MaltaCitizenship

Maltese citizenship in Malta

Maltese citizenship can be obtained by birth, through registration (for spouses, descendants, widows of Maltese citizens and former citizens), through naturalisation (for foreign nationals resident in Malta) or through the exceptional investment programme. Dual citizenship has been allowed since the end of the last century. Citizenship gives the right to work in Malta and in all EU countries without visas or permits.

Source: Aġenzija Komunità Malta — acquiring citizenship

Four routes to Maltese citizenship

The route depends on your ties to Malta and on your financial means.

By birth

Born in Malta to a citizen parent
Born abroad to a Maltese parent
Born before 1989 to a Maltese father

By registration

Spouses of Maltese citizens (5+ years of marriage)
Widows and widowers (where the marriage lasted 5+ years)
Children of Maltese mothers born abroad

By naturalisation

Foreign nationals aged 18+
Resident in Malta for at least 12 months
Know Maltese or English

Exceptional investment

Substantial contributions and the purchase of a home
Shortened residence periods
For wealthy foreign nationals and entrepreneurs

When the programme will not suit you

You are under 18

Your parents may register you by birth or through a Maltese mother (Form I). Or obtain the status when you turn 18.

You have only just arrived in Malta

First obtain long-term resident status (which requires 5 years of residence), then naturalise. Or use the investment programme to shorten the timescales.

What it costs

Naturalisation: applicationForm E for adults, Form J for minors	450 EUR
Naturalisation: certificate on issue	50 EUR
Registration: applicationFor spouses, descendants, widows and former citizens of Malta (Forms B, D, I, K, M)	150 EUR
Registration: certificate on issue	50 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Registration: application” branch replaces the “Naturalisation: application” line — 200 EUR; the “Registration: certificate on issue” branch replaces the “Naturalisation: certificate on issue” line — 500 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	500 EUR

Paid separately

Sponsors — Two sponsors are required for naturalisation, but they are paid separately or act without a fee
Translation of documents — If documents are in a foreign language, official translations are needed, and these fall to the applicant
Licensed agent — Optional. A licensed agent can help with the preparation, but that is a separate cost

Documents to gather

The documents differ depending on the ground on which citizenship is claimed.

Passport (current and/or expired)
Birth certificate
Marriage certificate (where applicable)
Documents on residence in Malta (bills, employer letters, statements)
Letters from two sponsors (for naturalisation)
Joint affidavit by the spouses (for registration through marriage)
Death certificate (for widows and widowers)
Proof of residence abroad (for recovering citizenship)
Certificate of good conduct or a police certificate
Documents on ownership of a home (for the investment programme)

How the process runs

The naturalisation and registration procedures differ, but the overall logic is the same: checking the documents, assessing whether the requirements are met, and approval.

1
Requesting the residence certificate
according to the agency's schedule
The applicant requests a certificate confirming that they were physically resident in Malta for the required period. The agency may require documents on the place of residence (account statements, rental agreements).
2
Preparing and filing the complete document package
within the period set by the agency
Once the residence certificate has been obtained, the main application is filed (Form E for adults on naturalisation, other forms for registration) with the complete set of documents and letters from two sponsors (for naturalisation).
3
Assessment by the agency
from several weeks to several months
The agency checks that all the requirements are met: the residence periods, knowledge of the language, character, the sponsors' standing, and the authenticity of the documents. Additional information may be requested.
4
Approval and decision
once the assessment is complete
The agency decides to approve or refuse the application. If it is approved, the applicant is notified and given instructions for collecting the certificate.
5
Receiving the citizenship certificate
at the agreed time
The applicant attends the agency, pays the final fee (€50) and receives the official Maltese citizenship certificate, which is proof of the status.

Timelines and rights

Work

A Maltese citizen works without permits or visas — both in Malta and in the rest of the EU.

Who you can bring with you

Family members of Maltese citizens may obtain citizenship by registration where certain conditions are met.

