long-term lawful residence may later make naturalisation possible, but that is a separate, discretionary process.