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MaltaCitizenship By Investment

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Overview

Malta Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment policy, launched in November 2020, allows non-EU nationals to obtain residency and citizenship in Malta in exchange of investment and donation.

The Maltese Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program has a very straightforward application process with the strict, a four-tier Due Diligence process and vetting procedures. Authorities are determined to accept the persons of impeccable standing and reputation for the program, which is administered by a government-appointed Community Malta Agency.

Applicants for the Maltese CBI program must make a non-refundable contribution to the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF). The amount of investment should be either EUR 600,000 (citizenship after 36 months of residency) or EUR 750,000 (citizenship after 1 year of residency), plus EUR 50,000 for each family member.

Applicants should also retain a realty in Malta for the period of at least five years. This can be either purchase, of a realty, with a value of at least EUR 700,000, or renting it with the annual rent of at least EUR 16,000. Subleasing the property is not allowed.

Prior CBI application, investors first need to secure a Residence Permit and hold it for a period of at least 12 months. Physical travel to Malta and giving biometrics is required to obtain a Residence Permit.

The initial Residence Permit is valid for 36 months and will be extended if a CBI application is submitted. After residency approval, applicants are also required to make a non-refundable contribution of at least EUR 10,000 to a local NGO and cover a residency fee of EUR 5,000 for the main applicant and EUR 1,000 for each family member included in the application.

After obtaining the Maltese Residency Card, an accredited individual can submit a citizenship application to the Community Malta Agency. At this stage, applicants must choose between two donation options: citizenship after 12 months of residency for EUR 750,000 or citizenship after 36 months of residency for EUR 600,000.

Family Inclusion

With an additional fee of EUR 50,000 per dependent, investors can include family members in the CBI application. These family members can be a spouse/partner, children under the age of 18, or under the age of 29 if unmarried and financially supported by the main applicant, as well as dependent parents or grandparents above the age of 55.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the Maltese CBI program have to be at least 18 years old, with clean criminal record and good health. They must have legal income and should not be included in any international sanction list or have got visa denial in any of the country Malta has visa-waiver agreement with. Applicants who have close ties or are from the countries that are under the international sanctions are not welcomed.

In the end of application process, applicants need to once again travel to Malta for taking an Oath of Allegiance.

Benefits

Visa-free travel

Visa-free access to 184 countries and territories, including: the USA, the UK, Canada, all Latin America and Caribbean countries, Japan, Hong-Kong, the UAE, Singapore.

Prime Healthcare & Education

Access to well-established EU healthcare services and wide range of educational opportunities throughout EU.

High Living Standards

Warm climate, high quality of life, with stable political system and secure environment.

Entrepreneurship Opportunities

Possibility to establish business and expand it internationally; Malta has excellent air links to all major destinations.

Tax Optimization

The Maltese tax system is based on residency, and new citizens are not required to become tax residents. No taxes on income or assets outside Malta.

Dual Citizenship Allowed

Malta permits dual citizenship, and new citizens are not required to renounce their original nationalities. Citizenship can be passed on to future generations.

Investment & Donation Options

Applicants for the Malta’s Citizenship by Investment program must make a combination of a non-refundable contribution, plus a real estate investment, through purchase or renting, plus philanthropic donation:

A Non-Refundable Donation to the NDSF

Exceptional direct investment of €600,000 for 36 months residency
Exceptional direct investment of €750,000 for 12 months residency
Exceptional direct investment of €50,000 for each family member included in the application

A Real Estate Investment

Purchase of an immovable property of at least EUR 700,000 or
Renting it for the minimum annual rent of EUR 16,000
Property must be retained for at least 5 years

Contribution

A philanthropic donation of at least EUR 10,000 to the Maltese NGO approved by Maltese authorities

Other Applicable Fees

Due Diligence:

Main Applicant EUR 15,000
Each family member above 12 years old EUR 10,000
Health insurance for each person EUR 500
Administrative fee for each person included in the application EUR 3,000
State fee for Residence Cards EUR 5,000 for the main applicant and EUR 1000 for each family member

Application Process

During the first week, generally a feasibility study of the applications success is performed, which includes KYC analyses and background security check, followed by the signing of the retainer agreement. Starts application preparation.
After about a month, all adults, included in the citizenship application, have to travel to Malta to file a residence permit application. Residence Cards are generally issued in 15 days. Selection of a real estate for purchasing or renting.
All necessary documentations for the citizenship by investment application should be collected within 2 months, followed by the file review, due diligence process and application submission.
The process of application review is underway in Community Malta Agency, which checks the source of funds and performs vetting of applicants. The Letter of Approval for Eligibility is issued in about 4 months from the start. Applicants are required to have at least 12 or 36 months of residency (depending on the contribution amount), before submitting requests for naturalization.
After 12 or 36 months of residency the citizenship application is submitted and due diligence is performed once again. All required investments must be completed after the Letter of Approval in principle is received.
Depending on selected option after 12 or 36 months, adult applicants are invited to Malta to swear the oath of allegiance, after which the certificate of citizenship and passports are issued.
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