Spouse of a Maltese citizen

The marriage must have lasted at least 5 years on the date of filing, both spouses must consent and they must live together. They file a joint affidavit (Form B). Fee €150 + €50.

Widow or widower of a Maltese citizen

The marriage lasted at least 5 years, with proof that the couple lived together until the spouse's death. Death and marriage documents are filed (Form B). Fee €150 + €50.

Children of a Maltese mother born abroad

The mother is a Maltese citizen and the child was born outside Malta. Documents on the birth and on maternity are filed (Form I). Fee €150 + €50.

Direct descendants of an ancestor born in Malta

Both ancestors (the parent and that parent's parent) must have been born in Malta. A complete chain of birth and marriage certificates is required (Forms K/M). Fee €150 + €50.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Twelve months of continuous residence in Malta before filing plus 4 years in total over the preceding 6 years. For a marriage-based claim it is not residence that counts but the length of the marriage: 5 years, and on the date of filing the marriage must still subsist and the spouses must be living together.

Maltese citizenship is granted for life and does not have to be renewed. However, citizens who obtained the status through the exceptional investment programme (Exceptional Direct Investment) must confirm annually for 5 years after obtaining citizenship that they still meet the conditions. Former citizens who lost the status and have lived abroad for at least 6 years are entitled to have citizenship restored automatically where the conditions are met.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Maltese citizenship	Permanent residence	Nomad permit
Visa term	Citizenship is granted for life	Permanent status subject to compliance; property for 5 years	Up to 1 year, renewable up to 3 years in total
Grounds	Maltese citizenship is acquired by birth, by descent, by naturalisation or by registration	Property + government contribution	Remote income
Work	A Maltese citizen works without permits or visas — both in Malta and in the rest of the EU	Does not in itself grant the right to work; a separate permit is required (Single Permit)	Remote work for foreign employers only
Residence	Twelve months of continuous residence in Malta before filing plus 4 years in total over the preceding 6 years	No minimum presence requirement	Actual residence in Malta

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Most people reach citizenship through long-term resident status: it is granted after 5 years of lawful continuous residence.

Route to citizenship

Former Maltese citizens may recover citizenship if they have lived abroad for at least 6 years in total. A separate route is naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment: 36 months of residence, reduced to 12 months with a contribution of 600,000–750,000 euros, plus the purchase or rental of a home and a charitable donation of at least 10,000 euros.

Frequently asked questions about Maltese citizenship

Can I hold dual Maltese citizenship?

Yes, since 10 February 2000 Malta has recognised dual and multiple citizenship. Maltese citizens may hold the citizenship of another country at the same time. Former citizens who lost Maltese citizenship on acquiring another may have it restored automatically if they have lived abroad for at least 6 years in total.

How long does naturalisation take?

There is no fixed period. The procedure involves requesting the residence certificate, filing the complete document package, the agency's assessment of whether the requirements are met, and the decision. The total time may run from several months to a year, depending on how complete the documents are and on the agency's workload.

Who can act as a sponsor for naturalisation?

Two sponsors are needed: (1) The first sponsor is a person of standing: a judge, magistrate, lawyer, notary, doctor, senior civil servant, police officer (inspector and above), armed forces officer (captain and above) or parish priest. (2) The second sponsor is any adult Maltese citizen (18+) who was not naturalised. Both must be willing to sign a letter supporting the applicant.

Which language do I need to know for naturalisation?

An adequate knowledge of Maltese or English is required. The agency assesses the level of command when it considers the application. No absolute minimum is set, but the applicant is expected to be able to communicate in one of these languages.

What is the minimum investment for shortening the naturalisation timescales?

The exceptional investment programme allows the residence required in Malta to be shortened from 36 months to 12 months with an exceptional direct investment of 600,000-750,000 euros. In addition, the purchase of a home (at least 700,000 euros) or its rental (at least 16,000 euros a year for 5 years) and a charitable donation to a registered organisation (at least 10,000 euros) are required.

Other ways to move to Malta

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Malta.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.